Word Study for G2359 (θρίξ) | Strong's Concordance

thríx /threeks/ Ask about this word

Meaninggenitive case , etc.; of uncertain derivation; hair

KJV usagehair. Compare κόμη.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of thríx — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word thríx, represented by G2359, is the term for hair. It appears 15 times across 14 unique verses, used both in literal descriptions and as a powerful symbol in various biblical accounts.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In scripture, G2359 is used in several distinct contexts. It is used literally to describe materials, such as the "raiment of camel's hair" worn by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:4, Mark 1:6). The word also features prominently in acts of profound worship and humility, most notably when a woman wiped Jesus's feet with her hair (John 12:3, Luke 7:38). Furthermore, it serves as a metaphor for God's detailed knowledge and care, as seen in the assurance that the very hairs of the head are all numbered Matthew 10:30. In the book of Revelation, it is used to describe divine and apocalyptic figures (Revelation 1:14, Revelation 9:8).

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the contexts in which hair is mentioned:

G2776 kephalḗ (head): This word, meaning "the head", is frequently paired with G2359. It physically locates the hair and is central to passages about God's intimate knowledge, as in "the hairs of your head are all numbered" Luke 12:7.
G1708 emplokḗ (plaiting): Defined as the "elaborate braiding of the hair", this term is used in the context of adornment. It appears in a warning against focusing on outward appearance, specifically the "plaiting the hair" 1 Peter 3:3.
G705 arithméō (to enumerate or count): This word is key to a major theological point involving hair. It is used to express God's omniscience, stating that all the hairs of a disciple's head are numbered Matthew 10:30.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G2359 is seen in its symbolic applications, illustrating core spiritual truths.

Divine Sovereignty and Care: The concept that every single hair is numbered by God highlights His meticulous care and sovereign control over the smallest details of a believer's life (Matthew 10:30, Luke 12:7).
Profound Humility: The use of hair to wipe Jesus' feet transforms an object of personal vanity into a tool of humble worship, signifying repentance and deep devotion (Luke 7:38, John 12:3).
Promise of Absolute Protection: The assurance that not a hair of the head will perish is a powerful metaphor for God's complete preservation of His people through trials (Luke 21:18, Acts 27:34).
Symbol of Divine Glory: In John's vision of the glorified Christ, His hairs being "white like wool, as white as snow" symbolizes divine purity, age, and wisdom Revelation 1:14.

Summary

In summary, G2359 moves beyond its literal meaning to become a significant biblical symbol. Whether describing the simple clothing of a prophet or the glorious appearance of Christ, it consistently points to deeper truths. The word hair is used to teach about God's intimate care, the nature of true worship, and the promise of divine protection, making it a small but powerful detail in scripture.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a noun across 15 occurrences, inflected in 6 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Dative Plural Feminine 4×
Accusative Plural Feminine 3×
Nominative Plural Feminine 3×
Genitive Plural Feminine 2×
Nominative Singular Feminine 2×
Accusative Singular Feminine 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Genitive: Possession or source — often "of".
Dative: The indirect object — often "to" or "for".
Accusative: The direct object of the verb.
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Feminine: Feminine grammatical gender.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 14 verses across 7 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Luke (4 verses); never once in the other 20.

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

Acts

1 Peter

Revelation

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.