The term "sop" appears in the New Testament, specifically in the context of the Last Supper, as recorded in the Gospel of John. The word "sop" refers to a piece of bread or morsel that is dipped into a dish, often containing broth or sauce, and then eaten. This practice was common in ancient Near Eastern meals and is significant in the biblical narrative for its symbolic and prophetic implications.

Biblical Reference:

The most notable mention of the sop is found in John 13:26-27 : "Jesus answered, 'It is the one to whom I give this morsel after I have dipped it.' Then He dipped the morsel and gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. And when Judas had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus said to Judas, 'What you are about to do, do quickly.'"

Context and Significance:

1. Cultural Practice: In the cultural setting of the time, sharing a meal was an intimate act, and offering a sop to someone was a gesture of friendship and honor. The act of dipping and sharing a morsel was a sign of fellowship and trust.

2. Prophetic Fulfillment: The giving of the sop to Judas Iscariot is laden with prophetic significance. It fulfills the prophecy found in Psalm 41:9 : "Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me." This act highlights the betrayal of Jesus by one of His closest followers, underscoring the gravity of Judas's actions.

3. Spiritual Implications: The moment when Judas receives the sop marks a pivotal point in the Gospel narrative. It is at this juncture that Satan enters Judas, signifying the spiritual battle and the forces of darkness at work against Jesus. The sop, therefore, becomes a symbol of the impending betrayal and the commencement of the Passion of Christ.

4. Theological Reflection: From a theological perspective, the sop represents the paradox of divine sovereignty and human responsibility. Jesus, fully aware of Judas's impending betrayal, still offers him the sop, demonstrating His love and the opportunity for repentance. Yet, Judas's acceptance of the sop and subsequent actions illustrate the tragic exercise of free will in rejecting the Messiah.

Conclusion:

The sop in the Gospel of John serves as a profound symbol within the narrative of the Last Supper. It encapsulates themes of friendship, betrayal, prophecy, and the spiritual conflict surrounding the events leading to the crucifixion of Jesus. The act of giving the sop to Judas is a poignant reminder of the complexities of human relationships and the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan through Christ.A morsel of bread (John 13:26; Comp. Ruth 2:14). Our Lord took a piece of unleavened bread, and dipping it into the broth of bitter herbs at the Paschal meal, gave it to Judas. (Comp. Ruth 2:14.) 1. (v. t.) Anything steeped, or dipped and softened, in any liquid; especially, something dipped in broth or liquid food, and intended to be eaten.

2. (v. t.) Anything given to pacify; -- so called from the sop given to Cerberus, as related in mythology.

3. (n.) A thing of little or no value.

4. (v. t.) To steep or dip in any liquid.

SOP

sop (psomion): A thin, wafer-like piece of bread dipped into the common dish as a sort of improvised spoon, is thus designated in John 13:26;.

See MORSEL.

5556. chrusoprasos -- a chrysoprase (a greenish-yellow gem)
... a chrysoprase (a greenish-yellow gem). Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration:
chrusoprasos Phonetic Spelling: (khroo-sop'-ras-os) Short Definition: a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5556.htm - 6k

2473. isopsuchos -- like-minded
... like-minded. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: isopsuchos Phonetic Spelling:
(ee-sop'-soo-khos) Short Definition: like-minded Definition: like-minded ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2473.htm - 7k

5596. psomion -- a fragment, morsel
... morsel, crumb. Diminutive from a derivative of the base of psocho; a crumb or morsel
(as if rubbed off), ie A mouthful -- sop. see GREEK psocho. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5596.htm - 6k

The Sop
... Strong Meat for Hungry Souls: The Gospel of St. Mark CHAPTER 14:17-21 THE
SOP. "And when it was evening He cometh with the twelve. ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 14 17-21 the sop.htm

Judas.
... Jesus therefore answereth, He it is, for whom I shall dip the sop, and give
it to him. ... And after the sop, then entered Satan into him. ...
/.../dods/the expositors bible the gospel of st john vol ii/vii judas.htm

