### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek term χωρίον (chōríon, `{{G5564}}`) is a diminutive of χώρα (chōra, `{{G5561}}`), which broadly signifies a "country," "region," or "land." As a diminutive, χωρίον denotes a smaller, more specific area: a "spot," "plot of ground," "parcel of land," or "field." Its semantic range encompasses a defined piece of property, often implying ownership or a particular, bounded location. Unlike the broader χώρα, χωρίον brings a sense of specificity and often, personal connection or significance to the piece of land described.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
χωρίον appears a limited number of times in the New Testament, yet each occurrence is contextually rich:
* **Gethsemane:** In [[Matthew 26:36]] and [[Mark 14:32]], χωρίον refers to Gethsemane, the "place" or "plot of ground" where Jesus went with His disciples before His arrest. This specific *chōríon* becomes the setting for Jesus' intense prayer, spiritual agony, and ultimate submission to the Father's will. The term emphasizes it as a distinct, bounded area, a private space for a pivotal moment.
* **Jacob's Well:** [[John 4:5]] describes Jesus coming to a city near the *chōríon* that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Here, χωρίον clearly denotes a "parcel of ground" or "field" that was inherited property, linking the immediate narrative to the patriarchal history of Israel and the covenant promises associated with land.
* **Aceldama:** [[Acts 1:18]] and [[Acts 1:19]] refer to the "field of blood" (Aceldama), the *chōríon* purchased with the money Judas received for betraying Jesus. This *chōríon* is a specific, infamous plot of land, forever marked by an act of profound treachery and its grim consequences. It serves as a tangible monument to divine judgment and human sin.
* **Early Church Possessions:** [[Acts 4:34]] and [[Acts 5:3]] use χωρίον to describe "lands" or "possessions" that early believers sold to contribute to the communal welfare of the church. Here, the word signifies private property, highlighting the radical generosity and communal spirit that characterized the early Christian community.
* **Publius's Estate:** In [[Acts 28:7]], χωρίον refers to the "lands" or "estate" belonging to Publius, the chief official of Malta, who hosted Paul and his companions. This again denotes a specific piece of property, emphasizing hospitality and the practical provision for the apostles.
Across these contexts, χωρίον consistently points to a defined, often owned, piece of ground, whether it be a garden, an inherited plot, a purchased field, or an estate.
### Related Words & Concepts
χωρίον is closely related to its root word, χώρα (chōra, `{{G5561}}`), which refers to a larger region, country, or territory. While χώρα describes the broad expanse, χωρίον zeroes in on a particular segment of it. Other related terms include:
* ἀγρός (agros, `{{G68}}`): "Field," "countryside." While often interchangeable in some contexts, χωρίον tends to emphasize a *defined plot* of ground, potentially with boundaries or ownership, more than the general open "field" implied by ἀγρός.
* γῆ (gē, `{{G1093}}`): "Earth," "land," "ground." This is a much broader term, encompassing the entire planet or any landmass. χωρίον is a small, specific *portion* of γῆ.
* τόπος (topos, `{{G5117}}`): "Place," "location." While τόπος can be very general, χωρίον specifies that the "place" is a *piece of ground* or property.
* Concepts associated with χωρίον include: property, inheritance, ownership, specific geographical location, sacred space, cursed space, and material possessions.
### Theological Significance
Though seemingly a mundane term for a "plot of ground," χωρίον carries profound theological significance by grounding pivotal biblical events and principles in concrete, tangible locations.
* **The Specificity of God's Action:** The use of χωρίον in [[Matthew 26:36]] and [[Mark 14:32]] highlights that the agonizing prayer of Jesus in Gethsemane occurred not in an abstract space, but in a particular, identifiable "garden." This underscores the historical and incarnational reality of Christ's suffering and obedience. The "plot of ground" became the crucible of salvation, where the Son's will perfectly aligned with the Father's.
* **Consequences of Sin and Judgment:** Aceldama, the "field of blood" ([[Acts 1:18]]), stands as a stark, physical reminder of betrayal, guilt, and divine judgment. This χωρίον is a tangible witness to the spiritual consequences of Judas's actions, a place forever marked by the wages of sin.
* **Radical Discipleship and Community:** In [[Acts 4:34]] and [[Acts 5:3]], the selling of χωρία (lands/possessions) by early believers illustrates a radical reorientation of values within the nascent church. It demonstrates a practical outworking of faith, where material possessions were held loosely and used for the common good, embodying a profound commitment to communal sharing and detachment from worldly wealth for the sake of the Kingdom.
* **Continuity of Covenant and History:** The reference to Jacob's *chōríon* in [[John 4:5]] connects Jesus' ministry to the ancient promises and the long history of God's interaction with Israel, rooted in specific land grants and inherited property.
Thus, χωρίον, while denoting a simple "plot of ground," frequently serves as a geographical anchor for significant spiritual truths, revealing how God's divine plan unfolds within the concrete realities of human existence and physical space.
### Summary
χωρίον (chōríon, `{{G5564}}`) is a Greek term signifying a specific, often bounded, "plot of ground," "parcel of land," or "field," serving as the diminutive of χώρα (chōra, `{{G5561}}`). Its New Testament occurrences are crucial for understanding the tangible settings of pivotal biblical events. From the agonizing prayer in the χωρίον of Gethsemane to the infamous "field of blood" (Aceldama) and the sold χωρία of early Christian communal life, the word consistently grounds spiritual realities in physical locations and material possessions. Theologically, χωρίον underscores the historical and incarnational nature of God's redemptive work, demonstrating that profound spiritual truths are often revealed and enacted within the concrete, specific realities of human experience and the physical world.
TRV