Sop
Culture & SocietyWhat is the meaning of Sop in the Bible?
A thin, wafer-like piece of bread used as an improvised spoon to dip into a common dish, mentioned in John 13:26ff.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding this dining custom clarifies the physical intimacy and social hierarchy depicted in the narrative, where the act of dipping and handing the morsel served as a specific gesture of identification and favor.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
Ancient Cultural Lens: Avoid applying 21st-century Western assumptions to Sop. Examine how first-century or Near Eastern listeners understood this practice within their daily social dynamics.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
- Why did the biblical author mention Sop in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Sop clarify?
Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.
How to Cite This Entry
"Sop." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/sop/