σιτομέτριον

a measured portion of grain or food

Definition

A σιτομέτριον is a measured portion of grain or food, specifically a ration or allowance given out at a set time. It refers to a systematic distribution of sustenance, implying management, stewardship, and provision. In its sole New Testament occurrence, Luke 12:42, it describes the food portion a faithful manager distributes to the servants in a household.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Luke 12:42. It appears in Jesus's parable of the faithful and wise manager, where the master puts the manager in charge of giving the other servants their 'allowance of food' (σιτομέτριον). Its usage is entirely within this metaphorical context of stewardship and responsible oversight of resources.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek words σῖτος (sitos), meaning 'grain' or 'food,' and μέτρον (metron), meaning 'measure.' It is a compound noun literally meaning 'a grain-measure' or 'measured food.' This construction directly points to its function as a specific, quantified portion of sustenance.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it is central to Jesus's teaching on faithful stewardship in Luke 12:42-44. Understanding it as a 'measured allowance' highlights the themes of trust, responsibility, and accountability before God. The manager's duty with the σιτομέτριον parallels the believer's responsibility to faithfully administer the resources and truths God has entrusted to them. It enriches the reading by emphasizing that God's provision is both generous and requires wise, timely distribution.

In the ancient Greco-Roman world, large households or estates employed a head servant (the οἰκονόμος, or steward) to manage resources, including distributing food rations to the staff. The σιτομέτριον represents this standard practice of measured provision, ensuring the household ran smoothly. This context makes Jesus's parable immediately understandable to his audience, contrasting faithful management with wasteful neglect.

τροφή (trophē, G5160) — general term for food or nourishment, not necessarily a measured portion. οἰκονόμος (oikonomos, G3623) — the steward or manager who distributes the σιτομέτριον, focusing on the person rather than the ration.

Word Details

Scripture References