perhaps from (a leek, and so an onion-patch); a garden plot, i.e. (by implication, of regular beds) a row (repeated in plural by Hebraism, to indicate an arrangement):--in ranks.
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **prasiá**, represented by `{{G4237}}`, literally means a garden plot or, by implication, an orderly row. Its definition suggests an arrangement like regular beds in a garden, and it is translated as "in ranks." It appears **2 times** across **1 unique verses** in the Bible.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The single context for `{{G4237}}` is the feeding of the five thousand. In this narrative, the word is used to describe the orderly manner in which the crowd was seated before the miracle of the loaves and fishes. The use of the word twice is a Hebraism that emphasizes the structured arrangement of the people, who "sat down **in ranks**" [[Mark 6:40]]. This organization into groups was a deliberate prelude to the distribution of food.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words in the passage help to illustrate the scene:
* `{{G377}}` **anapíptō** (to fall back, i.e. lie down, lean back): This is the action the people took, as they were commanded to **sit down** in the orderly arrangement described by `prasiá` [[Mark 6:40]].
* `{{G303}}` **aná** (used distributively severally): This preposition is used to specify the size of the groups, indicating that the people were arranged "**by** hundreds, and **by** fifties" [[Mark 6:40]].
* `{{G1540}}` **hekatón** (a hundred): This word specifies the size of the larger groups in the arrangement, indicating divisions of a **hundred** people [[Mark 6:40]].
* `{{G4004}}` **pentḗkonta** (fifty): This word quantifies the smaller group size, noting that people were also arranged in companies of **fifty** [[Mark 6:40]].
### Theological Significance
While not a deeply theological term on its own, the significance of `{{G4237}}` is found in its application.
* **Divine Order:** The word's meaning of a "garden plot" or "regular beds" paints a picture of deliberate order imposed on a chaotic situation. The multitude is arranged with care before being fed, reflecting a divine principle of order.
* **Prerequisite for Blessing:** The organization of the people **in ranks** [[Mark 6:40]] happens just before the miracle. This suggests that this structured arrangement was a necessary step for the efficient and equitable distribution of God's provision.
* **Systematic Care:** By arranging the crowd into manageable groups of **hundreds** `{{G1540}}` and **fifties** `{{G4004}}`, the narrative highlights a method of systematic care, ensuring that all were included and attended to.
### Summary
In summary, `{{G4237}}` is a specific and descriptive word that, while rare, provides a powerful image in its sole biblical context. It transforms the act of sitting into a portrait of divine order and thoughtful preparation. The word **prasiá** illustrates how a logistical detail can reveal a deeper truth about the organized and caring nature of God's miraculous provision for His people [[Mark 6:40]].
TRV