παροψίς

a bowl, dish, platter

Definition

παροψίς refers to a dish, platter, or bowl used for serving food. In its literal sense, it denotes a container from which food is eaten or served. In Matthew 23:25-26, Jesus uses the word metaphorically to criticize the Pharisees for focusing on outward ritual purity ('cleaning the outside of the dish') while neglecting inner moral and spiritual cleanliness ('inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence'). Thus, the word carries both a concrete meaning of a physical vessel and a symbolic meaning representing external appearances versus internal reality.

Biblical Usage

παροψίς appears only twice in the New Testament, both in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 23:25 and 23:26) within the same teaching of Jesus against the scribes and Pharisees. In this context, it is used in a vivid metaphorical illustration about hypocrisy, contrasting the meticulous cleaning of the outside of a dish (παροψίς) with the neglect of the impurity within.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek prefix παρά (para, 'beside') and ὄψις (opsis, 'appearance, sight, dish'). It originally referred to a side-dish or delicacy served alongside the main meal, something for show or to please the eye. Over time, the meaning broadened to refer to the dish or platter itself that held such food.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as the centerpiece of Jesus' critique of religious hypocrisy in Matthew 23. Understanding παροψίς enriches the reading by highlighting the contrast between external religious observance and internal heart condition. The metaphor underscores key biblical doctrines about true purity, the priority of the heart over ritual, and God's desire for authentic righteousness rather than mere appearance.

In the ancient Greco-Roman world, meals were important social and religious events. A παροψίς was not just any dish; it often held the more delicate or prized side dishes. Cleaning such vessels was part of ritual purity laws in Judaism. Jesus' audience would immediately grasp the imagery of carefully cleaning a ceremonial dish, making His point about misplaced priorities powerfully relatable.

τρύβλιον (tryblion, G5165) — a simpler, deeper bowl or dish for holding liquid or food, also used metaphorically in the same passage (Matthew 23:25-26).

Word Details

Scripture References