ἰκμάς
moisture
Definition
ἰκμάς refers to moisture, specifically a small amount of dampness or humidity. In the New Testament, it is used in the literal, physical sense to describe the minimal moisture necessary for a seed to sprout. Its sole biblical occurrence is in the Parable of the Sower in Luke 8:6, where some seed falls on rock and, having no moisture (ἰκμάς), withers. The word emphasizes not abundance, but the essential, minimal dampness required for life.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Luke 8:6. It appears in the narrative of Jesus's Parable of the Sower to describe the condition of the rocky ground, which lacks the necessary moisture for a plant's roots to become established. The usage is purely descriptive and literal, highlighting an agricultural reality central to the parable's imagery.
Etymology
Derived from the verb ἰκμαίνω (ikmainō), meaning 'to moisten' or 'to wet.' It is a primary Greek noun for dampness or humidity, with cognates in other Indo-European languages relating to fluidity or moisture. Its meaning remained consistent in its literal sense.
Semantic Range
While the word itself is mundane, its single use in Luke 8:6 is theologically significant within the parable. The lack of ἰκμάς symbolizes a heart that initially receives the word with joy but has no depth or sustaining spiritual resource (like moisture) to endure testing or persecution. Understanding this precise term enriches the metaphor, emphasizing that superficial faith lacks the essential, life-giving sustenance found in a heart deeply rooted in Christ.
In an agrarian society, the necessity of moisture for crop survival was immediately understood. The contrast between rocky, dry soil and good, moist soil was a common agricultural observation. The term's use would vividly communicate the idea of an inhospitable environment incapable of supporting sustained growth, making Jesus's spiritual analogy clear to his original audience.
ὑγρός (hygros, G5200) — an adjective meaning 'wet' or 'fluid,' describing a state rather than the substance of moisture itself. βρέχω (brechō, G1026) — a verb meaning 'to rain' or 'to wet,' focusing on the action of moistening.
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.
Full methodology & sources →