Lexical Summary kónóps: Gnat Original Word: κώνωψ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance gnat. Apparently a derivative of the base of kentron and a derivative of optanomai; a mosquito (from its stinging proboscis) -- gnat. see GREEK kentron see GREEK optanomai NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originprobably from kónos; (cone-shaped) and óps (eye, face) Definition a gnat NASB Translation gnat (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2971: κώνωψκώνωψ, κωνωπος, ὁ, a gnat ((Aeschylus), Herodotus, Hippocrates, others); of the wine-gnat or midge that is bred in (fermenting and) evaporating wine (Aristotle, h. an. 5, 19 (p. 552{b}, 5; cf. Bochart, Hierozoicon, iii. 444; Buxtorf, Lex. talm. etc. 921 (474{a} Fischer edition))): Matthew 23:24. Topical Lexicon Occurrence and Immediate Setting Strong’s Greek 2971 appears once, in Matthew 23:24, during the climactic series of “woes” Jesus pronounces upon scribes and Pharisees. The verse reads: “You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.” By pairing the tiniest unclean creature with one of the largest, Christ employs biting hyperbole to expose religious hypocrisy—scrupulous attention to minute ritual detail while neglecting the moral heart of God’s law. Background in Jewish Practice 1. Purity regulations. Leviticus 11:20-23 declared winged insects that crawl on all fours unclean. Devout Jews therefore filtered wine or water through fine cloth to avoid accidental ingestion and ceremonial defilement. Symbolism of the Gnat • Negligible size—contrasted with a camel, it dramatizes disproportionate concern. Theological Emphasis in Matthew 23 1. Divine priority. God values heart obedience above ritual minutiae (1 Samuel 15:22; Micah 6:8). Old Testament Echoes and Parallels Although κώνωψ itself is Greek, the plague of “gnats” (Hebrew kinnim, Exodus 8:16-18) foreshadows the theme: small creatures wielded by God to humble the proud. Isaiah 7:18 likewise speaks of the Lord summoning “flies” and “bees” as instruments of judgment, reinforcing the motif that size does not limit divine purpose. Historical and Natural Details • Species. Palestinian gnats (family Culicidae) breed near stagnant water, swarming at dusk—especially around winepresses. Practical Ministry Implications 1. Examine proportionality. Churches must avoid elevating secondary issues above clear biblical mandates. Homiletical Observations • Contrast device. Preachers can juxtapose “gnat” and “camel” to illustrate the danger of magnifying preferences while minimizing sin. Conclusion Strong’s 2971, though occurring only once, powerfully encapsulates a perennial spiritual problem: valuing religious exactitude over genuine righteousness. Jesus’ vivid metaphor challenges every generation to filter its conscience through the priorities of Scripture itself, so that neither gnat nor camel escapes the sanctifying work of grace. Forms and Transliterations κωνωπα κώνωπα κώπας κωπηλάται konopa kōnōpa kṓnopa kṓnōpaLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |