κόκκος (kokkos)
kokkos
seed
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun kokkos refers to a single grain or seed, appearing seven times in the New Testament. It is the smallest unit of sown material, used by Jesus to illustrate how something tiny can produce significant results. In the parable of the mustard seed (Matthew 13:31; Mark 4:31), this small grain grows into a large plant, showing that God’s kingdom begins with humble, almost insignificant beginnings.
Jesus also uses kokkos to describe faith in Luke 17:6. He says that if his followers had faith the size of a mustard seed, they could command a mulberry tree to uproot and plant itself in the sea. The point is not the quantity of faith but its genuine nature. Even a small amount of true trust in God can accomplish what seems impossible to human eyes.
The word appears in other contexts too. John 12:24 speaks of a grain of wheat falling into the ground and dying to produce many seeds, illustrating Jesus’ own death and resurrection. Paul uses it in 1 Corinthians 15:37 when explaining how God gives bodies according to His design, comparing spiritual resurrection to planting different kinds of seeds. In each case, kokkos highlights potential hidden within smallness.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word kokkos describes a single, tiny seed. In the Gospels, Jesus uses this small object to teach about the power of God’s kingdom. He shows that what looks insignificant can grow into something vast and life-giving. This image reminds us that our spiritual lives do not need to start with grand displays or massive achievements.
When we feel small or ineffective, kokkos offers comfort. It suggests that genuine faith, even when it feels minimal, holds the potential for great change. God often works through humble beginnings, transforming a single act of trust into something that impacts many lives. We can rest in the knowledge that our efforts, however small they seem, are seen and used by Him.
This perspective shifts our focus from size to substance. It is not about how much we have, but about the life hidden within what we offer. Whether it is a moment of prayer or a simple act of kindness, these small seeds can bear fruit in ways we cannot predict. We are invited to plant faithfully, trusting God with the growth.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to a grain2×
- a grain2×
- grain,1×
- grain1×
- a seed1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- κόκκῳ3×
- κόκκον2×
- κόκκος1×
- κόκκον,1×
Key Verses
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Matthew 13:31
He set another parable before them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took, and sowed in his field,
Jesus uses this verse to define the Kingdom of Heaven as starting from a minuscule beginning that grows unexpectedly large.
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Luke 17:6
The Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you would tell this sycamore tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
This occurrence emphasizes that the quality and genuineness of faith matter more than its visible size or quantity.
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John 12:24
Most certainly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit.
Here the word illustrates the necessity of death for new life, pointing directly to Jesus’ own sacrificial death and resurrection.