Lexical Summary arén: Lamb Original Word: ἀρήν Strong's Exhaustive Concordance lamb. Perhaps the same as arrhen; a lamb (as a male) -- lamb. see GREEK arrhen NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. word Definition a lamb NASB Translation lambs (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 704: ἀρήνἀρήν, ὁ, nominative not in use; the other cases are by syncope ἀρνός (for ἀρενος), ἀρνί, ἄρνα, plural ἄρνες, ἀρνῶν, ἄρνασι, ἄρνας, a sheep, a lamb: Luke 10:3. (Genesis 30:32; Exodus 23:19, etc.; in Greek writings from Homer down.) STRONGS NT 704: ἄρναςἄρνας, see ἀρήν. Topical Lexicon Form and Singular OccurrenceἌρνας appears once in the Greek New Testament, Luke 10:3, the accusative plural form of a word meaning “lamb.” Nowhere else is this exact form used, giving the verse special weight for understanding its import. Old Testament Background Lambs figure prominently in the sacrificial system (Exodus 12:3-13; Leviticus 4:32-35) and in prophetic expectation (Isaiah 53:7). They symbolize innocence, dependence, and the cost of redemption. This background prepares the reader to appreciate why the Lord would choose the image when commissioning His messengers. Metaphorical Use in Luke 10:3 “Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.” (Luke 10:3) Jesus appoints the Seventy-Two and immediately frames their mission with a vivid contrast: gentle, defenseless creatures entering a predatory world. The picture highlights three truths: 1. Vulnerability: The disciples are to trust God’s protection rather than human strength. Implications for Discipleship and Mission 1. Dependence on the Shepherd The imagery underlines reliance upon the Sender. “The Lord is my shepherd” (Psalm 23:1) echoes behind Luke 10:3; the lambs go where the Shepherd directs, confident of His care. 2. Distinctiveness of Kingdom Methods Lamb-like workers confront wolf-like hostility not with retaliation but with peace (Luke 10:5-6), healing (10:9), and proclamation (10:9). The contrast strengthens the mandate to overcome evil with good. 3. Foretaste of Apostolic Hardship Later persecution—Acts 4:1-3; 2 Timothy 3:12—shows the realism of the image. The Lord had prepared His people to expect opposition. Christological Echoes While Luke 10:3 speaks of disciples, the lamb image ultimately points to the Lamb of God (John 1:29; Revelation 5:6). The servants’ identity is patterned after their Master: vulnerability in ministry that issues in victorious redemption. Their suffering fellowship anticipates His own sacrifice. Pastoral Application • Courage rooted in divine commission rather than personal might. Historical Usage in the Early Church Patristic writers seized on Luke 10:3 to encourage missionaries facing pagan hostility. For example, Cyprian cites the verse to commend patience under persecution, and later monastic rules apply it to internal self-denial, portraying the monk as a lamb resisting the “wolves” of fleshly desire. Relationship to Other “Lamb” Terminology Luke 10:3 employs a term distinct from John 21:15 (“Feed My lambs”) and Revelation’s repeated “Lamb” titles, yet all converge on the same theological axis: God advances His kingdom through apparent weakness. The unique form in Luke accents the theme at the outset of a mission narrative rather than in a sacrificial or eschatological setting. Summary Ἄρνας in Luke 10:3 encapsulates Jesus’ philosophy of mission: humble, dependent servants sent into a hostile world to bear a peaceful, saving message. The single New Testament occurrence is therefore a concentrated revelation of the character required for gospel advance and a foreshadowing of the Lamb-like path that leads to resurrection triumph. Forms and Transliterations άρθρα αριήλ άρνα αρνας άρνας ἄρνας αρνάσι άρνες αρνού αρνών arnas árnasLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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