ἄνηθον

anise, dill

Definition

ἄνηθον refers to a small aromatic plant used for seasoning and medicinal purposes in the ancient world. In botanical terms, it most accurately corresponds to dill (Anethum graveolens), though some older translations, like the King James Version, render it as 'anise' (Pimpinella anisum). The word appears only once in the New Testament, in Matthew 23:23, where Jesus criticizes the Pharisees for meticulously tithing even the smallest garden herbs like ἄνηθον while neglecting the weightier matters of the law. This single biblical occurrence defines its meaning contextually as a titheable herb.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Matthew 23:23. It is listed alongside other garden herbs—'mint' (ἡδύοσμον) and 'cumin' (κύμινον)—as examples of items the Pharisees were scrupulous in tithing. Its usage is purely illustrative, serving as a concrete, everyday example to highlight a spiritual critique about misplaced priorities in religious observance.

Etymology

The etymology of ἄνηθον is uncertain. It is a native Greek word, not a loanword. Some suggest a derivation from the prefix ἀν- (an-, a form of negation or intensity) and a root related to smelling or blowing, possibly referring to its strong scent. Its primary meaning as a specific herb was well-established in classical and Koine Greek.

Semantic Range

The theological significance of ἄνηθον lies not in the plant itself but in its use by Jesus in Matthew 23:23. It represents legalistic attention to minute details of the Mosaic law (tithing from one's garden) while ignoring its core principles: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. Understanding this specific term enriches the reading by showing the absurd precision of the Pharisees' practice and the sharpness of Christ's rebuke against hypocrisy and misplaced religious zeal.

In the 1st-century Jewish and Greco-Roman world, dill was a common kitchen herb and a recognized cash crop. The Mosaic law required tithing from the yield of the seed of the land (Leviticus 27:30, Deuteronomy 14:22). Rabbinical debates extended this to garden herbs, making the tithing of plants like dill a mark of strict piety. This cultural context is essential for understanding why Jesus chose this example—it was a recognizable point of extreme legalistic practice for his audience.

σίνᾱπι (sinapi, G4615) — mustard seed, a different small seed used proverbially. ἡδύοσμον (hēdyosmon, G2238) — mint, another garden herb mentioned alongside ἄνηθον in Matthew 23:23. κύμινον (kyminon, G2951) — cumin, the third titheable herb listed in the same verse.

Word Details

Scripture References