στρουθίον

a small bird, sparrow

Definition

Στρουθίον (strouthion) refers to a small bird, most commonly understood as a sparrow. In the New Testament, it is used exclusively by Jesus in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke to illustrate God's providential care. The word emphasizes the bird's small size and seemingly insignificant value in the marketplace, as two are sold for a single assarion coin (Matthew 10:29, Luke 12:6). Yet, Jesus teaches that not one of these birds falls to the ground apart from the Father's will, highlighting their importance to God despite their low economic worth.

Biblical Usage

This word appears four times, all within parallel teachings of Jesus recorded in Matthew 10:29-31 and Luke 12:6-7. It is used in a specific rhetorical context to argue from the lesser to the greater: if God cares for and knows about these cheap, common birds, how much more does He care for and know about His human followers. The usage is consistent across both Gospel accounts, serving as a vivid metaphor for divine providence and intimate knowledge.

Etymology

Στρουθίον is a diminutive form of the Greek noun στρουθός (strouthos), which means a large bird like an ostrich or sparrow. The diminutive ending (-ιον) specifies a small bird, hence 'little sparrow.' This linguistic form reinforces the concept of insignificance in size and value, which Jesus then contrasts with immense divine care.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it directly teaches God's providence, omniscience, and the inherent value of His creation. Jesus uses the sparrow to assure believers of their supreme worth to God the Father. Understanding the Greek diminutive enriches the passage by emphasizing the bird's perceived worthlessness, making God's care for it—and by extension, for us—all the more profound and comforting.

In the ancient marketplace, sparrows were among the cheapest items sold for food, often purchased by the very poor. Two were sold for an assarion, a coin of minimal value (less than a day's wage for a laborer). This cultural context of extreme cheapness is essential to Jesus' analogy; if God cares for something of such negligible economic value, His care for humanity is exponentially greater.

πετεινόν (peteinon, G4071) — a more general term for 'bird' or 'flying creature', used in broader contexts like the birds of the air (Matthew 6:26).

Word Details

Scripture References