χοῖνιξ (choinix)
choinix
quart
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun choinix refers to a specific dry measure in the ancient world, holding roughly one liter or just under two pints. In the New Testament, it appears only once, in Revelation 6:6, where it quantifies the wheat and barley sold during the fourth seal’s judgment.
This unit was not merely an abstract number but a practical standard for daily sustenance. Lexical sources note that a choinix represented the amount of grain sufficient to feed one person for a day. Its use in Revelation highlights the severity of the famine, as the voice declares that such a day’s ration must be purchased with a denarius—a full day’s wages—underscoring the crushing economic burden placed on the poor.
The word itself has an uncertain etymology, but its function is clear. By anchoring the prophecy in a concrete measure of survival, the text moves beyond general disaster to specific, personal deprivation. It reminds readers that the judgments described are not distant events but realities that directly impact the most basic human need: food.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word choinix tells us about the ancient measure of grain that fed one person for a single day. In Revelation, it marks a time when food becomes so scarce that a full day’s wages buys only enough wheat or barley to survive. This detail shows how deeply economic pressure can touch daily life.
When we read this, we see that God cares about the basic needs of His people. Hunger and unfair prices are not just background noise; they matter to Him. The image reminds us to look out for those who struggle to put food on the table today.
We can trust that God sees these struggles. Even in hard times, He provides grace and strength. Let this truth encourage you to be mindful of others’ needs and to rest in His care.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- choenixes1×
- A choenix1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- χοῖνιξ1×
- χοίνικες1×
Key Verses
-
Revelation of John 6:6
I heard a voice in the middle of the four living creatures saying, “A choenix of wheat for a denarius, and three choenix of barley for a denarius! Don’t damage the oil and the wine!”
This verse uses choinix to show that a day's wages only bought one person's daily grain ration, highlighting the severe economic burden of the famine.