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ἀποθήκη

apothḗkē

G596 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A storage place or repository, especially a structure or room for keeping grain, crops, goods, or provisions. In agricultural and domestic contexts, typically denotes a barn, granary, or storehouse; may also refer to a general storeroom or shed in wider usage, depending on context.

Semantic Range

storehouse, barn, granary, repository, storeroom, shed (for goods), receptacle for storage

Root / Etymology

From the compound ἀποτίθημι (to put away, to lay aside), formed from ἀπό (away, off) and τίθημι (to place, put). Thus, ἀποθήκη literally denotes 'a place for putting [things] away.' The term is a noun of action/result formed with the suffix -ηκη, indicating a place related to the action of the root verb.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek and Hellenistic usage, ἀποθήκη appears for places where goods (especially agricultural products, such as grain or produce) are stored—commonly barns, granaries, or general storehouses. The term occurs in Koine Greek, notably in the Septuagint and New Testament, typically in rural and parabolic contexts (e.g., parables of Jesus referring to life and stores of wealth, as in Luke 12:18,24). Its sense remains literal and concrete, referring to physical storage places. The English translations 'barn', 'granary', or 'storehouse' all capture aspects of the meaning, though 'storehouse' is most general; 'barn' or 'granary' specify agricultural use. The word does not refer to temples, treasuries, or abstract kinds of repositories in Greek. Closest related terms would include ταμιεῖον ('storeroom', 'pantry'), or σιτοφυλάκιον ('granary'), with more specific or different connotations. The word maintains its concrete sense across Septuagint and New Testament employments.

Translation Consistency

primary "storehouse" 6 occurrences

‘Storehouse’ best matches the SILEX range (barn, granary, storeroom, repository) and is the most frequent P2 rendering (4 of 6). It is natural English, flexible for both singular and collective contexts, and will provide consistent, clear translation across all forms of G596.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἀποτίθημι; a repository, i.e. granary:--barn, garner.

Root Family

ἀποθήκη (apothēkē) — storehouse, storage place, repository, granary

Root ἀποθήκ- to put away, to store

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G596-03 ἀποθήκην apotheken N ACC F SG barn a storehouse storehouse 3
G596-01 ἀποθήκας apothekas N ACC F PL barns storehouses storehouses 2
G596-02 ἀποθήκη apotheke N NOM F SG barn storehouse storehouse 1

Occurrences in Scripture

6 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G596-03 Matthew 3:12 ἀποθήκην apotheken N ACC F SG barn a storehouse storehouse
G596-01 Matthew 6:26 ἀποθήκας apothekas N ACC F PL barns storehouses storehouses
G596-03 Matthew 13:30 ἀποθήκην apotheken N ACC F SG barn a storehouse storehouse
G596-03 Luke 3:17 ἀποθήκην apotheken N ACC F SG barn a storehouse storehouse
G596-01 Luke 12:18 ἀποθήκας apothekas N ACC F PL barns storehouses storehouses
G596-02 Luke 12:24 ἀποθήκη apotheke N NOM F SG barn storehouse storehouse
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