Bible Word Study
θήκη
thēkē · a scabbard, sheath, receptacle
θήκη
a scabbard, sheath, receptacle
Definition
Θήκη (thēkē) is a Greek noun meaning a case, sheath, or receptacle designed to hold and protect something. In its most common sense, it refers to a scabbard for a sword, as seen in its sole New Testament occurrence where Jesus tells Peter to put his sword into its sheath (John 18:11). Beyond this biblical usage, the word had a broader application in ancient Greek, denoting any kind of container, chest, or repository, such as a case for a tool or a receptacle for storing valuables.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the New Testament, in John 18:11. In this context, it specifically means the 'sheath' or 'scabbard' for Peter's sword, used during Jesus' arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. The usage is literal and concrete, with no figurative application in the biblical text.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek verb τίθημι (tithēmi, G5087), meaning 'to place' or 'to put.' Thus, θήκη fundamentally means 'a place where something is put'—a receptacle. This root idea is seen in many English words like 'thesis' (something placed) and 'synthetic' (placed together).
Semantic Range
While the word itself is a common object, its single biblical use in John 18:11 carries significant theological weight. Jesus' command, 'Put your sword into the sheath,' directly contrasts human violence with divine purpose, emphasizing his voluntary submission to the Father's will for the atonement. Understanding this concrete term enriches the scene, highlighting Jesus' deliberate choice to be the sacrificial lamb rather than a political warrior. In the first-century Roman world, a θήκη for a sword was a common part of a soldier's or traveler's equipment. It was typically made of leather or metal and served to protect the blade and the carrier. The act of sheathing a sword was a clear signal to cease hostilities, making Jesus' command in John 18:11 an immediate and culturally understood call to de-escalation. ἀγγεῖον (angeion, G30) — a vessel or container, generally for liquids. φορείον (phoreion, G5407) — a thing carried, like a burden or load, less specifically a protective case.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). Concordance and morphology data are derived from the interlinear Bible.
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]