"a large fish, sea monster, whale, Mt. 12:40*"
Definition and meaning
a large fish, sea monster, whale, Mt. 12:40*
In the original Greek the word is written: κῆτος
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of ketos (G2785) across the King James Bible.
For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
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Common questions
Strong's G2785 (ketos) is a Greek word that means: a large fish, sea monster, whale, Mt. 12:40* It appears 1 times in the King James Bible.
The word ketos (G2785) appears 1 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2785 is ketos, a Greek word defined as: a large fish, sea monster, whale, Mt. 12:40*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
ketos is a Greek word found in the New Testament.