πρόβατον, -ου, τό (προβαίνω), [in LXX chiefly for צֹאן, also for שֶׂה, more rarely for כֶּבֶשׂ (כֶּשֶׂב), רָחֵל;] 1) in Hom, Hdt, cattle, esp. of small cattle, sheep and goats. 2) In NT, as in Attic writers generally (cf. MM, xxi),
a sheep: Mat.7:15, Mrk.6:34, al; πρόβατα σφαγῆς, Rom.8:36 (LXX). Metaphorical (in cl. of timidity, stupidity or idleness), of the followers of a leader or master, esp. of those who are subject to the care of the Good Shepherd: Mat.10:6 15:24 26:31 " (LXX) Mrk.14:27 (LXX), Jhn.10:7-8, 15-16 10:26-27 21:16-17 (WH txt, προβάτια), Heb.13:20; opposite to ἐρίφια, Mat.25:33.
προβάτιον, -ου, τό, dimin. of πρόβατον (used as a term of endearment, see El, § 27, 4),
a little sheep: Jhn.21:16-17 (πρόβατα, WH, mg.). (
AS)