noun · masculine
kalamos
Greekκάλαμος (kalamos)
Strong’sG2563
a reed, reed-pen
stem kalam-12 times in the New Testamentin 5 of 27 books4 of 10 forms occur
Translated as
What it means
κάλαμος, -ου, ὁ,
[in LXX chiefly for קָנֶה, Is 42:3, Ez 40:3 ff., al.;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G2563 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidkal'-am-os
a reed (the plant or its stem, or that of a similar plant); by implication, a pen
Fromof uncertain affinity;
King Jamespen, reed.
James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.
Every form
| Job in the sentence case | one singular | more than one plural |
|---|---|---|
| subject nominative | kalamos1×κάλαμος | kalamois |
| object accusative | kalamon6×κάλαμον | kalamoin |
| direct address vocative | kalamor | kalamoir |
| of, belonging to genitive | kalamou1×καλάμου | kalamoiu |
| to, for dative | kalamo4×καλάμῳ | kalamoi |
Tinted cells are forms the New Testament never uses, so there is no Greek to show against them — but they are still correct Biblang, built from the slots below like any other.
Why these forms, and no others — the slots that make them
kalamo is this word in every one of its forms. The slots after it make all the rest.
same in every form varies — every value shown
Words built on the same stem
Where it appears
12 occurrences, every one of them listed
kalamos“measuring rod”subjectnominative singular1×
Revelation 11:1“measuring rod”Kai dōita mi kalamos homoios rabda, legarōtos; Egeirasōr kai metrasar ton naon tou theou kai tem thusiastēriem kai toin proskunarōtoin en auto.Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the number of worshipers there.
kalamon“reed”objectaccusative singular6×
Matthew 11:7“reed”Houtoiu de poreuerōtoiu archeta tos Iēsus legarō toi ochloi peri Iōannou; Tinem exerchava eis tan erēman theasera? kalamon hupo anemou saleuirōton?As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind?
Matthew 12:20“reed”kalamon suntribirēton ouk katagnuati kai linem tufirōtem ouk sbennuati, heōs an ekballateia eis nikem tan krisian.A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish, till He leads justice to victory.
Matthew 27:29“reed”kai plekaratois stefanon ek akanthaiu epitithala epi tau kefalau autou kai kalamon en ta dexa autou, kai gonupetaratois emprosthen autou empaizala auto legarōtois; Chairasōr, basilevor toiu Ioudaioiu,And they twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on His head. They put a staff in His right hand, knelt down before Him, and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”
Matthew 27:30“reed”kai emptuaratois eis auton lambala ton kalamon kai tuptale eis tan kefalan autou.Then they spit on Him and took the staff and struck Him on the head repeatedly.
Luke 7:24“reed”Apercharatoiu de toiu angeloiu Iōannou archeta legarō pros toin ochloin peri Iōannou; Tinem exerchava eis tan erēman theasera? kalamon hupo anemou saleuirōton?After John’s messengers had left, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind?
Revelation 21:15“rod”Kai tos lalarōtos meta mu echate metrem kalamon chrusouem, hina metrateia tan politan kai toin pulōnoin autau kai tem teichem autau.The angel who spoke with me had a golden measuring rod to measure the city and its gates and walls.
kalamou“pen”of, belonging togenitive singular1×
3 John 1:13“pen”Polleim echame grafara si, alla ouk thelamō dia melaneu kai kalamou si grafarō;I have many things to write to you, but I would prefer not to do so with pen and ink.
kalamo“reed”to, fordative singular4×
Matthew 27:48“reed”kai eutheōs trecharatos henos ek autoiu kai lambaratos spongon pimplēaratos tē oxeu kai perititharatos kalamo potizate auton.One of them quickly ran and brought a sponge. He filled it with sour wine, put it on a reed, and held it up for Jesus to drink.
Mark 15:19“reed”kai tuptale autou tan kefalan kalamo kai emptuale auto, kai titharōtois teim gonueim proskunale auto.They kept striking His head with a staff and spitting on Him. And they knelt down and bowed before Him.
Mark 15:36“reed”trecharatos de tinos kai gemizaratos spongon oxeu perititharatos kalamo potizate auton, legarōtos; Afiēkavar horaneia ei erchetō Ēliaos kathairara auton.And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine. He put it on a reed and held it up for Jesus to drink, saying, “Leave Him alone. Let us see if Elijah comes to take Him down.”
Revelation 21:16“rod”kai tas politas tetragōnas keietō, kai tem mēkem autau hosem tem platem. kai metrata tan politan to kalamo epi stadioin dōdeka chiliadaiu; tem mēkem kai tem platem kai tem hupsem autau iseim atō.The city lies foursquare, with its width the same as its length. And he measured the city with the rod, and all its dimensions were equal — 12,000 stadia in length and width and height.