"zizanium, darnel, spurious wheat, a plant found in Palestine, which resembles wheat both in its stalk and grain, but is worthless, Mt. 13:25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 36, 38, 40*"
Definition and meaning
zizanium, darnel, spurious wheat, a plant found in Palestine, which resembles wheat both in its stalk and grain, but is worthless, Mt. 13:25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 36, 38, 40*
In the original Greek the word is written: ζιζάνιον
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 zizanion (G2215) across the King James Bible.
But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
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Common questions
Strong's G2215 (zizanion) is a Greek word that means: zizanium, darnel, spurious wheat, a plant found in Palestine, which resembles wheat both in its stalk and grain, but is worthless, Mt. 13:25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 36, 38, 40* It appears 8 times in the King James Bible.
The word zizanion (G2215) appears 8 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2215 is zizanion, a Greek word defined as: zizanium, darnel, spurious wheat, a plant found in Palestine, which resembles wheat both in its stalk and grain, but is worthless, Mt. 13:25, 26, 27, . James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
zizanion is a Greek word found in the New Testament.