νομή (nomē)
nomē
pasture
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun nomē refers to a pasture or place of grazing, derived from the verb for tending or herding livestock. In the New Testament, it appears only twice, anchoring its meaning in concrete agricultural imagery rather than abstract theology.
In John 10:9, Jesus describes himself as the door through which sheep enter the nomē, highlighting the word’s sense of safe, provided sustenance for those under care. This usage connects directly to Old Testament translations where similar Hebrew terms denote feeding grounds for flocks.
The second occurrence in 2 Timothy 2:17 uses the term metaphorically for a spreading sore or gangrene. Here, the image shifts from nourishment to uncontrolled growth, illustrating how something meant for life can become destructive when it spreads unchecked. This rare figurative application underscores the physical reality of the word’s root.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word nomē paints a picture of quiet safety. In John’s Gospel, Jesus uses this simple term for grazing land to describe His role as the door to salvation. When He says those who enter through Him will find pasture, He is offering more than just spiritual ideas; He is promising real sustenance and protection for your soul.
This imagery reminds us that faith is not a constant struggle to survive, but a life of being cared for. Just as sheep rely on the shepherd to lead them to green pastures, we can trust that our needs are met in Christ. It is a gentle assurance that you do not have to wander alone or worry about where your next meal will come from.
While the word appears rarely in Scripture, its meaning remains clear and comforting. You can rest in the knowledge that the One who calls you also provides for you. There is peace in knowing that your Shepherd leads you to places of refreshment, both now and in the age to come.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- pasture to grow1×
- pasture1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- νομὴν2×
Key Verses
-
John 10:9
I am the door. If anyone enters in by me, he will be saved, and will go in and go out and will find pasture.
This verse anchors the word's primary meaning by linking entry into salvation directly with finding pasture, showing that Christ provides essential sustenance.
-
II Timothy 2:17
and those words will consume like gangrene, of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus:
Here the term shifts to a negative metaphor for gangrene, illustrating how unchecked influence can spread destructively like an infection.