WG: Lamb
Overview
The NT uses four distinct Greek words for "lamb," each with different nuance. The group also includes key collocations that define the Lamb's role in Revelation: slaying (sphazō) and enthronement (thronos).
Word Group Members
| Strong's |
Word |
Transliteration |
POS |
Occurrences |
Role in Concept |
Library Entry |
| G721 |
ἀρνίον |
arníon |
neut. noun |
28 |
The Lamb — Revelation's christological title |
G721 |
| G286 |
ἀμνός |
amnós |
masc. noun |
4 |
The sacrificial lamb — John the Baptist's designation |
G286 |
| G704 |
ἀρήν |
arēn |
masc. noun |
1 |
Generic young lamb — NT hapax (Lk 10:3) |
TODO(need G704 study) |
| G4263 |
πρόβατον |
próbaton |
neut. noun |
37 |
Sheep — the flock animal, Jesus' followers |
TODO(need G4263 study) |
| G4969 |
σφάζω |
sphazō |
verb |
9 |
To slaughter — defines the Lamb's sacrificial identity |
G4969 |
| G2362 |
θρόνος |
thrónos |
masc. noun |
50 |
Throne — the Lamb's co-enthronement with God |
G2362 |
Relationships
Word Family
- ἀρνίον (G721) is the diminutive of ἀρήν (G704) — same root, "little lamb" / "lambkin"
- ἀμνός (G286) is etymologically unrelated — a primary word
Co-occurrence (appear in same verses)
| Word A |
Word B |
Shared Verses |
Typical Context |
| G721 arníon |
G2362 thrónos |
8x (29% of arníon) |
"throne of God and of the Lamb" — co-enthronement |
| G721 arníon |
G4969 sphazō |
3x (11% of arníon) |
"a Lamb as it had been slain" — sacrificial identity |
| G4969 sphazō |
G2362 thrónos |
1x |
Rev 5:6 — slain Lamb standing at the throne |
| G286 amnós |
G4263 próbaton |
1x |
Acts 8:32 — "led as a sheep... as a lamb before his shearer" |
Shared Hebrew Sources (via LXX)
| Greek Words |
Shared Hebrew |
Notes |
| G286 amnós + G4969 sphazō |
H5930 ʻolah (burnt offering) |
Both map to burnt-offering contexts; 35 and 11 co-occurrences respectively |
Roles in the Concept
- Title (Revelation): arníon (G721) — the dominant christological lamb-title; 27 of 28 uses in Revelation
- Title (Gospels/Epistles): amnós (G286) — "Lamb of God" (Jhn 1:29, 36); "a lamb without blemish" (1 Pet 1:19)
- Generic lamb: arēn (G704) — "lambs among wolves" (Lk 10:3); non-christological
- The flock: próbaton (G4263) — the sheep who follow the Lamb (Jhn 10; Jhn 21:16-17)
- The sacrifice: sphazō (G4969) — the act that qualifies the Lamb for enthronement
- The destination: thrónos (G2362) — the Lamb shares God's throne
Key Passages Where Multiple Group Words Appear Together
- Rev 5:6 — [G721 + G4969 + G2362] "in the midst of the throne... stood a Lamb as it had been slain"
- Acts 8:32 — [G286 + G4263] "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb before his shearer"
- John 21:15-17 — [G721 + G4263] Jesus uses arníon (v.15 "lambs") then próbaton (v.16-17 "sheep") for his flock
Generated from: gather_word_group_data.py (G721 G286 G704 G4263 G4969 G2362)
Last updated: 2026-04-13