κεράτιον
kerátion
G2769 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A small horn-shaped object; specifically, the pod or fruit of the carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua), known for its hard, horn-like shape. By extension, refers to the carob seed, sometimes used as a unit of weight (a 'carat') due to the seeds' generally uniform mass. In certain contexts, 'κεράτιον' refers to the husk or pod as animal fodder or as a food of last resort in times of scarcity. Primary sense: the horn-shaped carob pod; secondary senses include the carob seed and its use as a standard for small weights.
Semantic Range
carob pod, carob seed, the husk or pod of the carob tree, a small horn-shaped object, unit of weight (carat)
Root / Etymology
Diminutive of κέρας (horn), from the root κερ- (horn), referring to the shape of the pod; by extension, applied to the fruit of the carob tree. No cognate or direct borrowing from Semitic languages is apparent, though the carob is native to the Mediterranean region.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical and Hellenistic Greek, 'κεράτιον' literally means 'little horn,' but in almost all extant literature, it denotes the pod of the carob tree, which is shaped like a horn. The fruit was common throughout the Mediterranean and known both as animal feed and, in lean times, as a last-resort human food, as attested in the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:16). The seeds of the carob pod were used for precise measurements in trade and jewelry, eventually giving rise to the standard 'carat.' English translations such as 'husk' or 'pod' capture only part of the meaning, missing the association with the specific plant, its economic use, and its metaphorical associations with poverty or desperation. 'Kerat' or 'little horn' as a literal translation is rare in English. The use of the word across time maintains this plant-specific focus, with little evidence of figurative or specialized meaning beyond its role as a metaphor for hardship or penury.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
neuter of a presumed derivative of κέρας; something horned, i.e. (specially) the pod of the carob-tree:--husk.
Root Family
κεράτιον (keration) — horn, horn-shaped object, carob pod
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2769-01 |
κερατίων | keration | N GEN N PL |
pods | of carob pods | of carob pods | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2769-01 |
Luke 15:16 | κερατίων | keration | N GEN N PL |
pods | of carob pods | of carob pods |