νήθω

I spin

Definition

The verb νήθω means 'to spin' thread, specifically the process of twisting fibers like wool or flax into yarn. In its two New Testament occurrences, it refers to the domestic task of spinning cloth, a common household chore in the ancient world. The word does not carry any extended metaphorical meaning in the biblical text; its usage is consistently literal, describing the physical act of textile production.

Biblical Usage

Νήθω is used only twice in the New Testament, and in parallel passages: Matthew 6:28 and Luke 12:27. In both instances, Jesus uses the word in his teaching from the Sermon on the Mount/Plain. He points to the 'lilies of the field' which 'neither toil nor spin,' yet are clothed in splendor by God. The verb is part of a rhetorical contrast highlighting God's providential care, contrasting human labor (spinning) with divine, effortless provision.

Etymology

The word νήθω is a primary verb in ancient Greek, meaning 'to spin.' It is related to the noun νῆμα (nēma, G3514's noun form), meaning 'a thread.' The root is Proto-Indo-European, connected to spinning and thread-making, and is a cognate with similar words in other languages like Latin 'neo' (to spin). Its meaning remained stable and specific throughout classical and Koine Greek.

Semantic Range

While the act of spinning is mundane, its use in Jesus' teaching is theologically significant. In Matthew 6:28 and Luke 12:27, 'spin' becomes a symbol of anxious human toil and self-reliance. Jesus contrasts it with the passive, trusting reception of God's gracious provision, as seen in the lilies. Understanding this verb enriches the passage by emphasizing that worry often accompanies our attempts to 'spin' our own security, while faith rests in the God who clothes creation.

Spinning was a fundamental, daily task performed primarily by women in the ancient household. It was time-consuming manual labor required to produce all clothing and textiles. Jesus' audience would have immediately understood the effort and necessity implied by the word. The contrast with the lilies, which are 'clothed' without any such labor, would have been strikingly vivid, challenging cultural assumptions about the necessity of anxious striving for basic needs.

ὑφαίνω (hyphainō, G5307) — to weave; distinguishes the act of weaving spun thread into cloth from the act of spinning the thread itself.

Word Details

Scripture References