μυλικός
belonging to a mill
Definition
The adjective μυλικός (mylikos) means 'belonging to a mill' or 'pertaining to a millstone.' In its sole biblical occurrence, it specifically describes a 'millstone' (μύλος μυλικός) as referenced in Mark 9:42. This term emphasizes the object's origin and primary function within the ancient milling process. There are no other distinct biblical senses, as it appears only in this verse to qualify the type of stone.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Mark 9:42. It appears in the phrase 'μύλος μυλικός' (a millstone, literally 'a millstone belonging to a mill'), used by Jesus in a stark warning about causing spiritual harm. The context is a discourse on the seriousness of sin and causing 'little ones' to stumble. No patterns exist due to its single occurrence.
Etymology
Derived directly from the Greek noun μύλος (mylos, G3458), meaning 'mill' or 'millstone.' The suffix -ικός (-ikos) is a common adjectival ending meaning 'belonging to' or 'pertaining to.' Thus, μυλικός literally means 'of or for a mill.' Its meaning is straightforward and directly tied to its root.
Semantic Range
While the word itself is mundane, its use in Mark 9:42 carries profound theological weight. Jesus uses the imagery of a 'millstone' (μύλος μυλικός) being hung around someone's neck and cast into the sea to illustrate the severe eternal consequences of leading a believer into sin. This underscores the gravity of spiritual influence and the value Jesus places on the 'little ones' who believe in him, highlighting doctrines of judgment, sin's seriousness, and the protection of the faithful.
In the first-century world, a millstone was a large, heavy stone used for grinding grain, essential for daily food preparation. The 'millstone' (μύλος μυλικός) Jesus references is understood to be a large, donkey-driven upper millstone, not a small hand tool. Being cast into the sea with such a weight meant certain, inescapable drowning. This vivid cultural image powerfully communicated a fate worse than physical death—eternal judgment—making the warning unmistakable to His original audience.
μύλος (mylos, G3458) — The noun for 'mill' or 'millstone' itself, whereas μυλικός is the adjective describing something as belonging to it.
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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