ἀρνίον G0721
Lamb — diminutive of arēn; used almost exclusively in Revelation as a christological title for Jesus
A diminutive meaning 'little lamb,' this word appears thirty times in the New Testament, twenty-nine of them in Revelation as the defining title for the risen Christ. The Lamb stands 'as though slain' yet exercises sovereign authority — opening seals, receiving worship, and conquering all opposition (Rev 5:6-13; 17:14). The single occurrence outside Revelation is Jesus's tender commission to Peter: 'Feed my lambs' (John 21:15), where the diminutive conveys the vulnerability of young believers. Spanish Cordero and French agneau both capitalize the term when used as a title, reflecting its exalted christological force.
1. Lamb — The Lamb — a christological title for Christ in Revelation, portraying him as the slain-yet-victorious sacrificial Lamb who redeems, rules, and receives worship. From the throne-room vision where the Lamb alone is worthy to open the scroll (Rev 5:6-12) through the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev 19:9) and the Lamb's book of life (Rev 21:27), this title carries the full weight of atonement, sovereignty, and eschatological triumph. Spanish Cordero (capitalized), French agneau, and German Lamm consistently mark its exalted, titular character. 29×
AR["الحَمَلَ","الحَمَلُ","الحَمَلِ","حَمَلٌ","حَمَلَ","حَمَلُ","حَمَلِ"]·ben["মেষশাবক","মেষশাবকের","মেষশাবকের!","মেষশাবকের,","মেষশাবকের;","মেষশাবকের।"]·DE["Lamm"]·EN["Lamb","a-Lamb"]·FR["agneau"]·heb["הַשֶּׂה","שֶּׂה","שֶׂה"]·HI["मेमना","मेमने!","मेमने,","मेमने-के;","मेमने-के।","मेमने-ने","मेम्ना","मेम्ने","मेम्ने-का","मेम्ने-के","मेम्ने।"]·ID["Anak-Domba","Anak-Domba!","Anak-Domba,","Anak-Domba.","Anak-Domba;"]·IT["agnello"]·jav["Cempe","Sang-Cempe","Sang-Cempé"]·KO["어린-양","어린-양-의","어린-양-이","어린-양을","어린-양의","어린-양이"]·PT["Cordeiro"]·RU["Агнец","Агнца","Агнца,","Агнца.","Агнца;","Агнцем","Агнцем,","Агнцем.","Агнцу!","Агнцу,"]·ES["Cordero","Cordero,"]·SW["Mwana-Kondoo","Mwana-Kondoo!","Mwana-Kondoo,","Mwana-Kondoo.","Mwana-Kondoo;","Mwanakondoo","Mwanakondoo,","Mwanakondoo."]·TR["-o","Kuzu","Kuzu'nun","Kuzu'ya","Kuzu'yla","Kuzu'yu"]·urd["برّا","برّے","برّے-کا","برّے-کی","برّے-کے","برہ","برہ-نے","برہ-کو","برہ-کی","برہ-کے"]
Rev 5:6, Rev 5:8, Rev 5:12, Rev 5:13, Rev 6:1, Rev 6:16, Rev 7:9, Rev 7:10, Rev 7:14, Rev 7:17, Rev 12:11, Rev 13:8 (+17 more)
▼ 1 more sense below
Senses
2. lambs — Literal young lambs, the diminutive's original meaning, applied to the flock Jesus entrusts to Peter's pastoral care. In John 21:15 Jesus says boske ta arnia mou ('feed my lambs'), distinguishing the most vulnerable members of his community from the probata ('sheep') of the following verses. Spanish corderitos (with the diminutive suffix) uniquely captures the tender, small-flock nuance that the Revelation occurrences have sublimated into christological grandeur. 1×
AR["حُمْلانِي"]·ben["মেষশাবকগুলি"]·DE["Lamm"]·EN["lambs"]·FR["agneau"]·heb["טְלָאִים"]·HI["मेमनों-को"]·ID["domba-domba"]·IT["arnia"]·jav["cèmpe"]·KO["어린-양들-을"]·PT["cordeiros"]·RU["агнцев"]·ES["corderitos"]·SW["wana-kondoo"]·TR["kuzularımı"]·urd["برّوں"]
Related Senses
H6629 1. flock, sheep/goats (small livestock) (274×)H1241 1. cattle, herd (bovine livestock) (183×)H0352a 1. ram (male sheep) (156×)H6499 1. young bull, bullock (130×)H3532 1. lamb, young male sheep (105×)H2543 1. donkey (male ass) (96×)H7794 1. ox, bull (79×)H7462b 1. shepherd (agent noun) (76×)H5795 1. she-goat(s), female goat(s) (68×)H7462b 2. to shepherd, tend, pasture (60×)H1581 1. camel (domestic animal) (54×)H0738b 1. lion (46×)G4263 1. sheep (39×)H5739 1. flock or herd of livestock (38×)H5695 1. calf, young bull (35×)H0738a 1. lion (large predatory feline) (34×)H0860 1. female donkey (34×)H3611 1. dog (animal) (32×)H3715a 1. young lion, lion cub (31×)H5175 1. serpent, snake (31×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἀρνίον, τό, diminutive of ἀρήν, a little lamb, Refs 5th c.BC+ __II sheepskin, fleece, Refs 2nd c.AD+