"a sheep, Mt. 7:15; 9:36; 10:16; met. Mt. 10:6; 15:24"
Definition and meaning
a sheep, Mt. 7:15; 9:36; 10:16; met. Mt. 10:6; 15:24
In the original Greek the word is written: πρόβατον
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 probaton (G4263) across the King James Bible.
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?
How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
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Common questions
Strong's G4263 (probaton) is a Greek word that means: a sheep, Mt. 7:15; 9:36; 10:16; met. Mt. 10:6; 15:24 It appears 37 times in the King James Bible.
The word probaton (G4263) appears 37 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4263 is probaton, a Greek word defined as: a sheep, Mt. 7:15; 9:36; 10:16; met. Mt. 10:6; 15:24. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
probaton is a Greek word found in the New Testament.