πρόβατον

πρόβατον — próbaton

πρόβατον, προβάτου, τό (from προβαίνω, properly, 'that which walks forward'), from Homer down, the Sept. chiefly for צֹאן, then for שֶׂה, sometimes for כֶּבֶשׂ and כֶּשֶׂב (a lamb), properly, any four-footed, tame animal accustomed to graze, small cattle (opposed to large cattle, horses, etc.), most common a sheep or a goat; but especially a sheep, and so always in the N. T.: Mat 7:15; Mat 10:16; Mat 12:11; Mar 6:34; Luk 15:4; Luk 15:6; Joh 2:14; Joh 10:1-4; Joh 10:11 f.; Act 8:32 (from Isa 53:7); 1Pe 2:25; Rev 18:13; πρόβατα σφαγῆς, sheep destined for the slaughter, Rom 8:36. metaphorically, πρόβατα, sheep, is used of the followers of any master: Mat 26:31 and Mar 14:27 (from Zec 13:7); of mankind, who as needing salvation obey the injunctions of him who provides it and leads them to it; so of the followers of Christ: John 10:7f, 15f, 26; Joh 21:16 (R G L Tr text WH marginal reading), (R G L WH marginal reading); Heb 13:20; τά πρόβατα ἀπολωλότα (see ἀπόλλυμι, at the end), Mat 10:6; Mat 15:24; τά πρόβατα in distinction from τά ἐρίφια, are good men as distinguished from bad people, Mat 25:33.