What does σαπρός · δένδρον mean in the Bible?
σαπρός · δένδρον is a Greek phrase meaning "bad, rotten, diseased tree".
Greek · G4550, G1186
σαπρὸν δένδρον
Rotten · a tree
Reading a lexicon entry
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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
σαπρόςG4550rotten
Pronunciationsaprós
Moral corruption or worthlessness, applied to speech and character as decay from intended good.
Open lexicon entry →δένδρονG1186a tree
Pronunciationdéndron
In Jesus' teaching, trees symbolize moral character—good trees bear good fruit, corrupt trees bear corrupt fruit.
Open lexicon entry →What does σαπρὸν δένδρον (sapron dendron) mean in the Bible?
σαπρός · δένδρον is a Greek phrase meaning "bad, rotten, diseased tree".
Full entry for σαπρὸν δένδρον (G4550, G1186) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for G4550, G1186?
G4550, G1186 is connected to 8 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Greek phrase. bad, rotten, diseased tree
Source Gloss
bad, rotten, diseased tree
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
This word appears as a noun across 5 case and number patterns. The form changes show how the word functions in a sentence; they do not change the basic lexical meaning by themselves.
Form patterns5Aligned forms8Case patternAccusative (4)Number patternSingular (7)
Nominative · Singular · NeuterMatt 7:17 · Matt 7:18 · Luke 6:433×
Nominative · Singular · MasculineEph 4:291×
Accusative · Singular · MasculineMatt 12:33 · Luke 6:432×
Accusative · Singular · NeuterMatt 12:331×
Accusative · Plural · NeuterMatt 13:481×
Word Origins
σαπρὸν δένδρον is built from this root: