Bible Encyclopedias
Tittle

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

tit ´' 50 ( κεραία , keraı́a (Westcott-Hort, keréa ), from κέρας , kéras , "a horn"): A small stroke or mark, specif. on a letter to denote accent, or as a diacritical mark; used only in Matthew 5:18 and Luke 16:17 . In the first passage it is used in connection with iota, or jot, i.e. the very smallest thing, and in both it refers to the minutiae of the Law. It is well known that the scribes paid the greatest attention to such marks attached to the letters in the Hebrew Scriptures, the Massoretic Text of which abounds in them. See JOT; YODH .