Greek word · G1173

δεῖπνον

deipnon

dinner

In Greek of the period, the main meal of the day, usually eaten in the late afternoon or evening. It was also the normal word for a formal dinner or banquet given for guests.

Appears 16 times in 16 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

δεῖπνον, -ου, τό

[in LXX chiefly for פַּת־בַּג (Da) ;]

the chief meal of the day, dinner, supper: Matthew 23:6, Mark 12:39, Luke 14:17, 24 20:46, John 13:2, 4 21:20, 1 Corinthians 11:21; δ. ποιεῖν, Mark 6:21, Luke 14:12, 16, John 12:2; κυριακὸν (which see) δ., 1 Corinthians 11:20; metaphorically (Dalman, Words, 118), δ. τ. γάμου τ. ἀρνίου, Revelation 19:9; δ. τ. μέγα τ. Θεοῦ, Revelation 19:17.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of John 12:2

Range of meaning

In Greek of the period, the main meal of the day, usually eaten in the late afternoon or evening. It was also the normal word for a formal dinner or banquet given for guests. With the verb 'make' (ποιέω) and a person in the dative case ('make a dinner for someone') it means to give a banquet in that person's honour.

Against the English

KJV and WEB 'supper' was accurate in older English, where 'supper' meant the main evening meal. Modern readers may hear it as a light, casual evening meal. BSB 'hosted a dinner' and renderings like NIV's 'given in Jesus' honor' bring out the sense of a festive meal held for an honoured guest.

How it drifted

Little real drift. 'Supper' has only shrunk a little in everyday English.

Used elsewhere in the period

Same idiom: Mark 6:21 (Herod 'made a dinner' for his birthday); Luke 14:12, 16 (a man 'made a great dinner'). In the Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament), Daniel 5:1 uses δεῖπνον for Belshazzar's feast. Greek writers use the word for the meal that came before the drinking party (symposium).

From the study of Revelation 19:17

Range of meaning

The main meal of the day, usually eaten toward evening. By extension it means a formal dinner or banquet with a host, invited guests and a summons to come (Mark 6:21, Herod's birthday banquet; Luke 14:12–24, the “great banquet” parable; John 12:2; 1 Cor 11:20, the Lord's deipnon).

Against the English

“Supper” (BSB, KJV, ESV, NIV, NASB, WEB) is accurate in older English. Today it can sound like a modest evening meal. NLT's “banquet” better captures the size and the formal setting.

How it drifted

In much modern English, “supper” has narrowed to an informal or light evening meal. In church usage it is also tied to “the Lord's Supper.” Neither connotation belongs to this verse.

Used elsewhere in the period

Common in classical and Koine Greek for the chief meal or feast. Luke 14:16 has the exact phrase δεῖπνον μέγα (“a great banquet”) in Jesus' parable of the invited guests. Ezekiel 39:17–20, the passage John is reworking, calls the meal a “sacrifice” (Hebrew zevach, Greek thysia) at which the birds eat the flesh of the mighty.

From the study of Revelation 19:9

Range of meaning

The main meal of the day, usually eaten in the late afternoon or evening. From there it came to mean a formal dinner or banquet, often given by a host for invited guests and carrying social status.

Against the English

'Supper' to modern ears can mean a light evening meal or, in church, the Lord's Supper. Here it means a banquet: the great festive dinner at the centre of a wedding.

How it drifted

English 'supper' became a smaller, more casual word, and in church use it points almost automatically to the Eucharist.

Used elsewhere in the period

Used for formal banquets in Mark 6:21 (Herod's birthday dinner) and Luke 14:12–24 ('a great banquet' with invited guests). Paul calls the Christian meal the 'Lord's deipnon' (1 Cor 11:20). Greek invitation letters on papyrus use the related verb deipnēsai, 'to dine.' In Revelation 3:20 the risen Christ offers to 'dine' with whoever opens the door.

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

  1. Matthew 23:6 δείπνοις banquets

    They love the places of honor at banquets, the chief seats in the synagogues,

    Here: The main meal of the day, eaten in the late afternoon or evening. Here it means the formal dinners where guests were invited and seated by rank. It does not mean religious festivals.

Mark · 2

  1. Mark 6:21 δεῖπνον a banquet

    On Herod’s birthday, her opportunity arose. Herod held a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.

  2. Mark 12:39 δείπνοις, feasts,

    and to have the chief seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.

    Here: The main evening meal, and especially a formal dinner party with invited guests. It does not mean a religious festival. These were the private social events where a person's standing was put on show by where the host placed him.

Luke · 5

  1. Luke 14:12 δεῖπνον, a supper,

    Then Jesus said to the man who had invited Him, “When you host a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or brothers or relatives or rich neighbors. Otherwise, they may invite you in return, and you will be repaid.

    Here: The main meal of the day, eaten toward evening. It was the usual setting for a formal dinner party with invited guests and reclining at table. The same word is used for the 'great banquet' of the parable in v.16.

  2. Luke 14:16 δεῖπνον a supper

    But Jesus replied, “A certain man prepared a great banquet and invited many guests.

  3. Luke 14:17 δείπνου supper

    When it was time for the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’

  4. Luke 14:24 δείπνου supper

    For I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will taste my banquet.’”

  5. Luke 20:46 δείπνοις, banquets,

    “Beware of the scribes. They like to walk around in long robes, and they love the greetings in the marketplaces, the chief seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets.

    Here: The main evening meal, especially a formal dinner with invited guests, where where you were placed showed your social rank.

John · 4

  1. John 12:2 δεῖπνον a supper

    So they hosted a dinner for Jesus there. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with Him.

    Here: The main meal of the day, eaten in the late afternoon or evening, and the usual word for a formal or festive dinner. It is the same word John uses for the meal in the upper room (13:2).

  2. John 13:2 δείπνου supper

    The evening meal was underway, and the devil had already put into the heart of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.

    Here: The main meal of the day, eaten in the late afternoon or evening. In John this is a meal before Passover (13:1), and the disciples are reclining at table.

  3. John 13:4 δείπνου supper

    So He got up from the supper, laid aside His outer garments, and wrapped a towel around His waist.

  4. John 21:20 δείπνῳ supper

    Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them. He was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper to ask, “Lord, who is going to betray You?”

    Here: The main evening meal. It points back to John 13:2–4, the meal at which Jesus washed the disciples' feet.

1 Corinthians · 2

  1. 1 Corinthians 11:20 δεῖπνον supper

    Now then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat.

  2. 1 Corinthians 11:21 δεῖπνον supper

    For as you eat, each of you goes ahead without sharing his meal. While one remains hungry, another gets drunk.

Revelation · 2

  1. Revelation 19:9 δεῖπνον supper

    Then the angel told me to write, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”

    Here: The main meal of the day, eaten in the evening, and the usual word for a formal banquet. It sets up a deliberate contrast with 'the great supper of God' in 19:17, where birds eat the flesh of kings.

  2. Revelation 19:17 δεῖπνον supper

    Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out in a loud voice to all the birds flying overhead, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God,

    Here: The main meal of the day, and the usual word for a formal banquet. It was chosen to stand in stark contrast with “the marriage supper (deipnon) of the Lamb” only eight verses earlier (19:9).

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.