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ψιχίον

psichíon

G5589 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A very small piece, fragment, or particle, especially of bread or food; used primarily to refer to a crumb or tiny morsel. In context, it typically denotes a minute amount, particularly of food, often as leftovers or fragments beneath a table.

Semantic Range

crumb; tiny fragment (usually of bread or food); minute particle; morsel (specifically as a small leftover or remnant)

Root / Etymology

Diminutive form based on a derivative of the root ψαλλ- (as in ψάλλω, to rub, to pluck). ψιχίον is a double diminutive, from the unattested *ψίχα, itself a diminutive from ψιχά, a variant of ψιξ (crumb, small bit). The ultimate root is associated with rubbing or crumbling into small pieces, hence the application to crumbs or little bits of food.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ψιχίον is rare; the more common term is ψῑξ (psix). By the Hellenistic and Roman periods, especially in the New Testament (e.g., Matt 15:27; Mark 7:28), ψιχίον specifically refers to crumbs of bread that fall from the table, often in the context of food eaten by dogs below the table. The word is nearly always used for the smallest edible portion or remnant, emphasizing smallness or insignificance. English translations typically render the term as 'crumb,' but in context it carries the added sense of something left over or discarded, rather than a unit intentionally given. The semantic field is narrower than the English 'morsel,' which may denote a deliberate portion. In Koine, ψιχίον is almost exclusively associated with food, primarily bread, and is not used for non-edible particles.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

diminutive from a derivative of the base of ψάλλω (meaning a crumb); a little bit or morsel:--crumb.

Root Family

ψιχ- (psichíon) — to crumble, to break into small pieces

Root ψιχ- to crumble, to break into small pieces

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G5589-01 ψιχίων psichion N GEN N PL crumbs of tiny crumbs crumbs 2

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G5589-01 Matthew 15:27 ψιχίων psichion N GEN N PL crumbs of tiny crumbs crumbs
G5589-01 Mark 7:28 ψιχίων psichion N GEN N PL crumbs of tiny crumbs crumbs
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