Quick Definition
κάλαμος, ου, ὁ n.m. a reed, reed-pen
Strong's Definition
or uncertain affinity; a reed (the plant or its stem, or that of a similar plant); by implication, a pen
KJV Usage: pen, reed
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun, m. | -ου | καλάμη
3.19 · Plants · Plants That Are Not Trees
reed a tall straight grass or sedge; growing in or near rivers and marshes
3.55 · Plants · Non-Fruit Parts of Plants
reed the stalk of a reed plant In some discussions of κάλαμος[b] the meaning is given as cane, but the term cane must not be confused with the meaning of walking stick. In MRK 15:19 it may be important in some languages to use a phrase such as heavy reed or strong reed, in order to avoid the impression that the instrument used in striking Jesus was some flimsy or fragile stalk of a plant.
MAT 12:20 · MAT 27:29 · MAT 27:30 · MAT 27:48 · MRK 15:19 · MRK 15:36
6.56 · Artifacts · Instruments Used in Marking and Writing
pen a reed especially cut for making marks with ink on writing material; abou 20 cm long, sharpened on one end
6.213 · Artifacts · Instruments for Measuring
measuring rod a rod (possibly a reed) used for measuring length There is no indication as to the particular length of κάλαμος[d], but it could have been as much as two meters (about seven feet), since this would not have been an unusual length for a reed. The equivalent of κάλαμος[d] may be simply ‘a measuring stick’ or ‘a stick with which to count the distance.’
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
κάλαμος, -ov, 6, fr. Pind. down, Lat. calamusi.e. a.a reed: Mt. xi. 7; xii. 20 (fr. Is. xlii. 3) ; Lk. vii. 24. b. a staff made of a reed, a reed-staff, (as in 2 K. xviii. 21): Mt. xxvii. 29 sq. 48; Mk. xv. 19, 36. c. a measuring reed or rod: Rey. xi. 1; xxi. 15 sq., (Ezek. xl. 3-6; xlii. 16-19). ἃ. a writer’s reed, a pen: 3 Jn. 13; [see Gardthausen, Griech. Palaeogr. p. 71 sq. ].
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
κάλαμος kalamos 12x
a reed, cane, Mt. 11:7; 12:20; Lk. 7:24; a reed in its various appliances, as, a wand, a staff, Mt. 27:29, 30, 48; Mk. 15:19, 36; a measuring-rod, Rev. 11:1; 21:15f.; a writer’s reed, 3 Jn. 13*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
κάλαμος, -ου, ὁ,
[in LXX chiefly for קָנֶה, Is 42:3, Ez 40:3 ff., al.;]
a reed: Mt 11:7 12:20(LXX), Lk 7:24; hence, acc. to its various uses, a reed-pipe, flute;
a reed-staff, staff (cf. IV Ki 18:21, ῥάβδος καλαμίνη): Mt 27:29, 30, 48, Mk 15:19, 36;
a measuring reed or rod (Ez 40:3 ff.): Re 11:1 21:15, 16;
a writing reed, a pen: III Jo 13 (cf. Milligan, NTD, 9, 7).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
κάλαμος. P Tebt II. 37589 (A.D. 140) παραδώσω πάσας τὰς ἀρούρας καθαρὰ (1. —ds) ἀπὸ θρύου καλάμου δί[σ]ης πάσης, “1 will deliver up the arourae free from rushes, reeds, and dirt of all sorts’’ (Edd.): and so P Fay 345 (A.D. 139-40), P Amh II. go” (a.p. 159), 917° (A.D. 159). In place of ἄχυρον, κάλαμος is used for heating purposes according to P Giss I. go 15 (A.D, 212) κάλαμον πρ[ὸδ]ς Td ὑποκαίειν τὰ Badal[vet]a καταφέρουσι. From the close connexion between the cultivation of κάλαμος and vine-growing, to which the papyri witness, GH in their note on P Oxy IV. 7298 (a.p. 137) have shown the probability that a crop of reeds was planted between or under the vines. The collective use of κάλαμος in the above citations and in P Oxy IV. 742° (B.c. 2) παράλαβε παρὰ IId0ov τὸν κάλαμ[ο]ν πανα[ρ]ιθμῶι Kal ἀπόστειλόν plo]. πόσας δέσμας παρείληφες, ‘take over from Pothus the reeds all together, and