χόρτος (G5528) — Greek Lexicon

χόρτος

chórtos

G5528 noun

SILEX Entry

Root χορτ- to grow, to be green, vegetation, grass

Definition

Plant material, particularly grass or herbage that grows in the open fields; by extension, any green vegetation suitable for grazing. In most contexts, especially in the New Testament and Septuagint, refers specifically to wild grass or meadow plants, but can also encompass hay, pasture, or vegetation in a general sense. The meaning focuses on that which is quickly grown, often emphasizing its transitory or perishable nature in metaphorical uses.

Semantic Range

grass, herbage, hay, pasture, meadow plants, green vegetation, cultivated green plots (rare); by extension, metaphor for something transient or perishable

Root / Etymology

Root is χορτ-, regarded as a primary Greek substratum word, not analyzable into simpler components. Related to Latin 'hortus' (garden) and English 'herb', possibly indicating a shared Indo-European root referring to cultivated or green vegetation, though this is debated. The word is attested in early Greek literature.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Septuagint, χόρτος renders several Hebrew terms for grass or field vegetation, indicating its use for natural, uncultivated green growth, especially as sustenance for animals. In the New Testament, χόρτος commonly appears in contexts emphasizing the fleeting nature of human life (e.g., the grass withers), leveraging its typical association with quickly growing, quickly perishing field plants. While classical Greek can occasionally use χόρτος for cultivated plots or garden greenery, by the Koine period it overwhelmingly indicates wild or uncultivated grass—distinct from terms denoting tended gardens (e.g., κῆπος). English translations like 'grass', 'hay', or 'herbage' capture the basic referent but may miss the extended metaphorical use or the total inclusivity of all field vegetation in the original.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

apparently a primary word; a "court" or "garden", i.e. (by implication, of pasture) herbage or vegetation:--blade, grass, hay.

Root Family

χόρτος (chortos) — grass, green vegetation, herbage, meadow growth

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`G5528-02`	χόρτον	chorton	`N ACC M SG`	grass	green vegetation	6
`G5528-03`	χόρτος	chortos	`N NOM M SG`	grass	green grass	5
`G5528-04`	χόρτου	chortou	`N GEN M SG`	of grass	of green vegetation	3
`G5528-01`	χόρτῳ	chorto	`N DAT M SG`	grass	to grass	1

Occurrences in Scripture

15 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`G5528-02`	Matthew 6:30	χόρτον	chorton	`N ACC M SG`		green vegetation
`G5528-03`	Matthew 13:26	χόρτος	chortos	`N NOM M SG`		green grass
`G5528-04`	Matthew 14:19	χόρτου	chortou	`N GEN M SG`		of green vegetation
`G5528-02`	Mark 4:28	χόρτον	chorton	`N ACC M SG`	blade	green vegetation
`G5528-01`	Mark 6:39	χόρτῳ	chorto	`N DAT M SG`	grass	to grass
`G5528-02`	Luke 12:28	χόρτον	chorton	`N ACC M SG`	grass	green vegetation
`G5528-03`	John 6:10	χόρτος	chortos	`N NOM M SG`	grass	green grass
`G5528-02`	1 Corinthians 3:12	χόρτον	chorton	`N ACC M SG`	hay	green vegetation
`G5528-04`	James 1:10	χόρτου	chortou	`N GEN M SG`	of the grass	of green vegetation
`G5528-02`	James 1:11	χόρτον	chorton	`N ACC M SG`	grass	green vegetation
`G5528-03`	1 Peter 1:24	χόρτος	chortos	`N NOM M SG`	grass	green grass
`G5528-04`	1 Peter 1:24	χόρτου	chortou	`N GEN M SG`	of grass	of green vegetation
`G5528-03`	1 Peter 1:24	χόρτος	chortos-2	`N NOM M SG`	grass	green grass
`G5528-03`	Revelation 8:7	χόρτος	chortos	`N NOM M SG`		green grass
`G5528-02`	Revelation 9:4	χόρτον	chorton	`N ACC M SG`		green vegetation

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