ἄριστον G0712
meal, dinner, feast; a formal dining occasion
This noun denotes a meal or feast, particularly a formal dining event. In the parable of the wedding feast, the king announces 'my dinner is prepared' for the invited guests who made excuses (Matt 22:4). A Pharisee is surprised when Jesus sits down to 'dinner' without first ceremonially washing (Luke 11:38). Jesus advises that when giving a 'feast,' one should invite the poor and disabled rather than friends and relatives (Luke 14:12). The term often appears in contexts of hospitality, social obligation, and kingdom teaching.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Refers to formal meals in contexts of hospitality and kingdom parables. Matthew 22:4 uses it in the wedding feast parable—'my dinner' (ἄριστόν) is ready, emphasizing the prepared celebration. Luke 11:38 sets Jesus's controversy with Pharisees at 'dinner' (ἀρίστου), where ritual and relationship clash. Luke 14:12 advises about whom to invite when giving 'a dinner' (ἄριστον). The Spanish 'almuerzo/banquete,' French 'repas,' and German forms indicate formal dining occasions that frame social and spiritual teaching. 3×
AR["الْغَداءِ", "غَدائي", "غَدَاءً"]·ben["খাবারের", "দুপুরের-খাবার", "ভোজ"]·DE["ἀρίστου", "ἄριστον", "ἄριστόν"]·EN["dinner", "lunch", "meal"]·FR["repas"]·heb["אֲרֻחַת-בֹּקֶר", "אֲרֻחָה", "אֲרוּחָה"]·HI["दोपहर-का-भोजन", "भोज", "भोजन"]·ID["jamuan", "makan-siang"]·IT["ariston", "aristou"]·jav["dhahar-ageng", "dhahar-énjang"]·KO["식사-를", "식사-전에", "점심을"]·PT["almoço", "banquete"]·RU["завтраком", "обед"]·ES["almuerzo", "banquete"]·SW["chakula-cha-asubuhi", "changu"]·TR["yemeğin", "ziyafetim", "öğle-yemeği"]·urd["دوپہر-کا-کھانا", "ناشتے", "کھانا"]
Related Senses
H3548 1. priest, cultic officiant (750×)G5547 1. Christ, Messiah, Anointed One (540×)H5030 1. Prophet, divine spokesperson (317×)H5930a 1. burnt offering (sacrifice) (286×)H3881 1. Levites (priestly class) (283×)G4396 1. prophet, spokesperson of God (146×)H6944 1. sanctuary, holy place (129×)G0749 1. high priest, chief priest (123×)H6944 2. holiness, sacredness (abstract quality) (123×)G5330 1. Pharisee (99×)G4336 1. pray to God (86×)H6944 3. holy things, sacred offerings (plural) (86×)H3722a 1. make ritual atonement (Piel) (85×)H6912 1. bury (Qal active) (82×)H6419 1. pray (Hitpael) (80×)H6944 4. holiness (with possessive pronoun) (77×)H6942 1. sanctify, consecrate (Piel factitive) (76×)H2930a 1. Qal: be/become unclean (75×)H7819a 1. slaughter an animal (Qal active) (72×)H1486 1. lot (object cast for decisions) (71×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἄριστον, τό, morning meal, breakfast, twice in Refs 8th c.BC+: later, breakfast was called ἀκράτισμα, and ἄριστον was the midday meal, our luncheon,Refs 5th c.BC+; ἄ. αἱρεῖσθαι, ποιεῖσθαι, Refs 5th c.BC+. [; contraction from ᾰ (y) ερι-στον, cf. Gothic air, OHG. ēr 'early', Avest. ayar[schwa] 'day'; also ᾱ (y) ερ- in ἦρι, ἠέριο; -στο- from -d-to-, root ed- 'eat'.]