στάχυς (stachus)
stachus
head of grain
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun stachus refers to a single head or ear of grain, specifically the cluster of seeds on the stalk. In the New Testament, this word appears in only four verses, all situated within the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew 12:1, Mark 2:23, Luke 6:1, and Mark 4:28). It describes the tangible, physical part of the plant that disciples might pluck or that a farmer waits to harvest.
Its usage highlights the contrast between human impulse and divine timing. In the grain-field narratives, the disciples’ act of picking heads of grain is met with legal scrutiny, while in the parable of the growing seed, the stachus represents the natural progression of life from sprout to mature fruit (Mark 4:28). The word grounds these stories in agricultural reality, emphasizing the ordinary nature of both the violation and the miracle.
Etymologically, it connects to concepts of standing or stability, reflecting how the grain head stands upright on its stalk. This imagery reinforces the idea of growth that is steady and inevitable, whether in the context of Sabbath regulations or the kingdom of God unfolding slowly over time.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word stachus describes a single head of grain, standing upright on its stalk. In the Gospels, this ordinary agricultural detail grounds two very different moments in Jesus’ ministry. When the disciples pluck these heads to eat, they are not stealing; they are sustaining themselves with what the field naturally provides. This simple act challenges rigid rules that value procedure over human need.
Later, Jesus uses the same image to explain how God’s kingdom grows. It does not force its way forward through human effort or urgency. Instead, it moves steadily from sprout to ear to full grain. The stachus reminds us that spiritual maturity follows a natural, patient rhythm. You do not need to rush the process.
Whether you are facing strict expectations or waiting for growth in your own life, this word offers comfort. It points to a reality where God provides for basic needs and nurtures lasting change. The grain does not strive; it simply grows. Your faith can rest in that same steady care.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- heads of grain2×
- heads of grain.1×
- ear.1×
- an ear1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- στάχυας2×
- στάχυϊ.1×
- στάχυν1×
- στάχυας.1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 12:1
At that time, Jesus went on the Sabbath day through the grain fields. His disciples were hungry and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.
This verse shows the disciples plucking stachus to satisfy hunger, highlighting how Jesus prioritizes human need over strict Sabbath regulations.
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Mark 4:28
For the earth bears fruit by itself: first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.
Here the word marks a specific stage in the seed’s growth, illustrating that the kingdom of God develops naturally without human coercion.
-
Luke 6:1
Now on the second Sabbath after the first, he was going through the grain fields. His disciples plucked the heads of grain and ate, rubbing them in their hands.
This occurrence emphasizes the physical reality of the grain heads being rubbed by hand, grounding the Sabbath controversy in everyday labor.