2486. ichthus

Lexicon

ichthus: Fish

Original Word: ἰχθύς
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: ichthus
Pronunciation: ikh-thoos'
Phonetic Spelling: (ikh-thoos')
Definition: Fish
Meaning: a fish.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

fish.

Of uncertain affinity; a fish -- fish.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a prim. word
Definition
a fish
NASB Translation
fish (20).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 2486: ἰχθύς

ἰχθύς, ἰχθύος, ὁ (from Homer down), a fish: Matthew 7:10; Mark 6:38; Luke 5:6; John 21:11, etc.; 1 Corinthians 15:39.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the primary Greek root for fish.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for "ἰχθύς," the concept of fish is present in the Old Testament. The Hebrew word "דָּג" (dag, Strong's Hebrew 1709) is used to describe fish, as seen in passages like Jonah 1:17, where a great fish swallows Jonah. This Hebrew term shares the thematic element of fish as a significant symbol in biblical narratives.

Usage: The word "ἰχθύς" appears in various contexts within the New Testament, often in narratives involving fishing, miracles, and teachings of Jesus. It is used to describe both literal fish and as a symbol for early Christians.

Context: The Greek word "ἰχθύς" is most commonly translated as "fish" in the New Testament. It appears in several key passages, illustrating both the daily life of the people and the profound teachings of Jesus Christ.

• Literal Usage: In the Gospels, "ἰχθύς" is frequently mentioned in the context of fishing, a common occupation among the disciples. For example, in Matthew 4:19, Jesus calls His first disciples, saying, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." This metaphorical use of fishing underscores the mission of the disciples to gather believers.

• Miraculous Events: The term is also central to the accounts of Jesus' miracles, such as the feeding of the five thousand, where "ἰχθύς" is used to describe the fish that Jesus multiplies to feed the multitude (Matthew 14:17-21). This miracle highlights Jesus' divine provision and compassion.

• Symbolic Meaning: In early Christianity, "ἰχθύς" became a symbol for Christ and His followers. The Greek letters of the word form an acrostic: "Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, Θεοῦ Υἱός, Σωτήρ" (Iēsous Christos, Theou Yios, Sōtēr), meaning "Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior." This symbol was used by early Christians as a secret sign of identification during times of persecution.

• Teaching and Parables: Jesus uses fish in His parables to convey spiritual truths. In Matthew 13:47-50, the kingdom of heaven is likened to a net that catches fish of every kind, illustrating the final judgment.

Forms and Transliterations

ιχθυας ιχθύας ἰχθύας ιχθυες ιχθύες ἰχθύες ιχθυν ιχθύν ἰχθύν ἰχθὺν ιχθυος ιχθύος ἰχθύος ιχθύς ιχθυων ιχθύων ἰχθύων ιχνευόντων ichthuas ichthues ichthun ichthuon ichthuōn ichthuos ichthyas ichthýas ichthyes ichthýes ichthyn ichthýn ichthỳn ichthyon ichthyōn ichthýon ichthýōn ichthyos ichthýos

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 7:10 N-AMS
GRK: ἢ καὶ ἰχθὺν αἰτήσει μὴ
NAS: he asks for a fish, he will not give
KJV: if he ask a fish, will he give him
INT: or also a fish he should ask not

Matthew 14:17 N-AMP
GRK: καὶ δύο ἰχθύας
NAS: loaves and two fish.
KJV: and two fishes.
INT: and two fish

Matthew 14:19 N-AMP
GRK: τοὺς δύο ἰχθύας ἀναβλέψας εἰς
NAS: and the two fish, and looking
KJV: and the two fishes, and looking up to
INT: the two fish having looked up to

Matthew 15:36 N-AMP
GRK: καὶ τοὺς ἰχθύας καὶ εὐχαριστήσας
NAS: loaves and the fish; and giving thanks,
KJV: and the fishes, and gave thanks,
INT: and the fish and having given thanks

Matthew 17:27 N-AMS
GRK: ἀναβάντα πρῶτον ἰχθὺν ἆρον καὶ
NAS: the first fish that comes
KJV: take up the fish that first
INT: having come up first fish take and

Mark 6:38 N-AMP
GRK: καὶ δύο ἰχθύας
NAS: Five, and two fish.
KJV: and two fishes.
INT: and two fish

Mark 6:41 N-AMP
GRK: τοὺς δύο ἰχθύας ἀναβλέψας εἰς
NAS: and the two fish, and looking
KJV: and the two fishes, he looked up to
INT: the two fish having looked up to

Mark 6:41 N-AMP
GRK: τοὺς δύο ἰχθύας ἐμέρισεν πᾶσιν
NAS: up the two fish among them all.
KJV: the two fishes divided he
INT: the two fish he divided among all

Mark 6:43 N-GMP
GRK: ἀπὸ τῶν ἰχθύων
NAS: of the broken pieces, and also of the fish.
KJV: and of the fishes.
INT: of the fish

Luke 5:6 N-GMP
GRK: συνέκλεισαν πλῆθος ἰχθύων πολύ διερρήσσετο
NAS: quantity of fish, and their nets
KJV: a great multitude of fishes: and their
INT: they enclosed a multitude of fishes great was breaking

Luke 5:9 N-GMP
GRK: ἄγρᾳ τῶν ἰχθύων ὧν συνέλαβον
NAS: of the catch of fish which
KJV: the draught of the fishes which
INT: catch of the fish which they had taken

Luke 9:13 N-NMP
GRK: πέντε καὶ ἰχθύες δύο εἰ
NAS: loaves and two fish, unless perhaps
KJV: and two fishes; except we
INT: five and fish two if

Luke 9:16 N-AMP
GRK: τοὺς δύο ἰχθύας ἀναβλέψας εἰς
NAS: and the two fish, and looking
KJV: and the two fishes, and looking up to
INT: the two fish having looked up to

Luke 11:11 N-AMS
GRK: ὁ υἱὸς ἰχθύν καὶ ἀντὶ
NAS: by his son for a fish; he will not give
KJV: or if [he ask] a fish, will he
INT: the son a fish also instead of

Luke 11:11 N-GMS
GRK: καὶ ἀντὶ ἰχθύος ὄφιν αὐτῷ
NAS: instead of a fish, will he?
KJV: will he for a fish give him
INT: also instead of a fish a serpent to him

Luke 24:42 N-GMS
GRK: ἐπέδωκαν αὐτῷ ἰχθύος ὀπτοῦ μέρος
NAS: Him a piece of a broiled fish;
KJV: a piece of a broiled fish, and of
INT: they gave to him of a fish broiled part

John 21:6 N-GMP
GRK: πλήθους τῶν ἰχθύων
NAS: of the great number of fish.
KJV: for the multitude of fishes.
INT: multitude of the fish

John 21:8 N-GMP
GRK: δίκτυον τῶν ἰχθύων
NAS: dragging the net [full] of fish.
KJV: dragging the net with fishes.
INT: net with the fish

John 21:11 N-GMP
GRK: γῆν μεστὸν ἰχθύων μεγάλων ἑκατὸν
NAS: of large fish, a hundred
KJV: of great fishes, an hundred
INT: land full of fish large a hundred

1 Corinthians 15:39 N-GMP
GRK: ἄλλη δὲ ἰχθύων
NAS: of birds, and another of fish.
KJV: another of fishes, [and] another
INT: another moreover of fish

Strong's Greek 2486
20 Occurrences

ἰχθύας — 7 Occ.
ἰχθύες — 1 Occ.
ἰχθὺν — 3 Occ.
ἰχθύων — 7 Occ.
ἰχθύος — 2 Occ.