κῆτος
kētos
G2785 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A large sea creature; in context, typically a great aquatic animal or sea monster. The term can denote any enormous creature of the sea, not restricted to any specific species. In narrative contexts, especially mythic or legendary, it may evoke the notion of a monstrous sea being, while in other settings it functions simply as a generic term for a huge fish or marine animal.
Semantic Range
great sea animal, monstrous fish, whale, leviathan, any enormous aquatic creature, mythic sea monster
Root / Etymology
Related to the base of χάσμα (chaśma, 'chasm, gulf'), possibly referring to something with a gaping mouth; the precise lexical relationship is uncertain. The root emphasizes the idea of gaping or being wide-open, which then metaphorically applies to a creature with a large mouth or size.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, κῆτος is used for any large sea creature, such as a sea monster or whale, and is prominent in mythological narratives (e.g., the sea monster sent against Andromeda in Greek mythology). In the Septuagint and New Testament (Matt 12:40), κῆτος translates the Hebrew תַּנִּין (tannin, 'sea monster, dragon') or דָּג גָּדוֹל (dag gadol, 'great fish'), underscoring its flexible scope. English translations such as 'whale' are interpretative and reflect later understandings rather than the precise range of κῆτος. The word does not refer to a specific biological species in ancient usage, but rather denotes any formidable sea animal, often with mythical associations. In later Greek literature, the term retained its general use for large sea creatures and was not standardized to the modern meaning of 'whale.'
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
probably from the base of χάσμα; a huge fish (as gaping for prey):--whale.
Root Family
κῆτος (kētos) — large sea creature, sea monster
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2785-01 |
κήτους | ketous | N GEN N SG |
whale's | of a great sea creature | sea creature | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2785-01 |
Matthew 12:40 | κήτους | ketous | N GEN N SG |
whale's | of a great sea creature | sea creature |