τρύβλιον

a platter

Definition

τρύβλιον (tryblion) refers to a deep dish, platter, or bowl used for serving food. In its two New Testament occurrences, it specifically denotes the dish from which Jesus and his disciples were eating during the Last Supper (Matthew 26:23, Mark 14:20). The word emphasizes a common, shared serving vessel at a meal, not an individual plate. While its basic meaning is a generic food container, the biblical context gives it a specific, solemn association with the betrayal foretold by Jesus.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only twice in the New Testament, in parallel accounts of the Last Supper in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. In both instances (Matthew 26:23 and Mark 14:20), Jesus identifies his betrayer as "one who dips his hand with me in the dish (τρύβλιον)." The usage highlights the intimacy and shared fellowship of the meal, making the act of betrayal even more shocking. It is a concrete, everyday object used in a moment of high theological significance.

Etymology

τρύβλιον is a diminutive form derived from the Greek verb τρύβω (trybō), meaning 'to rub, wear down, or crush.' The connection likely relates to the dish's function for holding ground or mashed foods, or perhaps to the process of its manufacture (e.g., a hollowed-out vessel). It is a standard Koine Greek term for a deep bowl or platter.

Semantic Range

While τρύβλιον itself is a common object, its use in the Gospels is theologically charged. It appears at the climactic moment when Jesus reveals his betrayer at the Last Supper. The shared dish symbolizes the covenant fellowship and table community Jesus established with his disciples. The betrayal, announced in the context of this shared meal, underscores the profound violation of trust and covenant. Understanding this specific term enriches the scene's dramatic irony and pathos.

In the ancient Mediterranean world, meals were often eaten from a common central dish, with participants dipping bread or meat into shared sauces or stews. The τρύβλιον was such a shared serving vessel. This practice emphasized community and fellowship. Jesus' reference to the dish would have immediately conveyed to the disciples a scene of intimate table fellowship, making his declaration about the betrayer all the more jarring and personal.

πίναξ (pinax, G4094) — a flat plate or platter, often used for serving (e.g., John the Baptist's head on a πίναξ in Matthew 14:8, 11).

Word Details

Scripture References