721. arnion
Lexical Summary
arnion: Lamb

Original Word: ἀρνίον
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: arnion
Pronunciation: ar-nee-on
Phonetic Spelling: (ar-nee'-on)
KJV: lamb
Word Origin: [diminutive from G704 (ἀρήν - lambs)]

1. a lambkin

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
lamb.

Diminutive from aren; a lambkin -- lamb.

see GREEK aren

HELPS Word-studies

721 arníon (the diminutive of 704 /arḗn, "a sheep") – properly, a young lamb, "a little lamb" (J. Thayer); (figuratively) a person with pure (innocent), virgin-like (gentle) intentions.

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 721: ἀρνίον

ἀρνίον, ἀρνίου, τά (diminutive from ἀρήν, which see) (from Lysias down), a little lamb, a lamb: Revelation 13:11; Jesus calls his followers τά ἀρνία μου in John 21:15; τό ἀρνίον is used of Christ, innocently suffering and dying to expiate the sins of men, very often in Revelation, as Revelation 5:6, 8, 12, etc. (Jeremiah 11:19; Jeremiah 27:45 (); Psalm 113:4, 6 (); Josephus, Antiquities 3, 8, 10.)

Topical Lexicon
The Lamb Motif in Scripture

The noun ἀρνίον (Strong’s 721) is the Spirit-given lens through which the New Testament interprets the person and work of Jesus Christ. Drawn from Israel’s sacrificial vocabulary yet elevated to eschatological heights, the term gathers up centuries of redemptive expectation and concentrates them in the glorified Messiah who now rules and will return.

Old Testament Foreshadowing

• Passover (Exodus 12): the lamb’s blood shields from wrath.
• Daily and festal offerings (Exodus 29; Leviticus 23): continual atonement and fellowship.
• Prophetic anticipation (Isaiah 53:7): the Servant led “like a lamb to the slaughter.”

These strands converge in the New Testament usage of ἀρνίον, showing continuity between covenants and the divine plan of redemption.

Christological Title

In Revelation ἀρνίον is virtually a proper name for Jesus Christ, occurring 29 times. It presents the paradox of majesty through meekness: the Sovereign who reigns because He was slain. John’s single Synoptic-style instance (John 21:15) accents the Shepherd’s care, while the Apocalypse unfolds His cosmic authority.

Atonement and Sacrifice

Revelation 5:6–10 portrays the Lamb “who appeared to have been slain” and yet stands enthroned. His blood “purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.” The image cements the once-for-all nature of the cross while displaying its eternal efficacy.

Priestly and Kingly Roles

The Lamb is at once victim and priest, sovereign and shepherd:

• Mediator: His blood cleanses (Revelation 7:14).
• King: He shares the Father’s throne (Revelation 22:1).
• Judge: His wrath terrifies unrepentant humanity (Revelation 6:16).
• Bridegroom: He claims the purified church (Revelation 19:7).

Such multidimensional usage safeguards the unity of Christ’s offices without confusion.

Eschatological Victory

Revelation 17:14 summarizes history: “They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings.” The decisive battle has been won at Calvary; the final manifestation awaits His return.

Pastoral Implications (John 21:15)

When the risen Jesus commissions Peter, He says, “Feed My lambs.” The diminutive ἀρνία underscores tender concern for the vulnerable. Pastoral ministry therefore flows from the Lamb’s own shepherd heart and is measured by faithful nourishment of His flock.

Worship and Liturgy

Heaven’s liturgy centers on the Lamb:

• Doxology of worth (Revelation 5:12).
• Throne-centered shepherding (Revelation 7:17).
• Temple illumination (Revelation 21:23).

Earthly worship mirrors this pattern whenever believers extol Christ crucified and risen.

The Lamb’s Book and People

Revelation 13:8 and 21:27 speak of the “book of life belonging to the Lamb,” linking election, perseverance, and glory to His redemptive accomplishment. Those washed in His blood form the multinational multitude that will dwell forever in the New Jerusalem.

Ethical and Missional Outworking

The Lamb’s self-giving shapes Christian ethics (Revelation 12:11): “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” Victory is achieved through martyr-like witness rather than worldly power, embodying the Lamb’s own pattern of conquest.

Key Passages

John 21:15 – Shepherd commission.
Revelation 5:6, 12 – Enthroned yet slain.
Revelation 6:16 – Wrath of the Lamb.
Revelation 7:10, 17 – Salvation and shepherding.
Revelation 12:11 – Blood-bought victory.
Revelation 19:7, 9 – Marriage supper.
Revelation 21:22–23 – Eternal temple and light.
Revelation 22:1–3 – River of life flows from “the throne of God and of the Lamb.”

Theological Summary

ἀρνίον gathers the entire biblical message into a single, vivid christological symbol: judgment satisfied, sin forgiven, peoples redeemed, creation renewed, all through the voluntary sacrifice and sovereign reign of Jesus Christ. To know the Lamb is to know salvation; to follow Him is to embrace both the cross and the crown.

