νήθω (nēthō)
nēthō
to spin
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb nēthō means to spin, specifically the manual process of drawing out fibers and twisting them into thread or yarn. In the New Testament, it appears only twice, both times within Jesus’ teachings on worry and trust in God’s provision.
Its usage is concrete and practical, evoking the daily labor of ancient textile production. Jesus employs this image to illustrate the care God takes for creation, noting that even the flowers, which do not engage in such meticulous work, are dressed with beauty surpassing Solomon’s glory (Matthew 6:28). The parallel account in Luke 12:27 reinforces this comparison, highlighting the contrast between human effort and divine adornment.
The word connects to the Old Testament tradition where similar terms describe the crafting of sacred garments for the tabernacle. By using a term associated with skilled, intentional labor, Jesus emphasizes that if God provides for such detailed work in nature, He will certainly care for His people who are of greater value.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word nēthō describes the careful, skilled labor of spinning fibers into thread. In ancient times, this was a demanding task requiring patience and steady hands. Jesus mentions it in Matthew 6:28 to show that the wild lilies do not perform this work, yet they are dressed in beauty that surpasses King Solomon’s royal robes.
This image invites you to release the burden of anxiety. If God cares for flowers that do not spin or toil, He certainly watches over you. You do not need to earn your worth through endless striving. His provision is already present, offering peace that rests in His faithful care rather than your own efforts.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- do they spin.2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- νήθουσιν.1×
- νήθει.1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 6:28
Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin,
Jesus uses the word to contrast human anxiety with the effortless beauty God gives to lilies, showing that worry cannot add a single hour to life or thread to clothing.
-
Luke 12:27
Consider the lilies, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
The parallel account emphasizes that even Solomon’s immense wealth and careful crafting could not match the simple glory God provides without any spinning labor.