σφάγιον
sphágion
G4968 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A living creature designated for ritual slaughter; specifically, an animal chosen and prepared to be offered as a sacrificial victim in a religious ceremony. The term emphasizes the status of the animal as an object of ritual killing, rather than just any slain animal, and is closely associated with formal cultic or sacrificial contexts.
Semantic Range
sacrificial victim, animal designated for ritual slaughter, beast set apart for sacrifice, slain animal (in cultic context)
Root / Etymology
From the root σφαγ- (sphag-), meaning 'to slaughter' or 'to slay,' typically referencing ritual slaughter. Derived from σφαγή (slaughter, slaughtered victim).
Historical & Contextual Notes
σφάγιον is a term that occurs mainly in Hellenistic and Koine Greek literature, including the Septuagint, where it refers to animals set aside for sacrifice according to prescribed ritual procedures. Classical Greek commonly used θύμα (thýma) or ἱερεῖον (hiereîon) for sacrificial victims, but σφάγιον appears more frequently in later period texts, conveying an emphasis on the act of slaughter (σφαγή) within the context of religious offerings. The term is distinguished from σφαῖρον (a general term for any slain animal) by its reliance on the sacrificial context—σφάγιον is not any slaughtered animal, but specifically one offered or set apart for cultic purposes. English translations such as "slain beast" or "sacrificial victim" may not fully reflect the religious-ritual nuance present in the Greek, which centers upon the animal's status within systems of sacrifice. In the Septuagint, σφάγιον is used in connection with Israelite sacrificial law and mirrors the specialized vocabulary of the Hebrew Bible. It is rare or absent in the New Testament, which more commonly employs θύμα for sacrificial victims. The semantic scope of σφάγιον does not extend to human victims; it refers exclusively to animals. In later Byzantine and liturgical texts, the word continues to denote animals used in formal sacrifices, retaining its ritual associations.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
neuter of a derivative of σφαγή; a victim (in sacrifice):--slain beast.
Root Family
σφάγιον (sphagion) — ritual slaughter, sacrificial victim, slain in sacrifice
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4968-01 |
σφάγια | sphagia | N ACC N PL |
slain beasts | sacrificial victims | sacrificial victims | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4968-01 |
Acts 7:42 | σφάγια | sphagia | N ACC N PL |
slain beasts | sacrificial victims | sacrificial victims |