- *G2762 *2 κεραία (ker-ah'-yah) : feminine of a presumed derivative of the base of G2768; something horn-like, i.e. (specially) the apex of a Hebrew letter (figuratively, the least particle):--tittle.
- κεραια
- Matthew 5:18 ... jot or one tittle shall in no wise ...
- κεραιαν
- Luke 16:17 ... to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.
7. Greek words
*G2762 *2 κεραία (ker-ah'-yah) : feminine of a presumed derivative of the base of G2768; something horn-like, i.e. (specially) the apex of a Hebrew letter (figuratively, the least particle):--tittle.
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Words: κεραια κεραιαν
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*G185 *3 ἀκέραιος (ak-er'-ah-yos) : from G1 (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of G2767; unmixed, i.e. (figuratively) innocent:--harmless, simple.
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Words: ακεραιοι=2 ακεραιους
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It is not clear how the decision was made to translate what appears to be "
not horned" as "
simple" or "
harmless".
8. Greek words
- "κεραία" is "horned" as in an "antennae" of an insect and translated "tittle".
- "ἀκέραιος" appears to be "not horned", with the prefix "α" negating the root, but is instead translated as "simple" or "harmless".
If the "
horn" refers to "
thorns" and "
thorns" refers to the cares and concerns and riches of this world, then "
not horned" would appear to mean "
not worldly".
9. Matthew 5:18
Matthew 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. [kjv]
αμην γαρ λεγω υμιν εως αν παρελθη ο ουρανος και η γη ιωτα εν η μια κεραια ου μη παρελθη απο του νομου εως αν παντα γενηται [gnt]
10. Matthew 5:18
KJV: For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Greek: αμην γαρ λεγω υμιν εως αν παρελθη ο ουρανος και η γη ιωτα εν η μια κεραια ου μη παρελθη απο του νομου εως αν παντα γενηται
Latin: amen quippe dico vobis donec transeat caelum et terra iota unum aut unus apex non praeteribit a lege donec omnia fiant
11. Matthew 13:7,22 A pointed discussion of thorny riches
Genesis 3:18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; [kjv]
וקוץ ודרדר … [he]
ακανθας και τριβολους ανατελει σοι και φαγη τον χορτον του αγρου [lxx]
Matthew 13:7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: [kjv]
αλλα δε επεσεν επι τας ακανθας και ανεβησαν αι ακανθαι και απεπνιξαν αυτα [gnt]
… spinas … [v]
Today, most people would classify a thorn, in a figurative sense, as something that is bothersome or painful or annoying (or all of these and more).
Other definitions include a thorn tattoo or something involving pain and/or sacrifice. In Genesis, the "
thorn" represents part of the "
curse". In the first Kingdom parable in Matthew 13, Jesus uses the term "
thorns" as the "
cares" and "
concerns" of the "
present age".
12. Lexicons
Strongs makes some assumptions above about the word coming from something "
horn-like". Some Greek lexicons (in English and in Greek by Greek authors) provide some additional interesting connections.
The ancient Greek word
"κεραίζω" ≈ "sack, pillage, destroy, sink" is defined in English by English authors (p. 796,
The Cambridge Greek Lexicon Volume 2, 2021).
13. Greek lexicon in Greek
The ancient Greek word
"κεραίζω" ≈ "plunder, prey" is defined (in Greek by Greek authors, p. 420, Greek ref to be added) as having the following meanings (in modern Greek).
- The modern Greek word "λεηλατώ" (leh-ee-la-TO) ≈ "plunder".
- The modern Greek word "διαρπάζω" (thee-ar-PA-zo) ≈ "prey".
- The remaining definitions apply to ships or other specific purposes.
The second word definition is interesting in that appears in the
GNT and is related to seizing, snatching up and the rapture and is used in the
GNT in the saying of the "
strong man".
14. Suggestion
Negating the above word definition, might "harmless as doves" mean something like "not preyed on or seized" as doves in the world by the cares, concerns and riches of the world (see bird discussion below). Does this go along with being as "prudent" as "serpents"? How might this match Hebrew poetry whereby the same thought may be expressed twice in somewhat different ways?
The word, by meaning (and as defined in modern Greek), is similar to the word used for "rapture" and "ravenous" in the GNT.
15. Crying wolf for the search and seizure of the rapture
Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. [kjv]
προσεχετε απο των ψευδοπροφητων οιτινες ερχονται προς υμας εν ενδυμασιν προβατων εσωθεν δε εισιν λυκοι αρπαγες [gnt]
… falsis prophetis … vestimentis ovium … lupi rapaces [v]
The phrase "
to cry wolf" is used to indicate the proclamation of a "
false alarm".
The rapture is the "
snatching up" of believers (
rapiemur in Latin). The word is not in the Bible because the word "
rapture" is from the Latin and not the English or Greek.
The ancient Greek word
"ἁρπάζω" ≈ "snatch away, carry off" and is found in various places in the Bible but translated using many different words.
16. Josephus
The ancient Greek word
"κεραίζω" ≈ "plunder, prey" is not used in the
GNT but are used by other Greek authors including Herodotus and Homer.
Both words, however, are used in the same sentence by Josephus in the Jewish War, volume 6, 41:5.
