τίλλω

I pluck, pluck off

Definition

The verb τίλλω means to pluck, pick, or pull off, typically referring to the action of removing something by hand. In its three New Testament occurrences, it specifically describes the plucking of grain heads from stalks. In Matthew 12:1, Mark 2:23, and Luke 6:1, the disciples are 'plucking heads of grain' as they walk through a field on the Sabbath. The word conveys a deliberate, manual harvesting action, not merely casual touching.

Biblical Usage

Τίλλω is used exclusively in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke) to describe the same event: the disciples plucking grain on the Sabbath. All three accounts use the identical phrase 'to pluck heads of grain' (τίλλειν στάχυας). This consistent usage highlights a specific, contested action that becomes the catalyst for a debate about Sabbath law between Jesus and the Pharisees.

Etymology

The word τίλλω is a primary verb in ancient Greek. It is related to the idea of picking or plucking, often used for pulling hair, wool, or feathers, as well as harvesting plants. Its root sense implies a pulling or tearing action done with the fingers. Cognates in other contexts can include the plucking of strings or the gathering of herbs.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant because it centers the Sabbath controversy narratives. The act of 'plucking' grain was interpreted by the Pharisees as 'reaping,' a form of work forbidden on the Sabbath (Exodus 34:21). Jesus' defense of his disciples (e.g., Mark 2:27-28) uses this mundane action to teach profound truths about the purpose of the Sabbath and his own authority as 'Lord of the Sabbath.' Understanding the specific, manual labor denoted by τίλλω clarifies the legal accusation and the radical nature of Jesus' response.

In the agricultural society of first-century Palestine, plucking grain by hand while walking through a field (a right permitted by Deuteronomy 23:25) was a common way to satisfy immediate hunger. The Pharisees' objection was not to the act itself, but to its timing on the Sabbath. Their interpretation of Mosaic law classified this plucking as a form of harvesting labor. This cultural-legal context is essential for understanding the conflict, as modern readers might not perceive simple snack-gathering as 'work.'

θερίζω (therizō, G2325) — to harvest or reap, typically a larger-scale, systematic activity using tools, unlike the manual plucking of τίλλω.

Word Details

Scripture References