στοιβάς, στιβάς (stoibas, stibas)
stoibas, stibas
leafy branch
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun stoibas refers to a leafy branch or bough, specifically one suitable for use as a covering or litter. Its etymology connects it to the verb steibo, meaning "to step" or "stamp," suggesting that these branches were likely gathered from underfoot or trodden down in the wild before being collected.
This word appears only once in the New Testament, in Mark 11:8. The text describes people cutting leafy branches and spreading them on the road as Jesus entered Jerusalem. While other Gospels mention palm fronds, Mark’s specific choice of this term highlights the humble, rustic nature of the crowd's offering—simple twigs gathered from the surrounding vegetation rather than imported royal symbols.
Translators typically render it "branches" or "leafy branches." The image evoked is not of polished ceremonial items, but of fresh greenery stripped from trees and laid down in a spontaneous act of honor. This usage underscores the accessibility of Jesus’ entry, grounded in the everyday materials of the landscape.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word stoibas describes a simple leafy branch gathered from the roadside, not a polished symbol of royal power. In Mark’s account of the triumphal entry, this humble greenery was laid down by ordinary people who had no access to imported palm fronds. It reminds us that God values the sincerity of our hearts over the prestige of our offerings.
When we bring our everyday resources to Jesus, He receives them with joy. You do not need grand gestures or expensive gifts to honor Him. A willing heart, like those fresh branches cut from local trees, is enough to create a path for His presence in your life today.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- branches1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- στιβάδας1×
Key Verses
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Mark 11:8
Many spread their garments on the way, and others were cutting down branches from the trees and spreading them on the road.
This verse uses stoibas to highlight the spontaneous and humble nature of the crowd's worship, showing that ordinary materials were sufficient to honor Jesus.