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δεῖπνον

deîpnon

G1173 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Principal meal of the day, typically taken in the late afternoon or evening; by extension, a banquet or formal communal feast. In various contexts, refers both to ordinary daily suppertime as well as ritual or celebratory banquets. The term can also denote communal meals with social or religious significance.

Semantic Range

principal meal, supper, banquet, formal meal, ritual or communal feast, chief daily meal

Root / Etymology

From the same root as δαπάνη (expense, cost), likely related to the act of preparing or expending resources for a meal. The underlying verb δηπνέω (to eat a meal, dine) is also connected.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, δεῖπνον referred to the main meal, generally eaten in the evening, contrasted with ἄριστον which was the earlier, lighter meal or breakfast/lunch. By the Hellenistic and Roman periods, the term retained this sense, referring to the chief daily meal, but could be further extended to denote formal banquets or festive gatherings. In the Septuagint and New Testament, δεῖπνον sometimes takes on social or ritual nuance, as in the Passover meal or the so-called 'Lord's Supper' (κυριακὸν δεῖπνον, 1 Cor 11:20), indicating not simply a meal but a communal event with symbolic significance. While English translations often use 'supper' or 'feast,' the scope of δεῖπνον can include any principal meal, from ordinary daily dining to larger celebratory or religious gatherings. The term is not exclusively religious or festive, but denotes the primary meal regardless of setting. Use of δεῖπνον across Greek literature may also imply status, hospitality, and social stratification, as invitations and participation in such meals distinguished social relationships. The use of 'feast' in older translations may overemphasize the festive sense, while 'supper' may underrepresent the word's capacity to describe formal banquets in the ancient world.

Translation Consistency

primary "meal" 15 occurrences

Neutral, natural English that covers the full semantic range — daily supper/dinner as well as formal or ritual banquets. "Meal" is broad enough to render ordinary and communal/ceremonial contexts consistently without overstating celebration (as "feast" would) or sounding archaic (as "supper" might).

Alternatives (1 occurrence):
"supper" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the same as δαπάνη; dinner, i.e. the chief meal (usually in the evening):--feast, supper.

Root Family

δεῖπνον (deipnon) — principal meal, supper, banquet, formal feast

Root δειπν- to dine, to take a principal meal, to feast

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1173-03 δεῖπνον deipnon N ACC N SG supper principal meal principal meal 8
G1173-04 δείπνου deipnou N GEN N SG supper of the principal meal of the principal meal 4
G1173-02 δείπνοις deipnois N DAT N PL feasts at principal meals at principal meals 3
G1173-01 δείπνῳ deipno N DAT N SG supper to the principal meal supper 1

Occurrences in Scripture

16 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1173-02 Matthew 23:6 δείπνοις deipnois N DAT N PL feasts at principal meals at principal meals
G1173-03 Mark 6:21 δεῖπνον deipnon N ACC N SG a supper principal meal principal meal
G1173-02 Mark 12:39 δείπνοις deipnois N DAT N PL banquets at principal meals at principal meals
G1173-03 Luke 14:12 δεῖπνον deipnon N ACC N SG dinner principal meal principal meal
G1173-03 Luke 14:16 δεῖπνον deipnon N ACC N SG supper principal meal principal meal
G1173-04 Luke 14:17 δείπνου deipnou N GEN N SG supper of the principal meal of the principal meal
G1173-04 Luke 14:24 δείπνου deipnou N GEN N SG supper of the principal meal of the principal meal
G1173-02 Luke 20:46 δείπνοις deipnois N DAT N PL feasts at principal meals at principal meals
G1173-03 John 12:2 δεῖπνον deipnon N ACC N SG a supper principal meal principal meal
G1173-04 John 13:2 δείπνου deipnou N GEN N SG supper of the principal meal of the principal meal
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