Lexical Summary lachanon: Vegetable, herb Original Word: λάχανον Strong's Exhaustive Concordance a garden herb, a vegetableFrom lachaino (to dig); a vegetable -- herb. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom lachainó (to dig) Definition a garden herb, a vegetable NASB Translation garden herb (1), garden plants (2), vegetables (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3001: λάχανονλάχανον, λαχανου, τό (from λαχαίνω to dig; hence, herbs grown on land cultivated by digging; garden-herbs, as opposed to wild plants); any potherb, vegetables: Matthew 13:32; Mark 4:32; Luke 11:42; Romans 14:2; (1 Kings 20:2 ( Topical Lexicon Botanical Context in the Biblical World The term refers broadly to edible garden plants—tender herbs and leafy vegetables commonly cultivated around first-century homes. Such produce was inexpensive, grew quickly, and provided daily nourishment for rich and poor alike. In Palestine’s climate, families used small kitchen plots for cabbages, lettuces, mustard greens, and similar plants. Because they were ordinary and abundant, these herbs became useful symbols for Jesus and the Apostles: humble, fragile, yet essential to life. Occurrences in the New Testament 1. Matthew 13:32 Imagery of Kingdom Growth (Matthew 13:32; Mark 4:32) Jesus twice compares the mustard seed to “garden plants.” Matthew 13:32: “Although it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is greater than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.” Mark 4:32: “But after it is sown, it grows up and becomes the largest of all garden vegetables, and with large branches the birds of the air can nest in its shade.” The contrast between the tiniest seed and the towering shrub underscores the supernatural expansion of God’s kingdom. Simple, lowly vegetation becomes a refuge for birds—an image of nations finding shelter in Christ (compare Ezekiel 17:22-24). The ordinary herb illustrates (1) the hidden power of the gospel, (2) the certainty of its growth, and (3) the inclusive reach of divine grace. Warning against Legalistic Piety (Luke 11:42) Luke 11:42: “But woe to you Pharisees! You pay tithes of mint and rue and every kind of herb, yet you overlook justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former.” Here everyday herbs expose religious hypocrisy. The Pharisees treated meticulous tithing of the smallest leaves as proof of holiness, yet they dismissed weightier matters. Jesus affirms that precise obedience has value, but only when anchored in love and justice. The passage invites believers to examine whether outward precision masks inward neglect. Christian Liberty and Mutual Acceptance (Romans 14:2) Romans 14:2: “For one person has faith to eat all things, while another, who is weak, eats only vegetables.” In Rome, some believers avoided meat—perhaps because it had been sacrificed to idols or because of lingering dietary scruples. Paul calls the church to welcome both the meat-eater and the herb-eater. Vegetables become a test case for charity: convictions about food must not fracture fellowship purchased by Christ. The passage teaches (1) liberty within God’s moral boundaries, (2) patience with immature consciences, and (3) the priority of edification over personal preference. Old Testament Roots and Continuity Herbs appear in Genesis 1:29 as God’s provision and in Deuteronomy 12:15 as lawful food. Second Temple Judaism debated precise tithing of garden produce, which frames Jesus’ rebuke in Luke 11:42. The New Testament references assume this Mosaic backdrop while reorienting the discussion toward the heart. Ministry Applications • Discipleship: Small acts of obedience, like sowing a seed, can yield kingdom-shaping influence. Historical Reception Early Christian writers (e.g., Irenaeus, Tertullian) echoed the mustard-seed parable to defend the global spread of a once-persecuted church. Monastic communities later cited Romans 14 to affirm voluntary asceticism without imposing it on others. Throughout history, humble herbs reminded believers that God delights to magnify what seems insignificant. Theological Summary From garden plot to gospel proclamation, this simple vegetable vocabulary threads through Scripture as a symbol of: 1. Humble origins leading to expansive growth. By observing how the New Testament employs the commonplace herb, readers glimpse the consistent biblical theme that God uses ordinary means to accomplish extraordinary purposes. Forms and Transliterations ελέανα ελέαναν λαχανα λάχανα λαχανον λάχανον λαχανων λαχάνων λέαινα λεαίνης λεανώ lachana láchana lachanon lachanōn lachánon lachánōn láchanonLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 13:32 N-GNPGRK: μεῖζον τῶν λαχάνων ἐστὶν καὶ NAS: it is larger than the garden plants and becomes KJV: the greatest among herbs, and INT: greater than the garden plants it is and Mark 4:32 N-GNP Luke 11:42 N-ANS Romans 14:2 N-ANP Strong's Greek 3001 |
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