Lexical Summary artuó: To season, to prepare, to arrange Original Word: ἁρτύω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance to season. From a presumed derivative of airo; to prepare, i.e. Spice (with stimulating condiments) -- season. see GREEK airo NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originprobably akin to same as harmos Definition to make ready, to season (food) NASB Translation make...salty (1), seasoned (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 741: ἀρτύωἀρτύω: future ἀρτύσω; passive, perfect ἠρτυμαι; 1 future ἀρτυθήσομαι; (ἈΡΩ to fit); to prepare, arrange; often so in Homer In the comic writers and epigrammatists used of preparing food, to season, make savory ((τά ὄψα, Aristotle, eth. Nic. 3, 13, p. 1118a, 29); ἠρτυμένος οἶνος, Theophrastus, de odor. § 51 (fragment 4, c. 11)); so Mark 9:50; Luke 14:34; metaphorically, ὁ λόγος ἅλατι ἠρτυμένος, full of wisdom and grace and hence, pleasant and wholesome, Colossians 4:6. Topical Lexicon Overview of Meaning and Imagery Strong’s Greek 741 speaks of adding savor, making food palatable, and by extension making anything wholesome, winsome, and spiritually beneficial. Like salt itself, the verb portrays preventive purity (warding off decay), positive flavor (enhancing what is good), and covenant loyalty (cf. Leviticus 2:13; Numbers 18:19). Occurrences in the New Testament 1. Mark 9:50 – Jesus warns that if salt loses its capacity to season, “with what will you season it?” The seasoned life is contrasted with useless salt, pressing disciples to preserve peace and purity. Old Testament Background Salt symbolizes permanence and faithfulness (“a covenant of salt,” Numbers 18:19) and is mandated in every grain offering (Leviticus 2:13). Seasoning therefore carried sacrificial and covenantal undertones: what is offered to God or shared with neighbor must be uncontaminated and pleasing. Theological Implications • Discipleship Integrity: A disciple’s influence is judged by whether he continues to season his surroundings. Loss of savor equates to spiritual uselessness and impending judgment (Matthew 5:13 parallels). Historical and Cultural Context In the first-century Mediterranean world, salt was indispensable for preserving fish, meat, and harvested vegetables. Roman soldiers sometimes received a “salarium,” an allowance for salt. The audience readily grasped that unsalty salt was not merely bland but dangerously deceptive, promising preservation yet delivering rot. Likewise, speech or life without sanctifying power threatened communal stability. Practical Application for Believers • Examine personal “savor” through ongoing repentance and Spirit-filled obedience. Ministry Significance Pastoral leaders must cultivate seasoned preaching—truth uncompromised, delivered winsomely—so hearers taste and see the Lord’s goodness. Discipleship programs should train believers to engage conversations with doctrinal depth and gracious tone, fulfilling Colossians 4:6. In evangelism, seasoned testimony bridges truth and audience, preventing either bland accommodation or harsh bitterness. Related Biblical Motifs • Purity (Exodus 30:35; Ezekiel 43:24) Thus Strong’s 741 presents a compact yet far-reaching summons: remain spiritually potent, preserve holiness, and communicate the gospel with attractive, life-giving flavor. Forms and Transliterations ἅλατι αρτυθησεται αρτυθήσεται ἀρτυθήσεται αρτυσετε ἀρτύσετε ηρτυμενος ηρτυμένος ἠρτυμένος alati artusete artuthesetai artuthēsetai artysete artýsete artythesetai artythēsetai artythḗsetai ertumenos ērtumenos ertymenos ertyménos ērtymenos ērtyménosLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Mark 9:50 V-FIA-2PGRK: τίνι αὐτὸ ἀρτύσετε ἔχετε ἐν NAS: with what will you make it salty [again]? Have KJV: wherewith will ye season it? INT: what it will you season Have in Luke 14:34 V-FIP-3S Colossians 4:6 V-RPM/P-NMS Strong's Greek 741 |
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