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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1"/><title>Strong's Greek: 5586. ψῆφος (pséphos) -- Pebble, stone, vote</title></title><link rel="canonical" href="http://biblehub.com/greek/5586.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/strongsnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/interlinear/vmenus/ephesians/1-19.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmstrongs/greek/5586.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/strongs.htm">Strong's</a> > <a href="/englishmans_greek.htm">Greek</a> > 5586</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../greek/5585.htm" title="5585">◄</a> 5586. pséphos <a href="../greek/5587.htm" title="5587">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Strong's Lexicon</div><div align="left"><span class="toptitle2">pséphos: Pebble, stone, vote</span></div><p><span class="tophdg">Original Word: </span><span class="greek">ψῆφος</span><br><span class="tophdg">Part of Speech: </span>Noun, Feminine<br><span class="tophdg">Transliteration: </span>pséphos<br><span class="tophdg">Pronunciation: </span>PSAY-fos<br><span class="tophdg">Phonetic Spelling: </span>(psay'-fos)<br><span class="tophdg">Definition: </span>Pebble, stone, vote<br><span class="tophdg">Meaning: </span>(a) a pebble, small stone, (b) hence, from their use in voting: a vote.<p><span class="tophdg">Word Origin: </span>From the base of ψάω (psaō), meaning "to rub" or "to touch lightly."<p><span class="tophdg">Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: </span>While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for "pséphos," the concept of casting lots or making decisions can be related to Hebrew terms like גּוֹרָל (goral), which refers to a lot or portion.<p><span class="tophdg">Usage: </span>The term "pséphos" primarily refers to a small stone or pebble. In ancient times, these pebbles were used for counting or making decisions, such as casting votes. In the New Testament, "pséphos" is used metaphorically to signify a decision or judgment.<p><span class="tophdg">Cultural and Historical Background: </span>In the Greco-Roman world, pebbles were commonly used in voting processes. Citizens would cast a white stone to signify approval or a black stone for disapproval. This practice was prevalent in legal and civic contexts, where decisions were made collectively. The use of stones for voting highlights the communal and participatory nature of decision-making in ancient societies.<div class="vheading2">HELPS Word-studies</div><p class="discovery"><b>5586</b> <i>psḗphos</i> – properly, a <i>pebble</i> used in ancient elections to <i>vote</i>; hence, a <i>vote</i> (Souter).</p><p class="discovery">[People in ancient times often voted by casting <i>stones</i>. A <i>white</i> stone typically meant "<i>yes</i>" and a black stone "<i>no</i>."]</p><iframe width="100%" height="85" scrolling=no src="/discovery.htm" frameborder=0 cellpadding=0></iframe><div class="vheading2">NAS Exhaustive Concordance</div><span class="hdg">Word Origin</span><br>from the same as <a href="/greek/5567.htm">psalló</a><br><span class="hdg">Definition</span><br>a small smooth stone, a pebble<br><span class="hdg">NASB Translation</span><br>stone (2), vote (1).<p><div align="center"><span class="smalltext"><iframe width="100%" height="85" scrolling=no src="/nasec.htm" frameborder=0 cellpadding=0></iframe></span></div><div class="vheading2">Thayer's Greek Lexicon</div><span class="maintitle">STRONGS NT 5586: ψῆφος</span><br><br><span class="arttitle"><span class="grktitle">ψῆφος</span></span>, <span class="greek2">ψηφου</span>, <span class="greek2">ἡ</span> (from <span class="greek2">ψάω</span>, see <span class="greek2"><span class="lexref">ψάλλω</span></span>), <span class="accented">a small, worn, smooth stone; pebble</span> (from <span class="abbreviation">Pindar</span>, <span class="abbreviation">Herodotus</span> down; (in <span class="abbreviation">Homer</span> <span class="greek2">ψηφίς</span>)); <p><span class="textheading">1.</span> since in the ancient courts of justice the accused were condemned by black pebbles and acquitted by white (cf. <span class="abbreviation">Passow</span>, under the word, <span class="greek2">ψῆφος</span>, 2 c, vol. ii, p. 2574b; (Liddell and Scott, under the word, 4 d.); <span class="abbreviation">Ovid</span>. met. 15, 41; (<span class="abbreviation">Plutarch</span>, Alcib. 22, 2)), and a man on his acquittal was spoken of as <span class="greek2">νικησας</span> (<span class="abbreviation">Theophrastus</span>, char. 17 (19), 3) and the <span class="greek2">ψῆφος</span> acquitting Dim called <span class="greek2">νικητήριος</span> (<span class="abbreviation">Heliodorus</span> 3, 3 under the end), Christ promises that to the one who has gained eternal life by coming off conqueror over temptation (<span class="greek2">τῷ</span> <span class="greek2">νικουντι</span> (<span class="abbreviation">A. V.