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κόφινος

kóphinos

G2894 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A container made of woven materials, typically a small to medium-sized basket used for carrying or holding items, particularly food. In biblical contexts, refers to a hand basket or hamper commonly utilized for daily purposes such as carrying supplies or collecting leftovers.

Semantic Range

basket, small hand basket, hamper, container for food, receptacle for leftovers

Root / Etymology

etymology uncertain. No securely attested Greek root; some suggest a non-Greek or regional origin possibly from a pre-Greek Mediterranean substrate, but evidence is inconclusive.

Historical & Contextual Notes

κόφινος appears in Koine Greek, especially in Judean and eastern Mediterranean contexts. In the New Testament, it describes the baskets used for gathering fragments after the feeding miracles (e.g., Mark 6:43, 8:19; Matthew 14:20; John 6:13), and is consistently contrasted with the σπυρίς, a larger basket. This distinction implies κόφινος generally refers to a smaller, more personal basket (likely with a handle), as opposed to the σπυρίς that could be used to carry larger loads or even people (Acts 9:25). Literary sources outside the New Testament (e.g. Juvenal, Satire 3.14) also reference the κόφινος as a basket particularly associated with Judeans, suggesting it may have had cultural associations or distinctive usage. English translations usually render κόφινος as 'basket,' which is accurate for form but does not capture possible cultural specificity. Septuagint occurrences are rare or absent, supporting the idea of a specialized or regional term emerging in later periods.

Translation Consistency

primary "basket" 6 occurrences

κόφινος is a small woven container used for carrying or holding food and leftovers. The most natural, consistent English rendering across contexts is “basket” (covers hand-basket/hamper senses and is the common idiomatic term).

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of uncertain derivation; a (small) basket:--basket.

Root Family

κόφινος (kophinos) — container, basket, to contain

Root uncertain container, basket, to contain

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2894-03 κοφίνους kophinous N ACC M PL baskets woven baskets woven baskets 4
G2894-02 κοφίνων kophinon N GEN M PL of baskets of baskets of baskets 1
G2894-01 κόφινοι kophinoi N NOM M PL baskets hand baskets baskets 1

Occurrences in Scripture

6 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2894-03 Matthew 14:20 κοφίνους kophinous N ACC M PL baskets woven baskets woven baskets
G2894-03 Matthew 16:9 κοφίνους kophinous N ACC M PL baskets woven baskets woven baskets
G2894-02 Mark 6:43 κοφίνων kophinon N GEN M PL of baskets of baskets of baskets
G2894-03 Mark 8:19 κοφίνους kophinous N ACC M PL baskets woven baskets woven baskets
G2894-01 Luke 9:17 κόφινοι kophinoi N NOM M PL baskets hand baskets baskets
G2894-03 John 6:13 κοφίνους kophinous N ACC M PL baskets woven baskets woven baskets
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