ὀνικός (onikos)
onikos
huge millstone
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective onikos describes something "pertaining to an ass," specifically referring to a large millstone turned by donkey power. In the ancient world, these heavy stones were essential for grinding grain into flour, and their size made them formidable objects. The term highlights the animal’s role in this labor-intensive process, where beasts of burden provided the steady force needed to crush wheat.
This word appears only twice in the New Testament, both in the Gospels of Matthew (18:6) and Mark (9:42). Jesus uses the image of a massive millstone hung around one’s neck as a severe warning against causing others to stumble in their faith. The vividness of the metaphor relies on the reader understanding the immense weight and danger of such a stone, emphasizing the gravity of leading someone away from belief.
Its rarity in Scripture underscores the specific cultural context of daily life in first-century Palestine. By invoking this common yet heavy tool, the texts connect spiritual responsibility with tangible, physical consequences. The word serves as a stark reminder of the seriousness with which community relationships and faith are treated in the biblical narrative.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word onikos refers to a massive millstone, typically turned by a donkey in first-century Palestine. These stones were heavy, dangerous, and essential for daily survival. When Jesus mentions this object, He is not speaking casually about tools but invoking the most severe physical consequence imaginable to highlight spiritual gravity.
In Matthew 18:6 and Mark 9:42, Jesus warns that causing a believer, especially a vulnerable one, to stumble in their faith is an offense of terrible weight. The image of a millstone around the neck signifies that such actions destroy trust and hinder growth. This reminder calls us to protect the faith of others with great care.
Understanding this word helps us see how seriously God takes our interactions. We are invited to build up rather than tear down. By guarding our words and actions, we create a safe space for others to grow in their relationship with Christ.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- heavy2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ὀνικὸς2×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 18:6
but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if a huge millstone were hung around his neck and that he were sunk in the depths of the sea.
This verse uses the word to illustrate the extreme consequence of leading a believer into sin, emphasizing that spiritual harm is worse than physical death.
-
Mark 9:42
“Whoever will cause one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if he were thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around his neck.
Here the term underscores the severity of offending 'little ones,' showing that hindering faith is treated with the utmost seriousness in Jesus' teaching.