"mustard; in NT probably the shrub, not the herb, Khardal, Salvadora Persica L., the fruit of which possesses the pungency of mustard, Mt. 13:31; 17:20; Mk. 4:31; Lk. 13:19; 17:6*"
Definition and meaning
mustard; in NT probably the shrub, not the herb, Khardal, Salvadora Persica L., the fruit of which possesses the pungency of mustard, Mt. 13:31; 17:20; Mk. 4:31; Lk. 13:19; 17:6*
In the original Greek the word is written: σίναπι
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 sinapi (G4615) across the King James Bible.
Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:
It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.
And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
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Common questions
Strong's G4615 (sinapi) is a Greek word that means: mustard; in NT probably the shrub, not the herb, Khardal, Salvadora Persica L., the fruit of which possesses the pungency of mustard, Mt. 13:31; 17:20; Mk. 4:31; Lk. 13:19; 17:6* It appears 5 times in the King James Bible.
The word sinapi (G4615) appears 5 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4615 is sinapi, a Greek word defined as: mustard; in NT probably the shrub, not the herb, Khardal, Salvadora Persica L., the fruit of which possesses the pungency of mustard, Mt. 13:31; 17:20. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
sinapi is a Greek word found in the New Testament.