σάτον (saton)
saton
seah
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun saton refers to a specific Hebrew unit of dry measurement, equivalent to roughly three gallons or fourteen liters. Derived from the Aramaic and Hebrew words for "seah," this term appears only twice in the New Testament, both within parables told by Jesus.
In Matthew 13:33 and Luke 13:21, the word describes the quantity of yeast hidden in flour. By using a measure this substantial, the text emphasizes that the kingdom of heaven is not a small, private secret but a pervasive influence capable of transforming a large amount of dough.
Translators typically render saton as "seah" or simply "measure." This choice preserves the historical specificity of the image, reminding readers that Jesus used everyday agricultural tools to explain spiritual truths. The size of the measure highlights the thoroughness of the leaven’s effect on the whole batch.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word saton refers to a seah, an ancient unit of dry measure holding about three gallons or fourteen liters. In the parables recorded in Matthew and Luke, Jesus describes a woman hiding this amount of yeast in flour. This is not a small pinch for baking a single loaf; it is a substantial quantity meant for feeding many people.
Using such a large measure highlights the pervasive nature of the Kingdom of Heaven. The yeast works through the entire batch, transforming it from within. This image suggests that spiritual influence is not always quiet or hidden in small ways, but can be powerful enough to change a whole community. It invites us to trust that God’s work often operates deeply and thoroughly, even when we cannot see the full result immediately.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- measures2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- σάτα2×
Key Verses
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Matthew 13:33
He spoke another parable to them. “The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, until it was all leavened.”
This verse uses saton to emphasize the substantial quantity of yeast, showing that the Kingdom's influence is meant to transform a large amount of dough completely.
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Luke 13:21
It is like yeast, which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.”
Here the same measure appears in Luke’s account, reinforcing the idea that spiritual growth affects the entire batch rather than just a small portion.