Lexical Summary ióta: iota, jot Original Word: ἰῶτα Strong's Exhaustive Concordance jot, iotaOf Hebrew origin (the tenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet); "iota", the name of the smallest letter of the Greek alphabet, put (figuratively) for a very small part of anything -- jot. HELPS Word-studies 2503 iṓta ("jot" in the KJV) – "yōd, the smallest Hebrew (Aramaic) letter" (Souter). By analogy, the Hebrew letter yōd refers to the Greek letter, iōta (the smallest letter in the Greek alphabet). This symbolizes how each and every detail of the Hebrew-Greek text of Scripture (its grammar) is guaranteed by the Lord Himself to be inerrant and unstoppably powerful! NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof Semitic origin; name of the Gr. letter corresponding to the tenth Heb. letter, yod Definition iota NASB Translation letter (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2503: ἰῶταἰῶτα, τό, iota (A. V. jot), the Hebrew letter, yodh י, the smallest of them all; hence equivalent to the minutest part: Matthew 5:18. (Cf. Iota.) Topical Lexicon Meaning and Background The term designates the smallest written symbol of the Greek alphabet and, by extension, the Hebrew yod, the tiniest consonant in the Torah. In everyday speech of the first century, the word evoked minuteness and precision, a nuance that made it an apt metaphor for exactness in Scripture. Biblical Occurrence Matthew 5:18 contains the sole New Testament instance: “For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished”. The phrase “single jot” renders the word, pairing it with “stroke of a pen” to highlight both letters and the tiniest scribal flourishes. Theological Significance 1. Enduring Authority of the Law Christ affirms the continuing validity of every detail of God’s revelation. No command, prophecy, or promise is irrelevant or expendable; the covenantal storyline remains intact until fully realized in Him. By stressing even the smallest character, Jesus upholds verbal inspiration. Divine truth reaches down to the precise letters, undercutting any notion that the biblical text is merely approximate or conceptually inspired. The statement sets the tenor for the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus is not abolishing but fulfilling; His teaching intensifies rather than relaxes the moral and prophetic thrust of the Old Testament. Historical Usage in Jewish and Greco-Roman Contexts Yod, the Hebrew counterpart, frequently functioned as an abbreviation marker in scrolls and inscriptions. Mishnah tractates preserve rabbinic discussions about the proper formation of each letter, underscoring a shared reverence for textual accuracy. In Greek culture, iota could also symbolize insignificance (“not worth an iota”), revealing how Jesus appropriated a common idiom to make an authoritative claim. Early Christian Reception Church fathers such as Irenaeus and Jerome cited Matthew 5:18 to defend the unity of the Testaments and to confront Marcionite or Gnostic attempts to diminish Old Testament authority. The verse was also pivotal in medieval debates over vowel pointing and later in Reformation arguments for plenary inspiration. Application for Teaching and Preaching • Encourage confidence in the infallibility of Scripture; every promise stands. Implications for Christian Discipleship Attention to “iotas” cultivates a heart that treasures God’s Word. When believers honor the text in its entirety, they mirror the attitude of the Savior who esteemed each letter. Such reverence manifests in careful study, humble submission, and eager proclamation of the gospel “once for all entrusted to the saints” (Jude 3). Summary Though appearing only once, the term serves as a linchpin for doctrines of inspiration, canon, and covenant continuity. It reminds the church that God’s redemptive plan is recorded with deliberate precision and will unfailingly reach consummation “until everything is accomplished.” Forms and Transliterations ιωτα ιώτα ἰῶτα κάβου iota iôta iōta iō̂taLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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