πρόβατον, προβάτου, τό (from προβαίνω, properly, 'that which walks forward'), from Homer down, the Sept. chiefly for φΙΰο, then for ωΖ�δ, sometimes for λΖΜαΖω� and λΖΜωΖ�α (a lamb), properly, any four-footed, tame animal accustomed to graze, small cattle (opposed to large cattle, horses, etc.), most common a sheep or a goat; but especially a sheep, and so always in the N. T.: Mat_7:15; Mat_10:16; Mat_12:11; Mar_6:34; Luk_15:4; Luk_15:6; Joh_2:14; Joh_10:1-4; Joh_10:11 f.; Act_8:32 (from Isa_53:7); 1Pe_2:25; Rev_18:13; πρόβατα σφαγῆς, sheep destined for the slaughter, Rom_8:36. metaphorically, πρόβατα, sheep, is used of the followers of any master: Mat_26:31 and Mar_14:27 (from Zec_13:7); of mankind, who as needing salvation obey the injunctions of him who provides it and leads them to it; so of the followers of Christ: John 10:7 f, 15 f, 26 ; Joh_21:16 (R G L Tr text WH marginal reading), (R G L WH marginal reading); Heb_13:20; τά πρόβατα ἀπολωλότα (see ἀπόλλυμι, at the end), Mat_10:6; Mat_15:24; τά πρόβατα in distinction from τά ἐρίφια, are good men as distinguished from bad people, Mat_25:33.

πρόβατον probaton 39x a sheep, Mat_7:15 ; Mat_9:36 ; Mat_10:16 ; met. Mat_10:6 ; Mat_15:24 sheep.

πρόβατον , -ου , τό ( < προβαίνω ), [in LXX chiefly for H6629 , also for H7716 , more rarely for H3532 ( H3775 ), H7353 ;] 1. in Hom ., Hdt ., cattle , esp . of small cattle, sheep and goats . 2. In NT, as in Attic writers generally ( cf. MM , xxi), a sheep: Mat_7:15 , Mar_6:34 , al. ; πρόβατα σφαγῆς , Rom_8:36 ( LXX ). Metaph . (in cl . of timidity, stupidity or idleness), of the followers of a leader or master, esp . of those who are subject to the care of the Good Shepherd: Mat_10:6 ; Mat_15:24 ; Mat_26:31 ( LXX ) Mar_14:27 ( LXX ), Joh_10:7-8 ; Joh_10:15-16 ; Joh_10:26-27 ; Joh_21:16-17 ( WH txt ., προβάτια ), Heb_13:20 ; opp . to ἐρίφια , Mat_25:33 . * προβάτιον , -ου , τό , dimin. of πρόβατον (used as a term of endearment, v. El., § 27, 4), a little sheep: Joh_21:16-17 (πρόβατα , WH , mg .).†

πρόβατον [page 537] πρόβατον is used of sheep collectively in such a passage as P Hib I. 32 .10 (B.C. 246) πρόβατα λ̄η̄ , (ὧν ) ἔρσ [εν ]ες η̄ , ἄρνες ιγ̄ . . . 38 sheep, of which eight are rams, 13 lambs . . . Other exx. of the word are P Petr II. 22 .6 (iii/B.C.) βοῦς (?) ἢ ὑποζύγιον ( ass ) ἢ πρόβατον , P Oxy II. 244 .8 (A.D. 23) πρόβατα τριακόσια εἴκοσι καὶ αἶγας [ἑκατ ]ὸν ἑξήκον [τ ]α καὶ τοὺς ἐπακολουθ (οῦντας ) ἄρνας [κ ]αὶ ἐρίφους , P Fay 110 .13 (A.D. 94) ἵ [ν ]α τὰ πρόβατα ἐκεῖ κοιμηθῆι , that the sheep may be folded there, and CPR I. 40 .11 (A.D. 301) (ἄρουραι ) ν̄ πρὸς κατανομὴν προβάτων . For the φόρος προβάτων , sheep-tax, see Wilcken Ostr. i. p. 286. Πρόβατον occurs as a nickname (for a man?) in P Tebt I. 180 (B.C. 92 or 59). In P Ryl II. 73 .6 (B. C, 33 30) mention is made of a προβατοκτηνότροφος , sheep-herdsman : cf. OGIS 655 .4 (B.C. 25 4), where Dittenberger s note now needs correction. Προβατών , a sheep-pen, occurs in P Cairo Zen I. 59068 .2 (B.C. 257), and προβατίων , A sheep-stall, in BGU IV. 1130 .11 (B.C. II).

πρόβατον πρόβα^τον, ου, τό, [Etym: προβαίνω] mostly in pl. πρόβατα, properly, "anything that walks forward;" in Hom. generally of "cattle, flocks" and "herds;" in Hdt. and Pind. also of "horses;" τὰ λεπτὰ τῶν προβάτων "small cattle", i. e. sheep and goats, Hdt. ; but in attic always of "sheep", Ar. , Thuc. proverb. of stupid, lazy people, πρόβατ᾽ ἄλλως a set of "sheep", Ar. ; so, προβατίου βίος, i. e. a lazy do-nothing life, id=Ar.

πρόβατον, -ου, τό (προβαίνω), [in LXX chiefly for צֹאן, also for שֶׂה, more rarely for כֶּבֶשׂ (כֶּשֶׂב), רָחֵל ;] __1. in Hom., Hdt., cattle, esp. of small cattle, sheep and goats. __2. In NT, as in Attic writers generally (cf. MM, xxi), a sheep: Mat.7:15, Mrk.6:34, al.; πρόβατα σφαγῆς, Rom.8:36 (LXX). Metaphorical (in cl. of timidity, stupidity or idleness), of the followers of a leader or master, esp. of those who are subject to the care of the Good Shepherd: Mat.10:6 15:24 26:31" (LXX) Mrk.14:27 (LXX), Jhn.10:7-8, 15-16 10:26-27 21:16-17 (WH txt., προβάτια), Heb.13:20; opposite to ἐρίφια, Mat.25:33. προβάτιον, -ου, τό, dimin. of πρόβατον (used as a term of endearment, see El., § 27, 4), a little sheep: Jhn.21:16-17 (πρόβατα, WH, mg.).† (AS)