### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **mastós**, represented by `{{G3149}}`, refers to a breast or pap. It appears **3 times** across **3 unique verses** in the Bible. The term is specifically used to denote the female breast, often in the context of childbearing and nurturing.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word `{{G3149}}` is used in both literal and symbolic contexts. In Luke, a woman from the crowd blesses Jesus by referencing his physical origins, saying, "Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the **paps** which thou hast sucked" [[Luke 11:27]]. In a contrasting passage, Jesus foretells a time of great distress where the opposite will be considered a blessing: "Blessed are the barren... and the **paps** which never gave suck" [[Luke 23:29]]. The book of Revelation presents a symbolic use, describing the Son of man as "girt about the **paps** with a golden girdle" [[Revelation 1:13]], signifying a figure of great authority.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words are used alongside `{{G3149}}` to build a fuller picture of motherhood and sustenance:
* `{{G2836}}` **koilía** (belly, womb): This word is paired directly with **mastós** in both [[Luke 11:27]] and [[Luke 23:29]] to form a complete image of maternity, referencing both the bearing and the nursing of a child.
* `{{G2337}}` **thēlázō** (to suckle, to suck): This verb describes the action directly associated with **mastós**, as seen in the phrases "paps which never gave **suck**" [[Luke 23:29]] and "paps which thou hast **sucked**" [[Luke 11:27]].
* `{{G1080}}` **gennáō** (to bear, beget, be born): This word is used to describe the function of the womb, appearing in close context with **mastós** when speaking of the "wombs that never **bare**" [[Luke 23:29]].
* `{{G941}}` **bastázō** (to lift... bear, carry): This word is also used to describe the act of carrying a child in the womb, as seen in the blessing, "Blessed is the womb that **bare** thee" [[Luke 11:27]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{G3149}}` is found in its contrasting applications.
* **A Sign of Blessing:** In Luke's Gospel, the term is part of a conventional blessing that honors the physical act of motherhood and the intimate bond of nurturing a child [[Luke 11:27]].
* **A Prophecy of Judgment:** Jesus inverts this common blessing to illustrate the severity of coming days, where the absence of maternal duties and children to care for will be considered a mercy [[Luke 23:29]].
* **A Symbol of Majesty:** In Revelation, its use shifts from a maternal context to one of divine authority. The image of the Son of man being girt about the **paps** with a golden girdle points to his high and honored status [[Revelation 1:13]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{G3149}}` is a specific anatomical term that carries significant meaning despite its rare usage. It functions literally to express the blessing and burden of motherhood in the Gospels. Symbolically, it is used in Revelation to contribute to the majestic and authoritative depiction of the Son of man, showing how scripture can infuse a simple word with profound theological meaning.
TRV