G2759: κέντρον (kéntron)

G2759 κέντρον (kéntron)

Greek

Quick Definition

κέντρον, ου, τό n.n. a sting, goad

Strong's Definition

from kenteo (to prick); a point ("centre"), i.e. a sting (figuratively, poison) or goad (figuratively, divine impulse)

KJV Usage: prick, sting

UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

κέντρον (G2759)

noun, n. | -ου | ἐγκεντρίζω · ἐκκεντέω

8.45 · Body, Body Parts, and Body Products · Parts of the Body

sting, stinger a sharp, pointed projection used in stinging

REV 9:10

6.9 · Artifacts · Instruments Used in Agriculture and Husbandry

goad a pointed stick used in driving draft animals In the NT κέντρον[b] occurs only in the idiom πρὸς κέντρον λακτίζειν 'to kick against the goad;' meaning to hurt oneself by active resistance. See 39.19.

ACT 26:14

20.69 · Violence, Harm, Destroy, Kill · Kill

power to kill, power to destroy (a figurative extension of meaning of κέντρον[a] ‘sting,’ 8.45) the power or ability to kill or destroy For another interpretation of κέντρον in 1CO 15:55, see 24.86.

1CO 15:55 · 1CO 15:56

24.86 · Sensory Events and States · Pain, Suffering

means to hurt, power to cause suffering (a figurative extension of meaning of κέντρον[a] ‘sting,’ 8.45) the means or capacity to cause severe suffering For another interpretation of κέντρον in 1CO 15:55, see 20.69.

1CO 15:55 · 1CO 15:56

¹ κέντρον also occurs in the meaning of a sharp pointed object (typically a sting, stinger) which may cause pain and even death (see 8.45).

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

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

κέντρον, -ov, τό, (κεντέω to prick) ; 1. a sting, as that of bees (4 Mace. xiv. 19), scorpions, locusts, Rev. ix. 10. Since animals wound by their sting and even cause death, Paul in 1 Co. xv. 55 (after Hos. xiii. 14 Sept.) attributes to death, personified, a κέντρον, i. 6. a deadly weapon, and that κέντρον is said to be ἡ ἁμαρτία [56], because sin is death’s cause and punishment [?] (Ro. v. 12). 2. as in the Grk. writ. an iron goad, for urging on oxen, horses and other beasts of burden; hence the proverb πρὸς κέντρα λακτίζειν, to kick against the goad, i. e. to offer vain and perilous or ruinous resistance: Acts ix.5 Rec.; xxvi. 14; ef. Pind. Pyth. 2, 173; Aeschyl. [Ag. 1624, ef.] Prom. 323; Eurip. Bacch. 795; Terent. Phorm. 1, 2, 28; Ammian. 18, 5.

Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary

κέντρον kentron 4x

a sharp point; a sting of an animal, Rev. 9:10; a prick, stimulus, goad, Acts 26:14; met. of death, destructive power, deadly venom, 1 Cor. 15:55, 56*

Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon

κέντρον, -ου, τό

(< κεντέω, to prick), [in LXX: Pr 26:3 (מֶתֶג), Ho 13:14 (קֹטֶב), 5:12, Si 38:25, IV Mac 14:19*;]

a sting (IV Mac 14:19): Re 9:10. Metaph. (as Ho 13:14): τ. θανάτου, I Co 15:55(LXX), 56.

a goad: pl., Ac 26:14.†

Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT

κέντρον is used metaphorically = ‘‘ desire” in a sepulchral inser. from Byzantium of iii/iv A.p. Kazbel 534°— σῆς γλυκερῆς ψυχῆς κέντρον ἄπαυστον ἔχων.

Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon

κέντρον (kentron) — sting. κέντρον, τό, (κεντέω) any sharp point:

1. horse-goad, [ἵπποι] ἄνευ κέντροιο θέοντες [Refs 8th c.BC+], ox-goad [Refs 8th c.BC+], used as an instrument of torture, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; as a symbol of sovereignty, λαβὼν.. χερσὶν κέντρα κηδεύει πόλιν [Refs 5th c.BC+]

1. b metaphorically, goad, spur, incentive, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ποῦ γὰρ τοσοῦτο κ. ὡς μητροκτονεῖ; [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κέντρα πτολέμοιο, of the Argives, Oracle texts cited in [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; κ. ἐμοῦ desire for me, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

2. metaphorically, in plural, tortures, pangs, [NT]

3. point of a spear, [Refs 2nd c.BC+] with which Oedipus pierced his eyes, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

4. peg of a top, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

5. of animals,

5. a sting of bees and wasps, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of scorpions, [Refs 4th c.BC+] (so of the constellation [Refs 4th c.BC+]: hence, metaphorically, of malicious persons, ἐς τοὺς ἔχοντας κέντρ᾽ ἀφιᾶσιν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of Pericles as an orator, τὸ κ. ἐγκατέλειπε τοῖς ἀκροωμένοις [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of Socrates, ὥσπερ μέλιττα τὸ κ. ἐγκαταλιπών [Refs 5th c.BC+]; βλέμματος κ. Onomarch. cited in [Refs 2nd c.AD+]

5. b spur of a cock, [Refs]

5. c quill of the porcupine, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]

5. d ={πόσθη}, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]

6. stationary point of a pair of compasses, [Refs 1st c.BC+]: generally, centre of a circle, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἡ ἐκ τοῦ κ. (i.e. εὐθεῖα) radius, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κ. βάρεος centre of gravity, [Refs 3rd c.BC+] circumscribe, [Refs 1st c.AD+]

7. pin, rivet, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; spur, tip, for fixing a machine in the ground, [Refs]

8. ῥακτηρίοις κέντροισιν, of oars, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

9. Astron., cardinal point on the ecliptic, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]

10. hard knot in stone, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; flaw in crystals, [Refs 1st c.AD+]