πρόβατονpróbaton
something that walks forward (a quadruped), i.e. (specially), a sheep (literally or figuratively)
Greek (New Testament) · G4263
Meanings
1. in Hom., Hdt., cattle, especially of small cattle, sheep and goats.
2. In NT, as in Attic writers generally, a sheep: Matthew 7:15, Mark 6:34, and elsewhere; πρόβατα σφαγῆς, Romans 8:36(LXX). Metaph. (in classical Greek of timidity, stupidity or idleness), of the followers of a leader or master, especially of those who are subject to the care of the Good Shepherd: Matthew 10:6, Matthew 15:24, Matthew 26:31(LXX), Mark 14:27(LXX), John 10:7, John 10:8, John 10:15, John 10:16, John 10:26, John 10:27, John 21:16, John 21:17, Hebrews 13:20; opposed to ἐρίφια, Matthew 25:33.
Same root
Where it appears
Appears 39 times in the Bible.
- Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.
- Matthew 9:36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
- Matthew 10:6 but only to the people of Israel—God’s lost sheep.
- Matthew 10:16 “Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.
- Matthew 12:11 And he answered, “If you had a sheep that fell into a well on the Sabbath, wouldn’t you work to pull it out? Of course you would.
- Matthew 12:12 And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath.”
See every passage
Source: G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), public domain.