4476. rhaphis
Strong's Lexicon
rhaphis: Needle

Original Word: ῥαφίς
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: rhaphis
Pronunciation: rah-FEES
Phonetic Spelling: (hraf-ece')
Definition: Needle
Meaning: a needle.

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek verb ῥάπτω (rhaptō), meaning "to sew" or "to stitch."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: There is no direct Hebrew equivalent for "rhaphis" as it is a Greek term. However, the concept of sewing and needles can be related to Hebrew terms like מַחַט (machat), which also means needle.

Usage: The term "rhaphis" refers to a needle, a small, slender, pointed instrument used for sewing or stitching. In the New Testament, it is used metaphorically to illustrate the difficulty of a rich person entering the kingdom of God, emphasizing the challenge of prioritizing spiritual wealth over material wealth.

Cultural and Historical Background: In the ancient world, sewing was a common domestic task, and needles were essential tools in everyday life. They were typically made of bone, bronze, or iron. The metaphor of a needle's eye was a vivid illustration in a culture familiar with sewing, highlighting the impossibility of certain tasks without divine intervention.

HELPS Word-studies

4476 rhaphís – a sewing or surgical needle referred to in Mt 19:24 and Mk 10:25.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from rhaptó (to sew)
Definition
a needle
NASB Translation
needle (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 4476: ῤαφίς

ῤαφίς, ῤαφίδος, (ῤάπτω to sew), a needle: Matthew 19:24; Mark 10:25; Luke 18:25 Rec. ((cf. κάμηλος)). Class. Greek more common uses βελόνη (which see); see Lob. ad Phryn., p. 90; (Winer's Grammar, 25).

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
needle.

From a primary rhapto (to sew; perhaps rather akin to the base of rhapizo through the idea of puncturing); a needle -- needle.

see GREEK rhapizo

Forms and Transliterations
ραφιδος ραφίδος ῥαφίδος raphidos rhaphidos rhaphídos
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 19:24 N-GFS
GRK: διὰ τρυπήματος ῥαφίδος διελθεῖν ἢ
NAS: the eye of a needle, than
KJV: the eye of a needle, than
INT: through [the] eye of a needle to pass than

Mark 10:25 N-GFS
GRK: τρυμαλιᾶς τῆς ῥαφίδος διελθεῖν ἢ
NAS: the eye of a needle than
KJV: the eye of a needle, than
INT: eye [of] a needle to pass than [for]

Strong's Greek 4476
2 Occurrences


ῥαφίδος — 2 Occ.

















4475
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