send me word how many bundles you have received’’ (Edd.), points to a similar sense in Mt 117. The reference is to ‘‘the very ordinary sight of cane grass shaken by wind,’’ and ‘‘there is no contrast intended between the moral strength of the Baptist and the weak pliability of the reed’ (McNeile ad 1). With Ezekiel’s “‘reed’’ of six cubits 2.6. about 9 feet (see Davidson ad Ezek 405), which underlies the imagery of Rev 11}, we may compare the κάλαμος of similar length in P Ry! II. 64? (iv/v A.D.): see the editors’ note and cf. Archiv iii. p. 440. Ina list of articles sent by one woman to another, P reeds of thread,’’ are included, and with 3 Jn?* cf. P Grenf | II. 387 (B.c. 81) καλάμων γραφικῶν δεκάπεντε. We may note the contrast between the καλάμο(υ) “EAAn(viKod) of P Lond 195(6)" (a.p. 14-37) (=II. p. 128) and 26. 1914 (A.D. 103-117) (= 11. p. 265) καλαμοῦ ᾿Ινδικοῦ : see Archiv i. p. 150. A new subst. καλαμουργία is found in P Lond 1635 (A.D. 88) ( ΞΞ- 11. p. 183), and for the corresponding | verb see PSI IV. 3178 (A.D. 95) ἐὰν μ[ἤλλῃς καλαμουργεῖν, γρά[ψ]ον μοι.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
κάλαμος (kalamos) — reed/stick/pen. κάλᾰμος [κᾰ], ὁ, reed, used for thatching or wattling, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; various species, κ. εὐώδης, ἀρωματικός, sweet flag, Acorus Calamus, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; κ. αὐλητικός pole-reed, Arundo Donax, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; κ. εἰλετίας marram, Ammophila arundinacea, [Refs]; κ. ἐπίγειος bush-grass, Calamagrostis epigeios, [Refs]; κ. Ἰνδικός bamboo, Bambusa arundinacea, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κ. Ἰνδικὸς ὁ ἄρρην male bamboo, Dendrocalamus strictus, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; κ. κύπριος, ={δόναξ}, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; κ. πλόκιμος spear-grass, Phragmites communis, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; κ. Χαρακίας, Arundo Donax, [Refs]
II. applied to various uses,
II.1. reed-pipe, flute, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.2. fishing-rod, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.3. limed twig used by fowlers, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.4. shaft of an arrow, [Refs 1st c.BC+]; made of κ. τοξικός, or Κρητικός, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
II.5. reed-pen, [LXX+NT+1st c.BC+]; κ. γραφεῖς [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
II.6. measuring-rod, [NT+2nd c.AD+]; = 5 πήχεις, [Refs 2nd c.BC+] “*Geometry texts” 4.11; = 6 2/3 πήχεις, [Refs]
II.7. in Medicine texts, tube for insufflation, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; also, splint, [Refs 6th c.AD+]in Hp.Fract.[Refs]
II.8. ornament of female dress, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]
II.9. stake to which vines were tied, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
III. collectively,
III.1. reed, i.e. reeds, [Refs 4th c.BC+], etc.: in plural, reed-beds, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]
III.2. of plants, which are neither shrub nor bush (ὕλη), nor tree (δένδρον), [Refs 5th c.BC+]
III.3. mat of reeds, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; roof of reeds [Refs 5th c.AD+]
IV. ={καλάμη}, stalk of wheat, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
V. ὁ κ. τοῦ σκέλους the shinbone, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
VI. ticket for obtaining corn-rations, = tessera frumentaria, [Refs] (Cf. Latin culmus, OHG. halm, etc.)