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πηλός

pēlós

G4081 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Clay, a naturally occurring earthy material formed primarily from fine-grained minerals mixed with water; in Greek usage, refers to moist earth or mud, particularly that which is plastic, moldable, and used for practical purposes (such as potter’s clay); by extension, can also denote mud or dirt as a substance. In biblical contexts, especially denotes the soft earth used for shaping vessels, or as a temporary means in healing or ritual acts.

Semantic Range

clay, mud, moist or wet earth, potter’s clay (material before firing), dirt, loam, substance used for forming vessels or in healing acts

Root / Etymology

Primary word; not derived from a known Greek root; etymology uncertain.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical and Hellenistic Greek, πηλός denotes unbaked, moist clay used by potters and architects or found in riverbanks, with a secondary sense of mud in general. The Septuagint uses πηλός frequently to translate Hebrew חֹמֶר (ḥomer, 'clay') and טִיט (ṭiṭ, 'mud'), especially in accounts of God forming humanity from the earth (e.g., Gen 2:7), and in passages concerning pottery. In the New Testament, πηλός appears notably in John 9:6,11,14,15, where Jesus makes mud with saliva to heal a blind man, recalling common healing and magical practices of the time and echoing creative acts described in Jewish tradition. The term does not specifically imply hardened pottery (which is referred to as κέραμος); rather, it emphasizes the unformed, moldable aspect. Standard English translations ('clay', 'mud') generally capture the primary sense, but lack the inherent connection in Greek and Hebrew to ideas of creation, shaping, and potentiality.

Translation Consistency

primary "clay" 6 occurrences

πῆλός normally denotes the moist, moldable earth used for shaping vessels or in healing acts. "Clay" is the natural, common English equivalent that covers potter’s clay, moist earth, and the mud-like material in ritual/healing contexts, and it matches the existing P2 renderings.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

perhaps a primary word; clay:--clay.

Root Family

πηλός (pēlos) — clay, mud, moist earth, potter’s clay

Root πηλ- clay, mud, moist earth, potter’s clay

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G4081-01 πηλὸν pelon N ACC M SG clay clay clay 5
G4081-02 πηλοῦ pelou N GEN M SG clay of clay clay 1

Occurrences in Scripture

6 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G4081-01 John 9:6 πηλὸν pelon N ACC M SG clay clay clay
G4081-01 John 9:6 πηλὸν pelon-2 N ACC M SG clay clay clay
G4081-01 John 9:11 πηλὸν pelon N ACC M SG clay clay clay
G4081-01 John 9:14 πηλὸν pelon N ACC M SG clay clay clay
G4081-01 John 9:15 πηλὸν pelon N ACC M SG clay clay clay
G4081-02 Romans 9:21 πηλοῦ pelou N GEN M SG clay of clay clay
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