Menu
G2751 κείρω (keírō)
Greek
‹ G2750 Greek Dictionary G2752 ›

Quick Definition

κείρω v. I shear, cut the hair of

Strong's Definition

a primary verb; to shear

KJV Usage: shear(-er)

UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

verb | ἐπικουρία · κειρία · κέρμα · κερματιστής

19.23 · Physical Impact · Pierce, Cut

to cut hair, to shear to cut the hair of a person or animal

ACT 8:32 · ACT 18:18 · 1CO 11:6 · 1CO 11:6

UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary

κείρω keirō 4x

to cut off the hair, shear, shave, Acts 8:32; 18:18; 1 Cor. 11:6 (2x)*

Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon

κείρω,

[in LXX chiefly for גּזז, Is 53:7, al.;]

to cut short the hair, shear: a sheep, Ac 8:32 (Is 53:7). Mid., to have one's hair cut off, be shorn: absol., I Co 11:6; τ. κεφαλήν, Ac 18:18.†

Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT

κείρω is used of shearing sheep in PSI IV. 36845 (B.c. 250-49) ἐκάρη πρόβατα pte, cf. “1 ἔκειρε ζ. For the derived meaning “ravage” (cf. Lat. tondeo and our ‘‘fleece”) see OG/S 765° (iii/B.c.) kelpo[yt]es τ[ὰ] τεμένη, and the corresponding use of the subst. = ‘‘ plunder,” ‘‘theft,” in P Lond 403” | (A.D. 346) =(IL p. 276) τὴϊν τ]ῶν προβάτων κουρὰν Kal , κελευσμα ἀπελασίαν. A new literary citation is supplied by Herondas iii. 40 τὴν μάμμην . . Kelper, ‘he fleeces his grandmother.

Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon

κείρω (keirō) — to shear. κείρω, future κερῶ [Refs 5th c.BC+], Ionic dialect κερέω [Refs 8th c.BC+]: aorist ἔκειρα [Refs 5th c.BC+], Epic dialect ἔκερσα [Refs 8th c.BC+]: perfect κέκαρκα [Refs 2nd c.BC+]:—middle, future κεροῦμαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]: aorist ἐκειράμἡν [Refs 5th c.BC+], Epic dialect ἐκερσάμην [Refs 4th c.BC+] —passive, aorist 1 participle κερθείς[Refs 5th c.BC+]aorist 2 ἐκάρην [ᾰ] [Refs 3rd c.BC+], subjunctive κᾰρῇ [Refs 5th c.BC+]infinitive κᾰρῆναι, participle καρείς, [Refs 1st c.AD+]: perfect infinitive κεκάρθαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]: Attic dialect pluperfect ἐκεκάρμην [Refs 2nd c.AD+]. (Cf. Sanskrit kṛṇā´ti 'wound', Latin caro: probably also O[Refs 5th c.BC+] scieran, Eng. shear.):—cut short, shear, clip, especially of hair, σοί τε κόμην κερέειν (i.e. Σπερχειῷ) [Refs 8th c.BC+]; κ. ἐν χρ [τὰς τρίχας] crop it close, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: —more frequently in middle, cut off one's hair or have it cut off, as a sign of mourning (compare κουρά), τοῦτο.. γέρας οἶον ὀϊζυροῖσι βροτοῖσι, κείρασθαί τε κόμην βαλέειν τ᾽ ἀπὸ δάκρυ παρειῶν [Refs 8th c.BC+]: absolutely, cut off one's hair, κείρασθε, συμπενθήσατ᾽ [Refs 5th c.BC+] to have oneself close shorn, [Refs 4th c.BC+]:—passive, κουρᾷ.. πενθίμῳ κεκαρμένος [Refs 5th c.BC+]; σύμβολον κ. half-cropped, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; also, of the hair, to be cut off, πλόκαμοι κερθέντες [Refs 5th c.BC+]

2. crop a person, σφέας αὐτοὺς καὶ τοὺς ἵππους, in sign of mourning, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κεκάρθαι τὰς κεφαλάς to have their heads shorn, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; shear sheep, μάχαιραι κουρίδες, αἷς κείρομεν τὰ πρόβατα καὶ τοὺς ποιμένας [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κείρεσθαί (tonderi) μου τὰ πρόβατα, ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ ἀποξύρεσθαι (deglubi) βούλομαι Tiber. cited in [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; τὸ μὲν [καρῆναι] ἐπὶ προβάτων τιθέασι καὶ ἐπὶ ἀτίμου κουρᾶς [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; but τῶν Ἀργείων ἐπὶ πένθει καρέντων Plu.[same place]; τῷ σε χρὴ δρεπάνοισι καὶ οὐ ψαλίδεσσι καρῆναι [Refs 4th c.AD+]

3. metaphorically, 'fleece', plunder, τὴν μάμμην [Refs 3rd c.BC+]

II. cut down, δοῦρ᾽ ἐλάτης κέρσαντες [Refs 8th c.BC+]; crop close, opposed to ἐπιτέμνειν, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; pluck, ἄνθη [Refs 5th c.BC+]

II.2. ravage a country, especially by cutting down crops and fruit-trees, τὸ πεδίον [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὴν γῆν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; destroy, πόλιν [Refs 3rd c.BC+] P.; also, clear, of pioneers, ὄρος [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, of a country, to be ravaged, καρῆναι [Refs 3rd c.BC+] —middle, χθὼν πεύκας κειραμένη having its pine-trees cut down, [Refs 1st c.AD+] had her glory shorn off, epigram cited in [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; Ἄρης νυχίαν πλάκα κερσάμενος having had the plain swept clean (by destroying the men), [Refs 4th c.BC+]

II.3. ἔκειρε πολύκερων φόνον slaughtered many a horned beast by hewing, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

II.4. hew, carve, ἐπίβασιν [Refs]

II.5. cut through transversely, opposed to σχίζειν (slit longitudinally), φλέβα [Refs 2nd c.AD+]

III. generally, destroy, consume:

III.1. tear, eat greedily, of beasts, κείρει τ᾽ εἰσελθὼν βαθὺ λήϊον [ὄνος] [Refs 8th c.BC+]; of fish, δημὸν.. ἐπινεφρίδιον κείροντες [Refs]; of vultures, ἧπαρ ἔκειρον [Refs 8th c.BC+]

III.2. metaphorically, waste, devour, ἐκείρετε πολλὰ καὶ ἐσθλὰ κτήματ᾽ ἐμά [Refs 8th c.BC+]

Everything we make is available for free because of a generous community of supporters.

Donate