δοκός
dokós
G1385 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A substantial piece of wood employed as a structural support, particularly a beam supporting part of a roof or building; in extended or metaphorical contexts, something large and prominent in contrast to something smaller or less significant (e.g., as an exaggerated object in comparison, such as in a proverb or parable).
Semantic Range
beam, roof-beam, structural timber, crossbeam, large piece of wood, main support; metaphorically, something large, obvious, obstructive (in contrast to something small or subtle)
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root δοκ-, possibly related to the verb δέχομαι (‘to receive, take up, support’), reflecting the sense of something that supports weight or holds up a structure. Formation follows common Greek suffixation for objects or implements. However, no direct derivational pathway from δέχομαι is evident, and some etymological uncertainty remains.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, δοκός primarily refers to a large piece of timber, such as a beam used in architecture (especially a roof beam, crossbeam, or lintel); it could also denote a support used over a doorway or as part of a ship’s structure. The term appears frequently in architectural and construction contexts in both literary and inscriptional sources. In the Septuagint and New Testament, δοκός is rare but notable; in the New Testament, it is used metaphorically in parabolic speech (e.g., Matthew 7:3-5; Luke 6:41-42), contrasting a large beam with a small splinter (κάρφος) to illustrate hypocrisy or lack of self-awareness. Standard English translations (e.g., 'beam' or 'log') capture the primary referent but may miss the force of the contrast in the original metaphor, which relies on the image of an obvious, weighty, cumbersome object. The metaphorical use aligns with broader Greco-Roman rhetorical practices of employing exaggerated contrasts. No significant change in meaning is observed from classical through Koine Greek, though metaphorical usage is more conspicuous in Judean and early Christian texts.
Translation Consistency
dokós is primarily a noun meaning a substantial piece of structural wood (roof-beam, crossbeam, main support). "Beam" is the natural, general English equivalent that covers the literal and extended/metaphorical senses and is more idiomatic than the gerund "supporting." It fits the typical usage across contexts while remaining concise and flexible.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from δέχομαι (through the idea of holding up); a stick of timber:--beam.
Root Family
δοκός (dokos) — to support, hold up, bear weight; structural timber
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| G1380 | δοκέω | a supporting beam |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1385-01 |
δοκὸν | dokon | N ACC F SG |
beam | a supporting beam | a supporting beam | 5 |
G1385-02 |
δοκὸς | dokos | N NOM F SG |
beam | supporting beam | supporting beam | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1385-01 |
Matthew 7:3 | δοκὸν | dokon | N ACC F SG |
beam | a supporting beam | a supporting beam |
G1385-02 |
Matthew 7:4 | δοκὸς | dokos | N NOM F SG |
beam | supporting beam | supporting beam |
G1385-01 |
Matthew 7:5 | δοκόν | dokon | N ACC F SG |
beam | a supporting beam | a supporting beam |
G1385-01 |
Luke 6:41 | δοκὸν | dokon | N ACC F SG |
beam | a supporting beam | a supporting beam |
G1385-01 |
Luke 6:42 | δοκὸν | dokon | N ACC F SG |
beam | a supporting beam | a supporting beam |
G1385-01 |
Luke 6:42 | δοκὸν | dokon-2 | N ACC F SG |
beam | a supporting beam | a supporting beam |