Lexical Summary 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. In the Greco-Roman world small polished stones served as ballots in courts and assemblies. A dark stone signified a guilty verdict; a light stone, acquittal. Similar stones functioned as entrance tokens to banquets and as prizes for victors in athletic games. These cultural practices underlie the New Testament’s three uses of the term translated “vote” or “stone.” Occurrences in the New Testament • Acts 26:10 Votes of Condemnation in Acts 26:10 Paul recalls his pre-conversion zeal: “I cast my vote against them”. The imagery of dropping a condemning stone underscores the gravity of his former persecution of believers. It also heightens the wonder of grace—Paul, once a bearer of the dark stone of death, is now a herald of life. The White Stone of Revelation 2:17 “To the one who overcomes I will give the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written that no one knows except the one who receives it”. Several first-century associations illuminate the promise: 1. Acquittal: a white ballot declaring the believer eternally justified. Doctrinal and Theological Implications 1. Justification by faith: believers, once under condemnation, receive Christ’s verdict of righteousness (Romans 8:1-4). Connections with Old Testament Imagery • Urim and Thummim (Exodus 28:30) — objects used for divine verdicts anticipate the decisive “white stone” of approval. Pastoral and Ministry Applications 1. Encouragement under persecution: Christ, not hostile authorities, renders the final verdict. Summary Strong’s Greek 5586 depicts both the darkest and brightest verdicts imaginable: Paul’s lethal ballots and Christ’s life-giving white stone. Together they trace the gospel arc from condemnation to justification, from old identity to new name, urging the church to live as overcomers awaiting full admission to the Lamb’s eternal banquet. 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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