Judas' Betrayal and Peter's Denial Foretold.
... [According to Oriental custom, knives and forks were not used. One dish served to
hold the sop for several people, that they might dip their bread into it. ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/cxix judas betrayal and peters.htm

Of the Method in which the Four Evangelists are Shown to be at one ...
... Jesus answered, He it is to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped
it. ... And after the sop Satan then entered into him." [1241]. ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter i of the method in.htm

The Betrayal Foretold at the Supper
... Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And
when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. ...
/.../newton/the life of jesus christ for the young/the betrayal foretold at the.htm

The Betrayer Pointed Out.
... Jesus therefore answereth, "He it is, for whom I shall dip the sop, and give
it him.". ... And after the sop, then entered Satan into him. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his life/the betrayer pointed out.htm

Thursday --The Day of Fellowship.
... Jesus therefore answereth, "He it is, for whom I shall dip the sop, and give
it him.". ... And after the sop, then entered Satan into him. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his last week/thursdaythe day of fellowship.htm

Judas Exposed.
... 26. He it is to whom I shall give a sop. In a low tone also, in the ear of John,
the Lord answers that he will show. ... 27. After the sop Satan entered into him. ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/judas exposed.htm

The Lord's Supper
... covetousness, or envy? These, with Judas, receive the devil in the sop, and are
no better than crucifiers of the Lord of glory. And blessed ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/the ten commandments/4 5 the lords supper.htm

On Feast Days and Fast Days.
... Lord declare His name, but gave two signs of the betrayer: one by saying, "he that
dippeth with me in the dish;" a second, "to whom I shall give the sop when I ...
/.../various/constitutions of the holy apostles/sec iii on feast days and.htm

Sop (3 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) Anything given to pacify; -- so called from the sop given to Cerberus, as
related in mythology. 3. (n.) A thing of little or no value. ...SOP. ...
/s/sop.htm - 8k

Sop'ater (1 Occurrence)
Sop'ater. Sopater, Sop'ater. Sope . Multi-Version Concordance
Sop'ater (1 Occurrence). Acts 20:4 And there were accompanying ...
/s/sop'ater.htm - 6k

Giveth (378 Occurrences)
... (KJV WBS). John 13:26 Jesus therefore answereth, He it is, for whom I shall
dip the sop, and give it him. So when he had dipped the ...
/g/giveth.htm - 35k

Answereth (144 Occurrences)
... (ASV). John 13:26 Jesus therefore answereth, He it is, for whom I shall
dip the sop, and give it him. So when he had dipped the sop...
/a/answereth.htm - 36k

Sopater (1 Occurrence)
... SOPATER. so'-pa-ter, sop'-a-ter (Sopatros): the Revised Version (British and
American) the son of Pyrrhus; the King James Version omits. ...
/s/sopater.htm - 7k

Sope
Sope. Sop'ater, Sope. Sophereth . Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) See Soap.
Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. SOPE. sop. See SOAP. Sop'ater, Sope. Sophereth ...
/s/sope.htm - 6k

Taketh (398 Occurrences)
... This commandment have I received of my Father. (KJV ASV WBS). John 13:26 Jesus
therefore answereth, He it is, for whom I shall dip the sop, and give it him. ...
/t/taketh.htm - 35k

Dish (54 Occurrences)
... Judas dipped his hand with a "sop" or piece of bread in the same dish with our
Lord, thereby indicating friendly intimacy (Matthew 26:23). ...
/d/dish.htm - 24k

Dip (17 Occurrences)
... either rhaino, or rhantizo, both "to sprinkle"), translates "a garment sprinkled
with blood." the Revised Version, margin gives "dipped in." See also SOP. ...
/d/dip.htm - 14k

Doest (53 Occurrences)
... (ASV DBY WBS). John 13:27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said
Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. (KJV ASV DBY WBS). ...
/d/doest.htm - 22k

Sop: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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