μάκελλον

a meat-market

Definition

Μάκελλον (makellon) refers specifically to a meat market or a butcher's shop where meat and other food items were sold. In the ancient Greco-Roman world, this was a designated section of the larger marketplace (agora) for the sale of slaughtered animals and provisions. In the New Testament, its sole occurrence in 1 Corinthians 10:25 carries this primary sense of a place where meat is sold for consumption. The word does not have multiple distinct biblical meanings, as it is used only in this specific, practical context.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in 1 Corinthians 10:25. The apostle Paul instructs believers, 'Eat whatever is sold in the meat market (μάκελλον) without raising questions of conscience.' Here, it is used in the context of dietary freedom and the Christian's relationship to food that may have been previously offered to idols before being sold in the public market. Its usage is entirely practical, addressing a specific concern in the Corinthian church.

Etymology

The word μάκελλον (makellon) is a Greek noun of Latin origin, borrowed from the Latin 'macellum,' which means a provision market or a butcher's stall. It entered Greek through common usage in the Roman Empire, reflecting the cultural and commercial integration of the era. The term specifically denotes a place for the sale of food, especially meat, distinguishing it from the more general marketplace (agora).

Semantic Range

While the word itself is mundane, its single biblical usage in 1 Corinthians 10:25 connects to the significant theological theme of Christian liberty and conscience. Paul uses the 'meat market' as a practical example to teach that believers are free to eat all things, but this freedom is to be exercised with love and consideration for others' consciences (1 Corinthians 10:28-29). Understanding this term grounds the discussion in the everyday reality of the Greco-Roman world, showing how doctrine applies to common life.

In the 1st-century Roman world, meat sold in the μάκελλον often came from animals sacrificed in pagan temples. The leftover meat was then sold in the public market. This created a dilemma for Jewish and early Christian converts, who were concerned about inadvertently participating in idolatry or violating dietary laws. Paul's instruction directly addresses this widespread cultural practice, advising believers not to scrutinize the origin of market-bought meat to avoid unnecessary scruples, unless someone explicitly points out its idolatrous source.

ἀγορά (agora, G58) — a general public marketplace or assembly area, broader than a meat market. ἐμπόριον (emporion, G1713) — a trading place or mart, often for goods in general, not specifically food.

Word Details

Scripture References