2583. kanón

Lexicon

kanón: Rule, standard, principle

Original Word: κανών
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: kanón
Pronunciation: kah-NONE
Phonetic Spelling: (kan-ohn')
Definition: Rule, standard, principle
Meaning: (lit: a level, ruler), a rule, regulation, rule of conduct or doctrine, (b) a measured (defined) area, province.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

line, rule.

From kane (a straight reed, i.e. Rod); a rule ("canon"), i.e. (figuratively) a standard (of faith and practice); by implication, a boundary, i.e. (figuratively) a sphere (of activity) -- line, rule.

HELPS Word-studies

2583 kanṓn – properly, a rod (bar) used as a measuring standard, originally, a cane or reed used as a standard of measure; (figuratively) a rule; a standard or norm (see Gal 6:16).

2583 /kanṓn ("rule, standard") was used for a summary of orthodox Christian doctrine in the early Church (its "consensual theology") – called "the rule (kanōn) of truth" or "rule of faith" (regula fidei). This represented the core theological convictions prevailing in the local churches in the "post-apostolic era" (particularly from ad 100 on).

These beliefs ("rule of faith") were written down by Irenaeus (about ad 185) and Tertullian (about ad 200). They emphasized: Christ came in the flesh through a virgin birth; His physical resurrection; and the glorification of all believers at Christ's coming (i.e. through the physical resurrection of their bodies). See: Ignatius (Philadelphians 7-9); Irenaeus (Against Heresies 3:17); and Tertullian (Prescription, 9,13,37,44).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from kanna (a straight rod)
Definition
a rule, standard
NASB Translation
rule (1), sphere (3).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 2583: κανών

κανών, κανόνος, ὁ (κάννα, Hebrew קָנֶה a cane, reed; Arabic: a reed, and a spear, and a straight stick or staff (cf. Vanicek, Fremdwörter etc., p. 21)), properly, a rod or straight piece of rounded wood to which anything is fastened to keep it straight; used for various purposes (see Passow (or Liddell and Scott), under the word); a measuring rod, rule; a carpenter's line or measuring tape, Schol. on Euripides, Hippolytus, 468; hence, equivalent to τό μέτρον τοῦ πηδηματος (Pollux, Onom. 3, 30, 151), the measure of a leap, as in the Olympic games; accordingly in the N. T.

1. "a definitely bounded or fixed space within the limits of which one's power or influence is confined; the province assigned one; one's sphere of activity": 2 Corinthians 10:13, 15f.

2. Metaphorically, any rule or standard, a principle or law of investigating, judging, living, acting (often so in classical Greek, as τοῦ καλοῦ, Euripides, Hec. 602; ὁροι τῶν ἀγαθῶν καί κανονες, Demosthenes, pro cor., p. 324, 27): Galatians 6:16; Philippians 3:16 Rec. Cf. Credner, Zur Gesch. des Kanons (Hal., 1847), pp. 6ff; (especially Westcott, The Canon of the N. T., Appendix A; briefly in B. D. under the word Canon of Scripture; for examples of later usage see Sophocles' Lexicon, under the word).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek word "κάννα" (kanna), meaning "reed" or "measuring rod."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for "κανών," the concept of a standard or rule can be related to several Hebrew terms that convey similar meanings, such as:

• מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat) • judgment, ordinance, or law (Strong's Hebrew 4941)
• חֹק (choq) • statute, decree, or ordinance (Strong's Hebrew 2706)
• תּוֹרָה (torah) • law, instruction, or teaching (Strong's Hebrew 8451)

These Hebrew terms reflect the idea of divine standards or laws that guide the conduct and beliefs of God's people, paralleling the New Testament use of "κανών" as a rule or standard for Christian life and doctrine.

Usage: The term "κανών" is used in the New Testament to refer to a standard or rule, particularly in the context of faith and practice. It is often associated with the idea of a guideline or principle that governs conduct or belief.

Context: The Greek word "κανών" (kanón) appears in the New Testament primarily in the writings of the Apostle Paul. It is used metaphorically to describe a standard or rule by which something is measured or judged. In the context of the early Christian church, "κανών" came to signify the rule of faith or the body of accepted teachings and practices.

In Galatians 6:16, Paul writes, "Peace and mercy to all who walk by this rule, even to the Israel of God." Here, "κανών" refers to the standard of living according to the principles of the new creation in Christ, emphasizing a life led by the Spirit rather than adherence to the law.

Similarly, in Philippians 3:16, Paul exhorts believers, "Nevertheless, we must live up to what we have already attained." The use of "κανών" in this context suggests a call to maintain the standard of conduct and belief that aligns with the teachings of Christ and the apostles.

The concept of "κανών" also extends to the idea of the canon of Scripture, the collection of books recognized as divinely inspired and authoritative for faith and practice. This reflects the broader application of "κανών" as a measure or standard by which truth is discerned and upheld within the Christian community.

Forms and Transliterations

κανονα κανόνα κανονι κανόνι κανονος κανόνος kanona kanóna kanoni kanóni kanonos kanónos

Englishman's Concordance

2 Corinthians 10:13 N-GMS
GRK: μέτρον τοῦ κανόνος οὗ ἐμέρισεν
NAS: the measure of the sphere which
KJV: to the measure of the rule which
INT: measure of the area which divided

2 Corinthians 10:15 N-AMS
GRK: κατὰ τὸν κανόνα ἡμῶν εἰς
NAS: we will be, within our sphere, enlarged
KJV: according to our rule abundantly,
INT: according to the area of us to

2 Corinthians 10:16 N-DMS
GRK: ἐν ἀλλοτρίῳ κανόνι εἰς τὰ
NAS: in what has been accomplished in the sphere of another.
KJV: another man's line of
INT: in another's area as to things

Galatians 6:16 N-DMS
GRK: ὅσοι τῷ κανόνι τούτῳ στοιχήσουσιν
NAS: by this rule, peace
KJV: according to this rule, peace [be] on
INT: as many as the rule by this will walk

Strong's Greek 2583
4 Occurrences

κανόνα — 1 Occ.
κανόνι — 2 Occ.
κανόνος — 1 Occ.