σίναπι (sinapi)
sinapi
mustard
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun sinapi refers to the mustard seed, a plant well-known in the ancient Near East for its tiny size and vigorous growth. In the Gospels, Jesus uses this specific agricultural detail to illustrate spiritual principles. The sources note that while the seed is among the smallest, the resulting plant can grow into a large shrub or tree, reaching heights of ten feet or more.
This contrast between minuscule beginnings and substantial outcomes appears in several key passages. In Matthew 13:31 and Mark 4:31, Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a mustard seed sown in a field, highlighting how something seemingly insignificant can expand into a sheltering presence. Later, in Luke 17:6, he references the seed’s power to uproot mulberry trees to demonstrate the potential of even a small amount of genuine faith.
The word likely derives from Egyptian roots and entered Greek as a loanword. Its enduring theological weight lies not in botanical accuracy but in its vivid imagery: it captures the paradox of divine growth emerging from humble, almost invisible origins. Translators consistently retain "mustard seed" to preserve this concrete picture for readers.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When life feels heavy with small beginnings, remember the mustard seed. Jesus used this tiny plant to show that the Kingdom of Heaven does not always arrive with fanfare or immediate size. It starts quietly, often in ways we might overlook or dismiss as insignificant.
Your faith does not need to be massive to be effective. Even a small amount of genuine trust in God can move mountains, just as a tiny seed grows into a large tree that offers shelter to birds. This image invites you to value the quiet, steady work of grace in your daily life, rather than waiting for dramatic signs.
God often uses humble origins to bring about substantial outcomes. You are invited to trust that what seems small today has the potential to grow into something enduring and helpful to others around you.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- of mustard,3×
- of mustard2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- σινάπεως,3×
- σινάπεως2×
Key Verses
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Matthew 13:31
He set another parable before them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took, and sowed in his field,
This verse establishes the core metaphor by comparing the Kingdom of Heaven to a mustard seed sown in a field, highlighting its humble start.
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Luke 17:6
The Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you would tell this sycamore tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
Here Jesus uses the seed's power to uproot trees to illustrate that even minimal faith has significant spiritual potential.
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Mark 4:31
It’s like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, though it is less than all the seeds that are on the earth,
This occurrence emphasizes the contrast between the seed's smallness relative to other seeds and its eventual large growth.