4719. stachus
Lexical Summary
stachus: Ear of grain, head of grain

Original Word: στάχυς
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: stachus
Pronunciation: STAH-khoos
Phonetic Spelling: (stakh'-oos)
KJV: ear (of corn)
NASB: head, heads, heads of grain
Word Origin: [from the base of G2476 (ἵστημι - standing)]

1. a head of grain (as standing out from the stalk)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
ear of corn.

From the base of histemi; a head of grain (as standing out from the stalk) -- ear (of corn).

see GREEK histemi

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
a prim. word
Definition
a head of grain
NASB Translation
head (2), heads (2), heads of grain (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 4719: στάχυς

στάχυς, σταχυνος (cf. Buttmann, 14), (connected with the root, sta, ἵστημι; Curtius, p. 721), from Homer down, the Sept. for שִׁבֹּלֶת, an ear of corn (or growing grain): Matthew 12:1; Mark 2:23; Mark 4:28; Luke 6:1.

Topical Lexicon
Ear of Grain (stachys)

Agricultural Setting in Biblical Palestine

Stachys refers to the mature “head” at the top of a stalk of cereal grain, most commonly wheat or barley. In the land of Israel these grains were staple foodstuffs, sown in the autumn rains and harvested in late spring. The appearance of the ear signaled that the seed had reached its final, fruitful stage. Because nearly every household was connected to farming, the image instantly communicated lessons about growth, patience, and provision.

Old Testament Background

The Mosaic Law permitted a hungry traveler to pluck ears of grain by hand (Deuteronomy 23:25), while forbidding the use of a sickle, thereby balancing compassion and property rights. Ears left standing at the edge of the field were to be reserved for the poor, the foreigner, the orphan, and the widow (Leviticus 19:9–10; Ruth 2:2–3). These commands taught Israel to embody the LORD’s generosity, and they provide the legal and theological foundation for the Gospel scenes in which the disciples eat on the Sabbath.

Occurrences in the Gospels

1. Matthew 12:1
2. Mark 2:23
3. Luke 6:1

4–5. Mark 4:28 (twice)

Sabbath Controversy Accounts (Matthew 12:1; Mark 2:23; Luke 6:1)

The Synoptic writers record that Jesus’ hungry disciples “began to pick the heads of grain and eat them” (Matthew 12:1). Pharisees judged the action as unlawful harvesting on the Sabbath. Jesus responded by appealing to Scripture (1 Samuel 21:1–6) and to the character of the Sabbath itself—made for humanity’s good, not humanity for the Sabbath (Mark 2:27). Stachys thus becomes a flashpoint for revealing Christ’s authority over both Scripture’s intent and the Sabbath ordinance, emphasizing mercy over ritualism.

Parable of the Growing Seed (Mark 4:26–29)

In the only other New Testament occurrence, stachys illustrates the mysterious, God-directed advance of the Kingdom: “All by itself the earth produces a crop—first the stalk, then the head, then the grain in the head” (Mark 4:28). The sequence mirrors observable botany yet teaches that spiritual fruit comes by divine power, not human manipulation. The ear of grain stands for the mature, harvest-ready believer produced through hidden, sovereign activity.

Theological Themes

• Providence and Daily Bread: The head of grain embodies God’s continual provision (Psalm 104:14), a theme Christ echoes when He urges prayer for “our daily bread.”
• Mercy Over Sacrifice: By permitting His disciples to pluck ears on the Sabbath, Jesus demonstrates that human need outweighs ceremonial scruples, aligning with Hosea 6:6.
• Kingdom Growth: The silent formation of the ear encourages patience among ministers who sow the Word, trusting God to give the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6).
• Eschatological Harvest: Mature ears prefigure the final gathering of souls (Revelation 14:15), linking everyday agriculture to ultimate redemption.

Ethical and Missional Implications

1. Compassionate Use of Resources: Just as fields were to be left partially unreaped, believers are to reserve margin—time, finances, and energy—for the needy.
2. Sabbath Perspective: True rest is found in fellowship with Christ rather than rigorous rule-keeping. Ministries should prioritize relief of genuine need over maintaining appearances.
3. Patient Discipleship: Growth from seed to ear is gradual; shepherds are called to nurture and wait, confident that God matures His people in due season.
4. Evangelistic Expectation: The ear reminds the church that sowing will culminate in harvest; therefore, proclamation of the Gospel is never in vain.

Christological Focus

Jesus is both Lord of the Sabbath and Lord of the Harvest. In the grainfield narratives He protects His disciples; in the parable He reveals Himself as the One who brings the crop to completion. The stachys thus points to His dual role as compassionate Shepherd and sovereign King.

Pastoral Application

• Encourage congregations to see ordinary labor and meals as arenas of divine teaching.
• Use agricultural metaphors to explain sanctification, emphasizing stages of growth.
• Address legalism by highlighting Christ’s interpretation of Sabbath law through the stachys events.
• Cultivate hope in rural and agrarian communities by connecting their experience directly to the words of Scripture.

See Also

Harvest; Seed; Sabbath; Mercy; Kingdom of God; Provision; Discipleship

Forms and Transliterations
σταχυας στάχυας στάχυες σταχυι στάχυϊ σταχυν στάχυν στάχυς στάχυσι σταχύων stachuas stachui stachun stachyas stáchyas stáchyï stachyn stáchyn
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 12:1 N-AMP
GRK: ἤρξαντο τίλλειν στάχυας καὶ ἐσθίειν
NAS: to pick the heads [of grain] and eat.
KJV: to pluck the ears of corn, and
INT: began to pluck [the] heads of grain and to eat

Mark 2:23 N-AMP
GRK: τίλλοντες τοὺς στάχυας
NAS: along while picking the heads [of grain].
KJV: to pluck the ears of corn.
INT: plucking the heads of grain

Mark 4:28 N-AMS
GRK: χόρτον εἶτα στάχυν εἶτα πλήρης
NAS: then the head, then
KJV: then the ear, after that
INT: a plant then an ear then full

Mark 4:28 N-DMS
GRK: ἐν τῷ στάχυϊ
NAS: the mature grain in the head.
KJV: corn in the ear.
INT: in the ear

Luke 6:1 N-AMP
GRK: ἤσθιον τοὺς στάχυας ψώχοντες ταῖς
NAS: were picking the heads of grain, rubbing
KJV: plucked the ears of corn, and
INT: were eating the heads of grain rubbing [them] in the

Strong's Greek 4719
5 Occurrences


στάχυας — 3 Occ.
στάχυϊ — 1 Occ.
στάχυν — 1 Occ.

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