Forms and Transliterations
αρνια αρνία ἀρνία αρνιον αρνίον ἀρνίον αρνιου αρνίου ἀρνίου αρνιω αρνίω ἀρνίῳ αροτήρες αροτριάσιν αροτρίασις arnia arnía arnio arniō arníoi arníōi arnion arníon arniou arníou
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
John 21:15 N-ANP
GRK: Βόσκε τὰ ἀρνία μου
NAS: You. He said to him, Tend My lambs.
KJV: Feed my lambs.
INT: Feed the lambs of me

Revelation 5:6 N-NNS
GRK: τῶν πρεσβυτέρων ἀρνίον ἑστηκὸς ὡς
NAS: and the elders a Lamb standing,
KJV: stood a Lamb as
INT: of the elders a Lamb standing as

Revelation 5:8 N-GNS
GRK: ἐνώπιον τοῦ ἀρνίου ἔχοντες ἕκαστος
NAS: before the Lamb, each one
KJV: before the Lamb, having
INT: before the Lamb having each

Revelation 5:12 N-NNS
GRK: ἐστιν τὸ ἀρνίον τὸ ἐσφαγμένον
NAS: Worthy is the Lamb that was slain
KJV: is the Lamb that was slain
INT: is the Lamb who has been slain

Revelation 5:13 N-DNS
GRK: καὶ τῷ ἀρνίῳ ἡ εὐλογία
NAS: on the throne, and to the Lamb, [be] blessing
KJV: the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever
INT: and to the Lamb Blessing

Revelation 6:1 N-NNS
GRK: ἤνοιξεν τὸ ἀρνίον μίαν ἐκ
NAS: I saw when the Lamb broke one
KJV: I saw when the Lamb opened one
INT: opened the Lamb one of

Revelation 6:16 N-GNS
GRK: ὀργῆς τοῦ ἀρνίου
NAS: and from the wrath of the Lamb;
KJV: from the wrath of the Lamb:
INT: wrath of the Lamb

Revelation 7:9 N-GNS
GRK: ἐνώπιον τοῦ ἀρνίου περιβεβλημένους στολὰς
NAS: and before the Lamb, clothed
KJV: before the Lamb, clothed
INT: before the Lamb clothed with robes

Revelation 7:10 N-DNS
GRK: καὶ τῷ ἀρνίῳ
NAS: on the throne, and to the Lamb.
KJV: the throne, and unto the Lamb.
INT: and to the Lamb

Revelation 7:14 N-GNS
GRK: αἵματι τοῦ ἀρνίου
NAS: in the blood of the Lamb.
KJV: in the blood of the Lamb.
INT: blood of the Lamb

Revelation 7:17 N-NNS
GRK: ὅτι τὸ ἀρνίον τὸ ἀνὰ
NAS: for the Lamb in the center
KJV: For the Lamb which is in the midst
INT: because the Lamb which [is] in [the]

Revelation 12:11 N-GNS
GRK: αἷμα τοῦ ἀρνίου καὶ διὰ
NAS: of the blood of the Lamb and because
KJV: by the blood of the Lamb, and by
INT: blood of the Lamb and by reason of

Revelation 13:8 N-GNS
GRK: ζωῆς τοῦ ἀρνίου τοῦ ἐσφαγμένου
NAS: of life of the Lamb who has been slain.
KJV: of life of the Lamb slain
INT: of life of the Lamb who was slain

Revelation 13:11 N-DNS
GRK: δύο ὅμοια ἀρνίῳ καὶ ἐλάλει
NAS: like a lamb and he spoke
KJV: horns like a lamb, and he spake
INT: two like to a lamb and spoke

Revelation 14:1 N-NNS
GRK: ἰδοὺ τὸ ἀρνίον ἑστὸς ἐπὶ
NAS: and behold, the Lamb [was] standing
KJV: and, lo, a Lamb stood on
INT: behold the Lamb standing upon

Revelation 14:4 N-DNS
GRK: ἀκολουθοῦντες τῷ ἀρνίῳ ὅπου ἂν
NAS: [are] the ones who follow the Lamb wherever
KJV: follow the Lamb whithersoever
INT: follow the Lamb wherever anyhow

Revelation 14:4 N-DNS
GRK: καὶ τῷ ἀρνίῳ
NAS: to God and to the Lamb.
KJV: unto God and to the Lamb.
INT: and to the Lamb

Revelation 14:10 N-GNS
GRK: ἐνώπιον τοῦ ἀρνίου
NAS: and in the presence of the Lamb.
KJV: and in the presence of the Lamb:
INT: before the Lamb

Revelation 15:3 N-GNS
GRK: ᾠδὴν τοῦ ἀρνίου λέγοντες Μεγάλα
NAS: and the song of the Lamb, saying,
KJV: the song of the Lamb, saying,
INT: song of the Lamb saying Great

Revelation 17:14 N-GNS
GRK: μετὰ τοῦ ἀρνίου πολεμήσουσιν καὶ
NAS: against the Lamb, and the Lamb
KJV: with the Lamb, and
INT: with the Lamb war will make and

Revelation 17:14 N-NNS
GRK: καὶ τὸ ἀρνίον νικήσει αὐτούς
NAS: the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome
KJV: and the Lamb shall overcome
INT: and the Lamb will overcome them

Revelation 19:7 N-GNS
GRK: γάμος τοῦ ἀρνίου καὶ ἡ
NAS: to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come
KJV: the marriage of the Lamb is come,
INT: marriage of the Lamb and the

Revelation 19:9 N-GNS
GRK: γάμου τοῦ ἀρνίου κεκλημένοι καὶ
NAS: supper of the Lamb.' And he said
KJV: supper of the Lamb. And
INT: marriage of the Lamb are called And

Revelation 21:9 N-GNS
GRK: γυναῖκα τοῦ ἀρνίου
NAS: you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.
KJV: thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
INT: wife of the Lamb

Revelation 21:14 N-GNS
GRK: ἀποστόλων τοῦ ἀρνίου
NAS: of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
KJV: of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
INT: apostles of the Lamb

Strong's Greek 721
30 Occurrences


ἀρνία — 1 Occ.
ἀρνίῳ — 5 Occ.
ἀρνίον — 8 Occ.
ἀρνίου — 16 Occ.

720
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