2563. kalamos
Lexical Summary
kalamos: Reed, staff, measuring rod, pen

Original Word: κάλαμος
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: kalamos
Pronunciation: KAL-ah-mos
Phonetic Spelling: (kal'-am-os)
KJV: pen, reed
NASB: reed, measuring rod, pen, rod
Word Origin: [of uncertain affinity]

1. a reed (the plant or its stem, or that of a similar plant)
2. (by implication) a pen

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
pen, reed.

Or uncertain affinity; a reed (the plant or its stem, or that of a similar plant); by implication, a pen -- pen, reed.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
a prim. word
Definition
a reed
NASB Translation
measuring rod (2), pen (1), reed (8), rod (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 2563: κάλαμος

κάλαμος, καλάμου, , from Pindar down, Latincalamus, i. e.

a. a reed: Matthew 11:7; Matthew 12:20 (from Isaiah 42:3); Luke 7:24.

b. a staff made of a reed, a reed-staff (as in 2 Kings 18:21): Matthew 27:29f, 48; Mark 15:19, 36.

c. a measuring reed or rod: Revelation 11:1; Revelation 21:15f (Ezekiel 40:3-6; Ezekiel 42:16-19).

d. a writer's reed, a pen: 3 John 1:13; (see Gardthausen, Griech. Palaeogr., p. 71f).

Topical Lexicon
Overview of Biblical Imagery

The term describes a reed—common, hollow, and easily swayed—yet also straight and useful for measuring or writing. In Scripture it serves as a vivid emblem of human frailty, gentle mercy, derision of Christ, precise divine measurement, and apostolic testimony.

Fragility versus Steadfastness

Matthew 11:7 and Luke 7:24 record Jesus asking the crowds concerning John the Baptist, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?”. The picture contrasts the prophet’s firmness with the instability of a reed in a gale, challenging disciples to seek spiritual resoluteness rather than vacillation.

Mercy toward the Vulnerable

Quoting Isaiah, Matthew 12:20 affirms the Messiah’s compassion: “A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish, till He leads justice to victory.” The image highlights Christ’s tender care for the wounded, assuring the struggling believer that divine justice arrives through restorative gentleness, not harsh destruction.

Mock Scepter in the Passion

During the crucifixion narrative (Matthew 27:29-30; Mark 15:19), soldiers place a reed in Jesus’ hand as a parody of royal authority and strike Him with it. The object of scorn becomes an irony-laden proclamation: the mocked King is, in truth, the Sovereign. Matthew 27:48 and Mark 15:36 further employ a reed to raise sour wine to His lips, underlining the blend of cruelty and unwitting service rendered to the Lamb.

Measuring Rod of Divine Order

Revelation 11:1 presents John given “a measuring rod like a reed,” instructed, “Go and measure the temple of God.” Again in Revelation 21:15-16 an angel bears “a golden measuring rod” to size the New Jerusalem, whose length, width, and height are equal. The reed here stands for exactness, holiness, and the certainty of God’s eschatological design. What appears flimsy in nature becomes, in God’s hand, the plumb line of perfection.

Instrument of Apostolic Witness

3 John 1:13 attests, “I have many things to write you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink”. The humble reed-pen enabled the spread of apostolic teaching, turning a common river plant into a tool that inscribed eternal truth.

Historical Background

In first-century Palestine and the wider Mediterranean, reeds thrived along waterways such as the Jordan and the Nile. Lightweight and straight, they served as walking sticks, surveyors’ rods, musical pipes, arrows, and pens. Their availability made them a ready metaphor in Hebrew and Greek culture, carrying connotations of weakness or versatility depending on context (compare 2 Kings 18:21; Isaiah 36:6).

Theological Themes

1. Human weakness contrasts with divine strength.
2. Christ’s gentle justice upholds the broken.
3. Worldly mockery cannot eclipse true kingship.
4. God measures His dwelling and His people with perfect standards.
5. Ordinary materials become sacred instruments when employed for gospel purposes.

