κλίβανος (klibanos)
klibanos
oven
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun klibanos refers to a specific type of oven or furnace used in the ancient world for baking bread. Unlike modern enclosed ovens, this vessel was typically earthen and broader at the base than at its opening. The sources describe two primary methods of use: either placing the dough on the hot exterior surface of the heated pot, or inserting it inside while the fire burned around the outside through perforated holes.
In Scripture, this word appears only twice, both times in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew 6:30 and Luke 12:28). Jesus uses the image to illustrate God’s care for grass that withers quickly. The reference likely echoes the Septuagint’s use of the term for a furnace, evoking an image of intense, immediate heat. This concrete detail grounds the parable in the daily reality of baking, emphasizing how swiftly nature responds to environmental conditions.
Translators consistently render klibanos as "oven" or "furnace," capturing its function as a vessel for transformation through fire. The word’s rarity in the New Testament highlights its specific utility in these brief metaphors about growth and decay. It serves as a tangible reminder of the physical world’s fragility and the divine attention given to even the smallest elements of creation.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word klibanos refers to a simple earthen oven used in the ancient world for baking bread. It was often broader at the base and heated by fire burning around its exterior. This humble vessel represents the intense, immediate heat required to transform raw dough into food.
In Matthew 6:30, Jesus uses this familiar image to teach about God’s care. He points out that grass, which is thrown into the oven the very next day, receives such attention from God. This detail grounds His promise in the daily reality of life, showing how closely God watches over even the smallest parts of creation.
When you feel anxious about your needs, remember this scene. The same Father who tends to the fleeting grass also cares for you. You are not overlooked by a distant deity, but held by one who knows the value of every breath and every day.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] furnace2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- κλίβανον2×
Key Verses
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Matthew 6:30
But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today exists and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, won’t he much more clothe you, you of little faith?
This verse uses the oven to illustrate how God clothes transient grass, urging believers to trust His provision rather than worry.
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Luke 12:28
But if this is how God clothes the grass in the field, which today exists and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith?
Luke places this teaching in a context of service and humility, reminding readers that God’s care extends to those who serve faithfully.