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εἰδωλόθυτον

eidōlóthyton

G1494 substantive adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

That which has been offered in sacrifice to an image or idol; specifically, meat or other portions of animal sacrifice associated with rituals involving an idol. In the New Testament and Greek-Jewish contexts, primarily refers to food (usually meat) deriving from animals that have been ritually offered to an idol and may subsequently enter the marketplace or be consumed at temple feasts. Also extends to any object or item associated with or originating in such sacrificial practices.

Semantic Range

meat offered to idols, a portion of a sacrifice made to an idol, food associated with idol worship, things dedicated to or deriving from idolatrous sacrifice, anything pertaining to an idol-offering

Root / Etymology

Compound of εἴδωλον (“idol, image”) and θῦτον (verbal adjective from θύω, “to sacrifice, to offer by burning”). Literally, 'idol-offering' or 'that which is sacrificed to an idol.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

εἰδωλόθυτον first appears in Greek texts of the Hellenistic and Roman periods—in particular, it features in Jewish and early Christian literature engaged with Greco-Roman religious practice. In the LXX and the New Testament (notably Acts 15:29; Revelation 2:14, 20), it denotes food (usually meat) that has been part of an idolatrous sacrifice and might be consumed either within ritual feasts or after resale in markets. The issue of consuming εἰδωλόθυτον was a contentious matter in Second Temple Judaism and the early ekklēsia, since eating such meat could be seen as participating in idol worship or implying acceptance of the associated religious practices. The Septuagint sometimes uses εἰδωλόθυτα to translate Hebrew terms related to 'unclean' or 'devoted' things, but its primary NT and Hellenistic meaning centers on sacrificial meat from idol temples. Later translation traditions often render 'idol-meat' or 'things offered to idols,' but these English renderings rarely communicate the full cultural and ritual contours of Greco-Roman sacrificial practice. Distinct from other sacrificial terms, such as θυσία, which can be generic, εἰδωλόθυτον carries the specific contextual marker of being dedicated to non-Israelite deities.

Translation Consistency

primary "offering" 0 occurrences

The term consistently denotes a thing that has been offered in sacrifice to an idol (especially meat or portion from a sacrifice). 'Offering' is natural, succinct, and covers the typical usages (meat offered to idols, portions from idol-sacrifices, things associated with idolatrous sacrifice) better than a more technical or awkward compound.

Alternatives (9 occurrences):
"idol-offerings" (6x) "idol-offering things" (3x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

neuter of a compound of εἴδωλον and a presumed derivative of θύω; an image-sacrifice, i.e. part of an idolatrous offering:--(meat, thing that is) offered (in sacrifice, sacrificed) to (unto) idols.

Root Family

εἰδωλόθυτον (eidōlóthyton) — idol, image, sacrificed thing, offering by burning

Root εἴδωλον-, θύ- idol, image, to sacrifice, to offer by burning

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1494-02 εἰδωλοθύτων eidolothuton ADJ.S GEN N PL things sacrificed to idols of idol-offerings of idol-offerings 6
G1494-01 εἰδωλόθυτα eidolothuta ADJ.S ACC N PL things offered to idols idol-sacrificed things idol-offering things 3

Occurrences in Scripture

9 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1494-02 Acts 15:29 εἰδωλοθύτων eidolothuton ADJ.S GEN N PL things sacrificed to idols of idol-offerings from idol-offerings
G1494-02 Acts 21:25 εἰδωλόθυτον eidolothuton ADJ.S ACC N SG things offered to idols of idol-offerings of idol-offerings
G1494-02 1 Corinthians 8:1 εἰδωλοθύτων eidolothuton ADJ.S GEN N PL things sacrificed to idols of idol-offerings of idol-offerings
G1494-02 1 Corinthians 8:4 εἰδωλοθύτων eidolothuton ADJ.S GEN N PL sacrificed to idols of idol-offerings of idol-offerings
G1494-02 1 Corinthians 8:7 εἰδωλόθυτον eidolothuton ADJ.S ACC N SG sacrificed-to-idol of idol-offerings of idol-offerings
G1494-01 1 Corinthians 8:10 εἰδωλόθυτα eidolothuta ADJ.S ACC N PL things offered to idols idol-sacrificed things idol-offering things
G1494-02 1 Corinthians 10:19 εἰδωλόθυτόν eidolothuton ADJ.S NOM N SG a thing sacrificed to idols of idol-offerings of idol-offerings
G1494-01 Revelation 2:14 εἰδωλόθυτα eidolothuta ADJ.S ACC N PL food sacrificed to idols idol-sacrificed things idol-offering things
G1494-01 Revelation 2:20 εἰδωλόθυτα eidolothuta ADJ.S ACC N PL things sacrificed to idols idol-sacrificed things idol-offering things
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