πολλὰς δὲ κεραΐζοντεσὁπότ᾿ ἔνδον παρέλθοιεν ἐφ᾿ ἁρπαγήν, γενεὰς ὅλας νεκρῶν κατελάμβανον καὶ τὰ δωμάτια πλήρη τῶν τοῦ λιμοῦ πτωμάτων, ἔπειταπρὸς τὴν ὄψιν πεφρικότες κεναῖς χερσὶν ἐξῄεσαν. Πόλεμο 6 41:5
17. Matthew 6:26 Birds
Matthew 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? [kjv]
εμβλεψατε εις τα πετεινα του ουρανου οτι ου σπειρουσιν ουδε θεριζουσιν ουδε συναγουσιν εις αποθηκας και ο πατηρ υμων ο ουρανιος τρεφει αυτα ουχ υμεις μαλλον διαφερετε αυτων [gnt]
To see a possible connection, let us look at the idea of birds such as pigeons or doves (same bird) and how Jesus describes them (a few chapters earlier).
Are the birds, as described, worldly in that they are overly preoccupied with the cares and concerns and riches of this world?
18. Matthew 6:26
KJV: Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Greek: εμβλεψατε εις τα πετεινα του ουρανου οτι ου σπειρουσιν ουδε θεριζουσιν ουδε συναγουσιν εις αποθηκας και ο πατηρ υμων ο ουρανιος τρεφει αυτα ουχ υμεις μαλλον διαφερετε αυτων
19. Philippians 2:14
Philippians 2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: [kjv]
παντα ποιειτε χωρις γογγυσμων και διαλογισμων [gnt]
… murmurationibus … haesitationibus [v]
In his letter to the Philippians, Paul has some interesting advice. First the verse before. Many words, such as
"murmurings" are onomatopoetic in that the sound like what they describe. The word appears to mean
"side conversations" involving "
personal opinion" in general and
not complaining or "
grumbling"
The "
disputings" is that of "
logical arguments" or, literally, "
through reasoning".
Now the next verse that has the "
harmless".
20. Philippians 2:14
KJV: Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
Greek: παντα ποιειτε χωρις γογγυσμων και διαλογισμων
Latin: omnia autem facite sine murmurationibus et haesitationibus
Luther: Tut alles ohne Murmeln und ohne Zweifel,
21. Philippians 2:15
Philippians 2:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; [kjv]
ινα γενησθε αμεμπτοι και ακεραιοι τεκνα θεου αμωμα μεσον γενεας σκολιας και διεστραμμενης εν οις φαινεσθε ως φωστηρες εν κοσμω [gnt]
If the word "
not worldly" is substituted for "
harmless" in the above verse, how does it change the meaning? Is it more or less clear?
This word only appears
3 times in the
GNT and not in the
LXX (Septuagint).
How does this meaning substitution fit in the following verse?
22. Philippians 2:15
KJV: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Greek: ινα γενησθε αμεμπτοι και ακεραιοι τεκνα θεου αμωμητα εν μεσω αμωμα μεσον γενεας σκολιας και διεστραμμενης εν οις φαινεσθε ως φωστηρες εν κοσμω
Latin: ut sitis sine querella et simplices filii Dei sine reprehensione in medio nationis pravae et perversae inter quos lucetis sicut luminaria in mundo
Wycliffe: that ye be with out playnt, and symple as the sones of God, with out repreef, in the myddil of a schrewid nacioun and a weiward; among whiche ye schynen as yyueris of liyt in the world.
Luther: auf daß ihr seid ohne Tadel und lauter und Gottes Kinder, unsträflich mitten unter dem unschlachtigen und verkehrten Geschlecht, unter welchem ihr scheinet als Lichter in der Welt
Spanish: para que seáis irreprensibles y sencillos, hijos de Dios, sin mancha, en medio de una generación torcida y perversa, en la cual resplandecéis como luminares en el mundo;
23. Romans 16:19
Romans 16:19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. [kjv]
η γαρ υμων υπακοη εις παντας αφικετο εφ υμιν ουν χαιρω θελω δε υμας σοφους μεν ειναι εις το αγαθον ακεραιους δε εις το κακον [gnt]
24. Romans 16:19
KJV: For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.
Greek: η γαρ υμων υπακοη εις παντας αφικετο χαιρω ουν το εφ εφ υμιν ουν χαιρω θελω δε υμας σοφους μεν ειναι εις το αγαθον ακεραιους δε εις το κακον
25. Summary
The words for "simple" and "harmless" appear to be related, by meaning, to the words for "rapture" and "ravenous" and to the word for "tittle" and the words for "spoil" in the saying of the strong man.
The connections thus made become interesting when taken together.
26. End of page
Matthew 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. [kjv]
ιδου εγω αποστελλω υμας ως προβατα εν μεσω λυκων γινεσθε ουν φρονιμοι ως οι οφεις και ακεραιοι ως αι περιστεραι [gnt]
… oves … luporum … prudentes … serpentes … simplices … columbae [v]
The modern Greek word "κεραία" (keh-REH-a) ≈ "antenna"is from the ancient Greek word "κεραία" ≈ "little horn, antennae of an insect" and anything projecting as a (small) horn. This word is found 2 times in the GNT (Greek New Testament) and both times translated as "tittle".
These words derive from the ancient Greek word "κέρας" ≈ "horn" which is related to the English word "cornet".
