### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek term χοῖνιξ (choînix, `{{G5518}}`) refers to a specific dry measure of capacity in the ancient world. While its precise etymological derivation remains uncertain, its practical meaning is well-established. It was equivalent to approximately one quart or about 1.08 liters. In the context of daily sustenance, a choînix of grain (wheat or barley) was generally considered the minimum amount necessary to sustain one person for a single day. Thus, its semantic range is tightly bound to concepts of measurement, daily provision, and, by extension, scarcity or abundance depending on its cost and availability.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word χοῖνιξ (choînix, `{{G5518}}`) appears only once in the New Testament, found in the apocalyptic vision of John:
* **[[Revelation 6:6]]**: "And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, 'A measure (χοῖνιξ) of wheat for a denarius, and three measures (χοῖνιξ) of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.'"
This verse describes the scene following the opening of the third seal, which introduces the black horse, symbolizing famine and economic hardship. The pronouncement from the voice is highly significant. A denarius (δηνάριον, `{{G1220}}`) was the typical daily wage for a common laborer in the Roman Empire ([[Matthew 20:2]]). Under normal circumstances, a denarius would purchase significantly more than one choînix of wheat—perhaps eight to sixteen times that amount, or even more. Therefore, the statement in [[Revelation 6:6]] depicts a situation of hyperinflation and severe scarcity, where a full day's labor yields only enough staple food (wheat or barley) to feed one person for one day. This implies widespread hunger and economic destitution for the majority of the population. The additional command, "do not harm the oil and the wine," adds a nuanced layer to this judgment, perhaps indicating that certain luxury goods or specific agricultural products are either divinely protected from the famine or that the judgment is selective, affecting staple grains more severely than other commodities.
### Related Words & Concepts
Understanding χοῖνιξ (choînix, `{{G5518}}`) is enhanced by considering related biblical concepts and terms:
* **Measures of Capacity:** Other Greek words denoting dry or liquid measures, such as σάτον (saton, `{{G4568}}`, "measure" in a different sense, often larger), μόδιος (modios, `{{G3426}}`, "bushel"), and μετρητής (metrētēs, `{{G3355}}`, "firkin" or liquid measure), help contextualize χοῖνιξ as part of a system of ancient weights and measures.
* **Denarius (δηνάριον, `{{G1220}}`):** This coin is crucial for grasping the economic severity implied by the famine. It represents a day's wage, highlighting the extreme cost of basic necessities.
* **Famine (λιμός, limos, `{{G3042}}`):** The broader context of the black horse is famine, and χοῖνιξ serves as a concrete, quantitative illustration of its devastating effects.
* **Scarcity and Provision:** The term highlights the stark contrast between God's usual provision and the dire scarcity that results from judgment.
* **Judgment and Consequence:** Within the book of Revelation, the appearance of the choînix is a direct consequence of divine judgment, illustrating the earthly suffering that follows humanity's rebellion.
### Theological Significance
The solitary appearance of χοῖνιξ (choînix, `{{G5518}}`) in [[Revelation 6:6]] carries profound theological weight:
* **Divine Judgment and Warning:** The choînix serves as a stark symbol of God's righteous judgment upon the earth, specifically through the means of severe famine and economic collapse. It is a tangible manifestation of the consequences of sin and a warning to humanity.
* **Economic Hardship and Injustice:** The image of a day's wage for a single measure of grain powerfully conveys the immense suffering and destitution that will befall the common people. It speaks to a breakdown of societal order and a profound economic imbalance where basic survival becomes a daily struggle. This highlights the vulnerability of human systems to divine intervention.
* **Sovereignty in Judgment:** Even amidst the severity of the famine, the command "do not harm the oil and the wine" suggests a degree of divine control and precision within the judgment. God's judgments are not chaotic but purposeful, perhaps indicating a preservation of certain resources, a targeting of specific elements, or a limitation on the extent of the calamity. This demonstrates God's ultimate sovereignty even in the midst of tribulation.
* **Call to Repentance:** As with all the judgments described in Revelation, the economic devastation symbolized by the choînix is ultimately intended to lead humanity to repentance and a turning towards God, though many remain unrepentant ([[Revelation 9:20-21]]).
### Summary
The Greek word χοῖνιξ (choînix, `{{G5518}}`) denotes a specific ancient dry measure, roughly equivalent to a quart, representing a single day's ration of grain for one person. Its sole appearance in the New Testament, in [[Revelation 6:6]], is profoundly significant. There, the pronouncement "A measure (choînix) of wheat for a denarius" vividly portrays a severe famine characterized by hyperinflation, where a full day's wage can barely purchase enough food for one individual for one day. Theologically, the choînix functions as a powerful symbol of divine judgment, illustrating the devastating economic hardship and suffering that will accompany the opening of the seals. It underscores God's sovereign control even in the midst of tribulation and serves as a prophetic warning and a call to repentance.
TRV