Ministry Applications

• Leaders must resist the sway of cultural winds, embodying John’s immovability.
• Pastoral care mirrors the Messiah, refusing to break the bruised.
• Worshipers approach Communion mindful that the Reed-King who suffered now reigns.
• Churches pursue biblical order, measured not by opinion but by revealed truth.
• Every believer’s humble skills and tools, like John’s pen, may serve the advance of Scripture.

Summary

Across twelve New Testament occurrences, the reed alternates between picture of frailty and pointer to divine authority. Whether shaking in the wind, lifted in mockery, dipped in ink, or gilded for celestial measurement, it continually draws the reader to Christ’s gentleness, sovereignty, and the exacting yet gracious purposes of God.

Forms and Transliterations
καλαμον κάλαμον καλαμος κάλαμος καλαμου καλάμου καλαμω καλάμω καλάμῳ kalamo kalamō kalámoi kalámōi kalamon kálamon kalamos kálamos kalamou kalámou
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Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 11:7 N-AMS
GRK: ἔρημον θεάσασθαι κάλαμον ὑπὸ ἀνέμου
NAS: to see? A reed shaken
KJV: to see? A reed shaken
INT: wilderness to look at a reed by [the] wind

Matthew 12:20 N-AMS
GRK: κάλαμον συντετριμμένον οὐ
NAS: A BATTERED REED HE WILL NOT BREAK
KJV: A bruised reed shall he not
INT: A reed bruised not

Matthew 27:29 N-AMS
GRK: αὐτοῦ καὶ κάλαμον ἐν τῇ
NAS: it on His head, and a reed in His right hand;
KJV: head, and a reed in his
INT: of him and a reed in the

Matthew 27:30 N-AMS
GRK: ἔλαβον τὸν κάλαμον καὶ ἔτυπτον
NAS: on Him, and took the reed and [began] to beat
KJV: him, and took the reed, and smote
INT: they took the reed and struck [him]

Matthew 27:48 N-DMS
GRK: καὶ περιθεὶς καλάμῳ ἐπότιζεν αὐτόν
NAS: and put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink.
KJV: and put [it] on a reed, and gave him
INT: and having put [it] on a reed gave to drink him

Mark 15:19 N-DMS
GRK: τὴν κεφαλὴν καλάμῳ καὶ ἐνέπτυον
NAS: His head with a reed, and spitting
KJV: on the head with a reed, and
INT: head with a reed and spat on

Mark 15:36 N-DMS
GRK: ὄξους περιθεὶς καλάμῳ ἐπότιζεν αὐτόν
NAS: put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink,
KJV: and put [it] on a reed, and gave him
INT: with vinegar having put [it] on a reed gave to drink him

Luke 7:24 N-AMS
GRK: ἔρημον θεάσασθαι κάλαμον ὑπὸ ἀνέμου
NAS: to see? A reed shaken
KJV: for to see? A reed shaken
INT: wilderness to look at a reed by [the] wind

3 John 1:13 N-GMS
GRK: μέλανος καὶ καλάμου σοι γράφειν
NAS: to write [them] to you with pen and ink;
KJV: ink and pen write unto thee:
INT: ink and pen to you to write

Revelation 11:1 N-NMS
GRK: ἐδόθη μοι κάλαμος ὅμοιος ῥάβδῳ
NAS: there was given me a measuring rod like
KJV: me a reed like
INT: was given to me a reed like a staff

Revelation 21:15 N-AMS
GRK: εἶχεν μέτρον κάλαμον χρυσοῦν ἵνα
NAS: a gold measuring rod to measure
KJV: had a golden reed to measure
INT: had a measuring reed golden that

Revelation 21:16 N-DMS
GRK: πόλιν τῷ καλάμῳ ἐπὶ σταδίων
NAS: the city with the rod, fifteen hundred miles;
KJV: the city with the reed, twelve
INT: city with the reed in stadia

Strong's Greek 2563
12 Occurrences


καλάμῳ — 4 Occ.
κάλαμον — 6 Occ.
κάλαμος — 1 Occ.
καλάμου — 1 Occ.

2562
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