δοκός (dokos)
dokos
plank
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun dokos refers to a substantial wooden beam or spar used in construction. In the New Testament, it appears only five times, all within the Synoptic Gospels where Jesus employs it as part of a vivid parable about self-deception and judgment.
Jesus contrasts this large structural timber with a tiny speck of sawdust to highlight the absurdity of trying to help others with minor faults while ignoring one’s own serious flaws. This imagery appears in both Matthew 7:3-5 and Luke 6:41-42, where the beam represents a significant moral obstruction that prevents clear vision or effective assistance.
The word likely derives from a root meaning to support or hold up, emphasizing its function as a load-bearing element. By choosing such a heavy, cumbersome object for his illustration, the Gospel writers underscore the impracticality of hypocrisy: one cannot remove a small irritant from another’s eye while blinded by a massive beam in their own.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word dokos refers to a large wooden beam used in building structures. Jesus uses this image to describe serious moral flaws within ourselves. He contrasts it with a tiny speck, showing how hard it is to judge others when we ignore our own major faults.
This teaching invites us to look inward first. Instead of focusing on small errors in those around us, we can ask for help to remove the larger obstacles in our own hearts. This shift brings clarity and allows us to serve others with genuine humility.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- beam3×
- the beam1×
- beam,1×
- a beam1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- δοκὸν4×
- δοκόν,1×
- δοκὸς1×
Key Verses
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Matthew 7:3
Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but don’t consider the beam that is in your own eye?
This verse introduces the contrast between the small speck and the large beam, highlighting the absurdity of judging others while ignoring our own significant faults.
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Matthew 7:5
You hypocrite! First remove the beam out of your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother’s eye.
Here Jesus commands self-correction first, emphasizing that removing one's own major obstruction is necessary before helping others with their minor issues.
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Luke 6:42
Or how can you tell your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck of chaff that is in your eye,’ when you yourself don’t see the beam that is in your own eye? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck of chaff that is in your brother’s eye.
Luke’s account adds the term 'Brother,' stressing that this correction should happen within the context of community and mutual care rather than harsh judgment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does dokos mean in the Bible?
Where does this word appear in Scripture?
Why does Jesus use such a large object in this parable?
Every Occurrence (5 verses across 2 books)
Matthew 3 verses
Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but don’t consider the beam that is in your own eye?
Matthew 7:4Or how will you tell your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye,’ and behold, the beam is in your own eye?
Matthew 7:5You hypocrite! First remove the beam out of your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your…