λάχανον (lachanon)
lachanon
plant
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun lachanon refers to a garden plant or vegetable, specifically one that is dug up from the earth. Its etymology connects it to the verb for digging, highlighting its origin in the soil rather than growing on trees or vines. This distinction places it firmly in the category of root vegetables and leafy greens cultivated in household gardens.
In the New Testament, this word appears four times, most notably when Jesus uses agricultural imagery to explain spiritual truths. In the Gospels, He compares the Kingdom of Heaven to a mustard seed that grows into a lachanon, illustrating how small beginnings can develop into substantial shelter (Matthew 13:32; Mark 4:32). The term also appears in Paul’s discussion of dietary freedom, where he notes that believers should not cause others to stumble by eating such plants if it violates their conscience (Romans 14:2).
Translators typically render lachanon as "vegetable" or "herb," capturing its mundane, everyday nature. By choosing this common garden crop rather than a majestic tree, the biblical texts emphasize accessibility and growth from humble origins. The word serves as a concrete reminder that spiritual realities often take root in ordinary, earthly contexts.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word lachanon refers to a humble garden plant or vegetable, one that grows from the soil rather than high on a tree. In Jesus’ teaching about the mustard seed, He uses this common crop to show how the Kingdom of God starts small and unnoticed, yet grows into something substantial enough to offer shelter. This imagery invites us to trust in quiet, steady growth rather than demanding immediate grandeur.
Paul also mentions these plants when discussing Christian freedom and conscience. He notes that while some believers feel free to eat anything, others choose to limit their diet to vegetables for the sake of their faith or the comfort of others. This reminds us that our daily habits, even what we put on our plates, can reflect deep spiritual convictions and care for our neighbors.
Ultimately, lachanon grounds us in the ordinary. It suggests that God’s work often happens in simple, earthly contexts. Whether we are nurturing a small beginning or respecting another’s dietary choices, these moments offer opportunities to live out faith with humility and love.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- garden plants2×
- vegetables1×
- herb1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- λαχάνων2×
- λάχανον1×
- λάχανα1×
Key Verses
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Matthew 13:32
which indeed is smaller than all seeds. But when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches.”
Jesus uses this word to describe the mustard plant's surprising growth from a tiny seed into a large shrub that provides shelter for birds.
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Mark 4:32
yet when it is sown, grows up and becomes greater than all the herbs, and puts out great branches, so that the birds of the sky can lodge under its shadow.”
This occurrence parallels Matthew’s account, emphasizing how the small seed becomes greater than all other garden herbs to offer shade.
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Luke 11:42
But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, but you bypass justice and God’s love. You ought to have done these, and not to have left the other undone.
Jesus criticizes the Pharisees for meticulously tithing these common herbs while neglecting more important matters of justice and love.
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Romans 14:2
One man has faith to eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.
Paul uses this term to describe the restricted diet of a believer with a weak conscience, highlighting issues of dietary freedom in the early church.