5519. choiros

Lexicon

choiros: Pig, Swine

Original Word: χοῖρος
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: choiros
Pronunciation: KHOO-ros
Phonetic Spelling: (khoy'-ros)
Definition: Pig, Swine
Meaning: a swine, hog, sow.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

swine.

Of uncertain derivation; a hog -- swine.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a prim. word
Definition
a swine
NASB Translation
swine (12).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 5519: χοῖρος

χοῖρος, χοιρου, ὁ, from Homer down, a swine: plural, Matthew 7:6; Matthew 8:30,(31),32; Mark 5:11-13, 14 Rec.,(16); Luke 8:32; Luke 15:15f. (Not found in the O. T.)

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek root word for "young pig" or "swine."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • H2386 חֲזִיר (chazir): The Hebrew term for pig or swine, used in the Old Testament to denote the same unclean animal prohibited in Jewish dietary laws. This term appears in passages such as Leviticus 11:7 and Deuteronomy 14:8, which outline the dietary restrictions for the Israelites.

Usage: The term χοῖρος is used in the New Testament to refer to pigs, particularly in contexts highlighting their unclean status and their association with Gentile practices. It appears in narratives that emphasize the distinction between Jewish and Gentile customs.

Context: The Greek word χοῖρος appears in the New Testament in contexts that underscore the cultural and religious significance of pigs in Jewish society. Pigs were considered unclean animals according to Levitical law (Leviticus 11:7), and their consumption was strictly prohibited. This cultural backdrop is essential for understanding the New Testament passages where χοῖρος is mentioned.

One notable occurrence of χοῖρος is in the account of the Gerasene demoniac in the Gospel of Mark (Mark 5:11-13) and its parallel in the Gospel of Luke (Luke 8:32-33). In this narrative, Jesus encounters a man possessed by a legion of demons. The demons, upon being cast out, plead with Jesus to allow them to enter a herd of pigs. Jesus consents, and the demons enter the pigs, causing the entire herd to rush down a steep bank into the sea and drown. This dramatic event highlights the perceived uncleanness of pigs and serves as a powerful illustration of Jesus' authority over evil spirits.

The presence of pigs in this narrative also underscores the setting in a predominantly Gentile region, where the keeping of pigs would have been more common. This geographical and cultural context is significant, as it contrasts with Jewish areas where pigs were not raised due to their unclean status.

The use of χοῖρος in the New Testament serves as a reminder of the cultural and religious boundaries that existed between Jews and Gentiles during the time of Jesus. It also illustrates the broader theme of Jesus' ministry, which often challenged and transcended these boundaries, bringing the message of the Kingdom of God to all people.

Forms and Transliterations

χοιροι χοίροι χοῖροι χοιρους χοίρους χοιρων χοίρων choiroi choîroi choiron choirōn choíron choírōn choirous choírous

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 7:6 N-GMP
GRK: ἔμπροσθεν τῶν χοίρων μή ποτε
NAS: before swine, or
KJV: pearls before swine, lest they trample
INT: before the pigs not lest

Matthew 8:30 N-GMP
GRK: αὐτῶν ἀγέλη χοίρων πολλῶν βοσκομένη
NAS: of many swine feeding
KJV: an herd of many swine feeding.
INT: them a herd of pigs many feeding

Matthew 8:31 N-GMP
GRK: ἀγέλην τῶν χοίρων
NAS: us into the herd of swine.
KJV: into the herd of swine.
INT: herd of the pigs

Matthew 8:32 N-AMP
GRK: εἰς τοὺς χοίρους καὶ ἰδοὺ
NAS: out and went into the swine, and the whole
KJV: into the herd of swine: and, behold,
INT: into the pigs and behold

Mark 5:11 N-GMP
GRK: ὄρει ἀγέλη χοίρων μεγάλη βοσκομένη
NAS: herd of swine feeding
KJV: a great herd of swine feeding.
INT: mountain a herd of pigs great feeding

Mark 5:12 N-AMP
GRK: εἰς τοὺς χοίρους ἵνα εἰς
NAS: Send us into the swine so
KJV: us into the swine, that we may enter
INT: into the pigs that into

Mark 5:13 N-AMP
GRK: εἰς τοὺς χοίρους καὶ ὥρμησεν
NAS: entered the swine; and the herd
KJV: into the swine: and
INT: into the pigs and rushed

Mark 5:16 N-GMP
GRK: περὶ τῶν χοίρων
NAS: man, and [all] about the swine.
KJV: and [also] concerning the swine.
INT: concerning the pigs

Luke 8:32 N-GMP
GRK: ἐκεῖ ἀγέλη χοίρων ἱκανῶν βοσκομένη
NAS: of many swine feeding
KJV: an herd of many swine feeding on
INT: there a herd of pigs many feeding

Luke 8:33 N-AMP
GRK: εἰς τοὺς χοίρους καὶ ὥρμησεν
NAS: and entered the swine; and the herd
KJV: into the swine: and
INT: into the pigs and rushed

Luke 15:15 N-AMP
GRK: αὐτοῦ βόσκειν χοίρους
NAS: him into his fields to feed swine.
KJV: fields to feed swine.
INT: of him to feed pigs

Luke 15:16 N-NMP
GRK: ἤσθιον οἱ χοῖροι καὶ οὐδεὶς
NAS: with the pods that the swine were eating,
KJV: the husks that the swine did eat: and
INT: were eating the pigs and no one

Strong's Greek 5519
12 Occurrences

χοίρων — 6 Occ.
χοῖροι — 1 Occ.
χοίρους — 5 Occ.