Lexicon pséphos: Pebble, stone, vote Original Word: ψῆφος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance a voting-pebble, small stoneFrom the same as pselaphao; a pebble (as worn smooth by handling), i.e. (by implication, of use as a counter or ballot) a verdict (of acquittal) or ticket (of admission); a vote -- stone, voice. see GREEK pselaphao HELPS Word-studies 5586 psḗphos – properly, a pebble used in ancient elections to vote; hence, a vote (Souter). [People in ancient times often voted by casting stones. A white stone typically meant "yes" and a black stone "no."] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as psalló Definition a small smooth stone, a pebble NASB Translation stone (2), vote (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5586: ψῆφοςψῆφος, ψηφου, ἡ (from ψάω, see ψάλλω), a small, worn, smooth stone; pebble (from Pindar, Herodotus down; (in Homer ψηφίς)); 1. since in the ancient courts of justice the accused were condemned by black pebbles and acquitted by white (cf. Passow, under the word, ψῆφος, 2 c, vol. ii, p. 2574b; (Liddell and Scott, under the word, 4 d.); Ovid. met. 15, 41; (Plutarch, Alcib. 22, 2)), and a man on his acquittal was spoken of as νικησας (Theophrastus, char. 17 (19), 3) and the ψῆφος acquitting Dim called νικητήριος (Heliodorus 3, 3 under the end), Christ promises that to the one who has gained eternal life by coming off conqueror over temptation (τῷ νικουντι (A. V. to him that overcometh)) he will give ψῆφον λευκήν, Revelation 2:17; but the figure is explained differently by different interpretations; cf. Düsterdieck (or Lee in the 'Speaker's Commentary') at the passage; (B. D. under the word, Stones, 8). Ewald (Die Johann. Schriften, ii., p. 136; (cf. Lee as above; Plumptre in B. D. under the word, Hospitality, at the end)) understnads it to be the tessera hospitalis (cf. Rich, Dict. of Antiq., under the word, Tessera, 3; Becker, Charicles, namely, i. note 17), which on being shown secures admission to the enjoyment of the heavenly manna; the Greek name, however, for this tessera, is not ψῆφος, but σύμβολον. 2. a vote (on account of the use of pebbles in voting): καταφέρω (which see), Acts 26:10. Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for ψῆφος, the concept of casting lots or making decisions through objects can be related to Hebrew terms such as גּוֹרָל (goral, Strong's Hebrew 1486), which refers to a lot or portion, often used in the context of decision-making or determining God's will. Usage: The term ψῆφος is used in the New Testament to denote a stone or pebble, particularly in the context of voting or making a decision. It appears in the context of judgment or decision-making. Context: The Greek word ψῆφος (psēphos) appears in the New Testament in contexts that reflect its historical use in Greek culture. In ancient Greece, small stones or pebbles were used as voting tokens, where each voter would cast a ψῆφος to indicate their choice. This practice extended into judicial settings, where a ψῆφος could represent a vote for acquittal or condemnation. Englishman's Concordance Acts 26:10 N-AFSGRK: αὐτῶν κατήνεγκα ψῆφον NAS: I cast my vote against KJV: I gave my voice against [them]. INT: they I cast against [them] a vote Revelation 2:17 N-AFS Revelation 2:17 N-AFS |
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