</span> <span class="accented">to him that overcometh</span>)) he will give <span class="greek2">ψῆφον</span> <span class="greek2">λευκήν</span>, <a href="/interlinear/revelation/2-17.htm">Revelation 2:17</a>; but the figure is explained differently by different interpretations; cf. Düsterdieck (or Lee in the 'Speaker's Commentary') at the passage; (<span class="abbreviation">B. D.</span> under the word, Stones, 8). Ewald (Die Johann. Schriften, ii., p. 136; (cf. Lee as above; Plumptre in <span class="abbreviation">B. D.</span> under the word, Hospitality, at the end)) understnads it to be the tessera hospitalis (cf. Rich, <span class="abbreviation">Dict. of Antiq.</span>, under the word, Tessera, 3; Becker, Charicles, namely, i. note 17), which on being shown secures admission to the enjoyment of the heavenly manna; the Greek name, however, for this tessera, is not <span class="greek2">ψῆφος</span>, but <span class="greek2">σύμβολον</span>. <p><span class="textheading">2.</span> <span class="accented">a vote</span> (on account of the use of pebbles in voting): <span class="greek2">καταφέρω</span> (which see), <a href="/interlinear/acts/26-10.htm">Acts 26:10</a>.<FOOTNOTE:1> <br><br><iframe width="100%" height="85" scrolling=no src="/bsoft.htm" frameborder=0 cellpadding=0></iframe><div class="vheading2">Strong's Exhaustive Concordance</div>a voting-pebble, small stone<p>From the same as <a href="/greek/5584.htm">pselaphao</a>; a pebble (as worn smooth by handling), i.e. (by implication, of use as a counter or ballot) a verdict (of acquittal) or ticket (of admission); a vote -- stone, voice. <p>see GREEK <a href="/greek/5584.htm">pselaphao</a> <div class="vheading2">Forms and Transliterations</div>εψιθύριζον ψηφον ψήφον ψῆφον ψηφω ψιθυρίζουσι psephon psêphon psēphon psē̂phon<div class="vheading2">Links</div><a href="/interlinear/matthew/1-1.htm">Interlinear Greek</a> • <a href="/interlinear/genesis/1-1.htm">Interlinear Hebrew</a> • <a href="/strongs.htm">Strong's Numbers</a> • <a href="/englishmans_greek.htm">Englishman's Greek Concordance</a> • <a href="/englishmans_hebrew.htm">Englishman's Hebrew Concordance</a> • <a href="/texts/matthew/1-1.htm">Parallel Texts</a></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><div class="vheading">Englishman's Concordance</div><b><a href="/text/acts/26-10.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">Acts 26:10</a> <a href="/abbrev.htm" title="Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular">N-AFS</a></b><br><a href="/interlinear/acts/26.htm" title="Greek">GRK:</a> <span class="greek3">αὐτῶν κατήνεγκα <b>ψῆφον</b> </span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/acts/26.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> I cast <span class="itali">my vote</span> against<br><a href="/kjvs/acts/26.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> I gave <span class="itali">my voice</span> against [them].<br><a href="/interlinear/acts/26-10.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> they I cast against [them] <span class="itali">a vote</span><p><b><a href="/text/revelation/2-17.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">Revelation 2:17</a> <a href="/abbrev.htm" title="Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular">N-AFS</a></b><br><a href="/interlinear/revelation/2.htm" title="Greek">GRK:</a> <span class="greek3">δώσω αὐτῷ <b>ψῆφον</b> λευκήν καὶ</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/revelation/2.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> him a white <span class="itali">stone,</span> and a new<br><a href="/kjvs/revelation/2.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> him a white <span class="itali">stone,</span> and in<br><a href="/interlinear/revelation/2-17.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> I will give to him <span class="itali">a pebble</span> white and<p><b><a href="/text/revelation/2-17.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">Revelation 2:17</a> <a href="/abbrev.htm" title="Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular">N-AFS</a></b><br><a href="/interlinear/revelation/2.htm" title="Greek">GRK:</a> <span class="greek3">ἐπὶ τὴν <b>ψῆφον</b> ὄνομα καινὸν</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/revelation/2.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> name written <span class="itali">on the stone</span> which no one<br><a href="/kjvs/revelation/2.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> and in <span class="itali">the stone</span> a new name<br><a href="/interlinear/revelation/2-17.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> on the <span class="itali">pebble</span> a name new<p><b><a href="/greek/5586.htm">Strong's Greek 5586</a><br><a href="/greek/strongs_5586.htm">3 Occurrences</a></b><br><br><a href="/greek/pse_phon_5586.htm">ψῆφον — 3 Occ.</a><br><br></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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