Greek word · G5132

τράπεζα

trapeza

table

A table, especially a dining table, and by extension the meal served on it. It also meant an offering table in a temple, where food was set before a god (Greek trapezōmata, 'table offerings'), and a money-changer's or banker's table.

Appears 15 times in 14 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

τράπεζα, -ης, ἡ

[in LXX chiefly for שֻׁלְחָן, also for לֶחֶם, etc. ;]

1. a table, dining-table: Matthew 15:27, Mark 7:28, Luke 16:21 19:23 22:21, 30; of the table of shewbread, Hebrews 9:2. By meton., of food provided (see DB, iv, 670 a): Acts 16:34, Romans 11:9" (LXX) 1 Corinthians 10:21; διακονεῖν ταῖς τ., Acts 6:2 (cf. Page, in l, but see infr.).

2. A money-changer's table, a bank (Dem., Arist., al.): Matthew 21:12, Mark 11:15, Luke 19:23, John 2:15; so also accusative to Dr. Field (Notes, 113), Acts 6:2 (but see supr.).†

(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 1 Corinthians 10:21

Range of meaning

A table, especially a dining table, and by extension the meal served on it. It also meant an offering table in a temple, where food was set before a god (Greek trapezōmata, 'table offerings'), and a money-changer's or banker's table.

Against the English

English 'table' suggests furniture. In both Jewish and Greek worship, 'the table of X' named a sacred meal hosted by, or offered to, a god. Some churches still say 'the Lord's Table', but the cultic weight of the phrase is easy to miss.

Used elsewhere in the period

Malachi 1:7, 12 (Greek): 'the table of the Lord' = the altar of the Jerusalem temple. Isaiah 65:11 (Greek): 'a table for the daimon' and a mixing cup for Tychē (Fortune), a table-and-cup pair exactly like Paul's. Egyptian papyrus invitations (e.g. P.Oxy. 110, 1484) invite guests to dine 'at the couch of the lord Sarapis' in his temple. Ezekiel 44:16 calls the altar 'my table'.

From the study of 1 Maccabees 4:49

Range of meaning

A table: for meals, for money-changing (the source of the modern Greek word for 'bank'), or for cult use. Here it is the gold table of Exod 25:23–30.

Against the English

'Table' is accurate. What a modern reader misses is which table: the one holding the twelve loaves of the 'bread of the presence' (KJV 'showbread'), set before God every Sabbath.

Used elsewhere in the period

Exod 25:23–30; Lev 24:5–9; 1 Macc 1:22 'the table of the setting-out'. Mark 2:26 refers to this bread. Along with the menorah, the table is carved on the Arch of Titus in Rome among the spoils taken in AD 70.

From the study of Luke 22:30

Range of meaning

Table. It can mean a meal table, a money-changer's table (hence 'bank'), or by extension the meal or provision set on it.

Against the English

English 'table' is just furniture. In this setting it stands for being a member of the royal household.

Used elsewhere in the period

David seats Mephibosheth 'at the king's table' as a lasting honor (2 Sam 9:7–13, LXX trapeza). Barzillai's sons eat at Solomon's table (1 Kgs 2:7). Other texts picture a banquet for the end of the age: the feast for all peoples (Isa 25:6–8), and the righteous eating with the Son of Man (1 Enoch 62:14). Luke has several feast sayings: 13:29; 14:15 ('Blessed is the one who will eat bread in the kingdom of God').

Similar words

Where it appears

Matthew · 2

  1. Matthew 15:27 τραπέζης table

    “Yes, Lord,” she said, “even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

    Here: The household's dining table, where the family is fed. The dogs are under it, the family at it. She places herself inside this one household.

  2. Matthew 21:12 τραπέζας tables

    Then Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves.

    Here: A money changer's counter. The same word gave Greek its term for a banker (trapezitēs, Matt 25:27), but these were small exchange tables set up for a season.

Mark · 2

  1. Mark 7:28 τραπέζης table

    “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”

  2. Mark 11:15 τραπέζας tables

    When they arrived in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began to drive out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves.

    Here: The counters where coins were weighed and exchanged. In Greek, 'the table' was the ordinary word for a bank.

Luke · 4

  1. Luke 16:21 τραπέζης table

    and longing to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

    Here: The rich man's dining table, which stands for the luxury of verse 19. In Luke the 'table' also points to the coming banquet of God's kingdom (13:29; 22:30). That is where Lazarus ends up in verse 22.

  2. Luke 19:23 τράπεζαν, bank,

    Why then did you not deposit my money in the bank, and upon my return I could have collected it with interest?’

  3. Luke 22:21 τραπέζης. table.

    Look! The hand of My betrayer is with Mine on the table.

  4. Luke 22:30 τραπέζης table

    so that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

    Here: The king's own table. In the ancient Near East, eating at the king's table marked a person as one of his honored courtiers. Luke used the same word in v. 21, where the betrayer's hand is 'on the table.'

John · 1

  1. John 2:15 τραπέζας tables

    So He made a whip out of cords and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle. He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.

    Here: The changers' counters. *Trapeza* was the everyday Greek word for a money-dealer's table, and in time for a bank (modern Greek *trapeza* still means 'bank').

Acts · 2

  1. Acts 6:2 τραπέζαις. at tables.

    So the Twelve summoned all the disciples and said, “It is unacceptable for us to neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables.

  2. Acts 16:34 τράπεζαν a table [for them]

    Then he brought them into his home and set a meal before them. So he and all his household rejoiced that they had come to believe in God.

    Here: 'A table.' In Greek, 'setting a table' beside someone means serving them a meal, since small tables were often brought in already loaded with food. The point is a real meal of hospitality, not a snack.

Romans · 1

  1. Romans 11:9 τράπεζα table

    And David says: “May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution to them.

    Here: The dining table, and by extension the meal, hospitality and plenty spread on it. In the ancient world a table was a place of safety, fellowship and blessing. The curse asks that this very place of security become the place where they are caught.

1 Corinthians · 2

  1. 1 Corinthians 10:21 τραπέζης τραπέζης of [the] table

    You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot partake in the table of the Lord and the table of demons too.

    Here: A dining table, and also the table on which food was set before a god. In Malachi 1:7, 12 (Greek version), 'the table of the Lord' means the altar. The noun is in the genitive case because the verb 'share in' takes that case.

Hebrews · 1

  1. Hebrews 9:2 τράπεζα table

    A tabernacle was prepared. In its first room were the lampstand, the table, and the consecrated bread. This was called the Holy Place.

    Here: The gold-covered acacia-wood table on which the loaves were laid out before God.

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