ἀμνός
a lamb
Definition
ἀμνός refers specifically to a lamb, often a young sheep. In the New Testament, it carries strong sacrificial connotations, depicting innocence and purity offered for others. In John 1:29 and 36, John the Baptist identifies Jesus as 'the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world,' directly linking the term to atonement. In Acts 8:32 (quoting Isaiah 53:7) and 1 Peter 1:19, the imagery emphasizes a lamb led to slaughter and a lamb without blemish, highlighting Christ's sacrificial death and redeeming blood.
Biblical Usage
The word is used exclusively in a Christological and sacrificial context in the New Testament. All four occurrences (John 1:29, 36; Acts 8:32; 1 Peter 1:19) directly apply the term to Jesus. The usage patterns connect Jesus to the Passover lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7) and the suffering servant of Isaiah 53, portraying him as the ultimate, innocent sacrifice for sin.
Etymology
Derived from a common Indo-European root for 'lamb'. The proposed derivation from ἀ- (a negative prefix) and a root related to 'memory' (mnē-) to imply 'innocent' or 'without blemish' is linguistically uncertain but reflects the symbolic understanding of the lamb in religious contexts. It is the standard word for a sacrificial lamb.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically central, identifying Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament sacrificial systems (e.g., Exodus 12, Isaiah 53). It underscores key doctrines of atonement, substitutionary sacrifice, and redemption. Understanding ἀμνός enriches reading by connecting John the Baptist's proclamation directly to Passover and sin-offering imagery, deepening the meaning of Christ's work.
In the ancient Mediterranean and Jewish world, lambs were primary animals for ritual sacrifice, especially the Passover lamb. A lamb without defect (1 Peter 1:19) was required for offerings, symbolizing purity. The cultural understanding of a lamb as a vulnerable, innocent animal led to slaughter profoundly shaped this metaphor for Jesus's death.
ἀρνίον (arnion, G721) — A diminutive, often 'little lamb'; used frequently in Revelation for Christ and his followers, with more emphasis on triumph and sovereignty. πρόβατον (probaton, G4263) — A more general term for sheep or flock, not specifically sacrificial.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
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