from the base of μασσάομαι; a (properly, female) breast (as if kneaded up):--pap.
Transliteration:mastós
Pronunciation:mas-tos'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek lemma μαστός (mastós, `{{G3149}}`) primarily denotes a "breast" or "pap." Its etymology traces back to the base of μασσάομαι (massáomai), meaning "to chew" or "to knead," which aptly describes the physical characteristics of the breast, particularly its soft, pliable texture, or perhaps its function in providing sustenance. While primarily referring to the female breast, its usage in the New Testament, particularly in the book of Revelation, broadens its anatomical application to include the chest area more generally, especially in descriptive contexts related to attire. Its semantic range is thus narrow in literal meaning but expands in symbolic association, encompassing themes of nurture, vulnerability, and authority depending on the context.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term μαστός appears four times in the New Testament, offering distinct contextual insights:
* **[[Luke 11:27]]**: "As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, 'Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you at her breasts [μαστός]!'"
* Here, μαστός is directly associated with motherhood and the act of nursing. The woman's exclamation highlights the blessedness of bearing and nourishing a child, particularly one as profound as Jesus. It underscores the physical reality of human birth and the foundational care provided by a mother, aligning with the biblical understanding of fertility and progeny as blessings.
* **[[Luke 23:29]]**: "For the days are coming when people will say, 'Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore, and the breasts [μαστός] that never nursed!'"
* This utterance from Jesus, spoken on His way to the crucifixion, is a dire prophecy concerning the impending destruction of Jerusalem. In a stark reversal of conventional blessing, barrenness (represented by wombs and breasts that never fulfilled their procreative and nurturing functions) is paradoxically declared "blessed." This emphasizes the extreme suffering and tribulation that will accompany divine judgment, making the absence of children to witness or endure such horrors a comparative mercy. The μαστός here symbolizes the capacity for motherhood and the deep sorrow associated with seeing one's offspring suffer or perish.
* **[[Revelation 1:13]]**: "and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest [μαστός]."
* In John's vision of the glorified Christ, μαστός is used to describe the chest area where a golden sash is worn. While typically referring to the female breast, in this context, it denotes the upper torso. The golden sash is highly symbolic, often associated with royalty, priestly authority, and divine office in ancient Near Eastern and biblical imagery (e.g., the high priest's ephod, cf. `{{H2833}}`). The use of μαστός here, in conjunction with the sash, emphasizes the majestic and authoritative presence of the Son of Man.
* **[[Revelation 15:6]]**: "Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues. They were dressed in clean, shining linen and wore golden sashes around their chests [μαστός]."
* Similar to [[Revelation 1:13]], μαστός refers to the chest area of the angels, adorned with golden sashes. The clean linen signifies purity and holiness, while the golden sashes denote their divine authority and the solemnity of their mission as agents of God's righteous judgment. This usage reinforces the association of μαστός (in this broader sense of the chest) with divine power and sacred duty.
### Related Words & Concepts
The meaning and usage of μαστός intersect with several key biblical concepts and related terms:
* **Motherhood and Nurture:** Directly linked to μήτηρ (mētēr, mother) and the act of nursing, highlighting the life-giving and sustaining role of the mother.
* **Fertility and Barrenness:** In Luke 23:29, μαστός is paired with κοιλία (koilia, womb), underscoring the themes of procreation, family, and their reversal in times of judgment.
* **Divine Authority and Priesthood:** In Revelation, the imagery of a golden sash around the μαστός (chest) evokes Old Testament priestly garments, particularly the breastpiece (חוֹשֶׁן, choshen, `{{H2833}}`) worn by the high priest, which symbolized his intercessory and authoritative role before God. This connection elevates μαστός to a symbol of sacred office and divine power.
* **Suffering and Judgment:** The context of Luke 23:29 ties μαστός to the profound sorrow and desolation associated with divine judgment, where the normal blessings of life are inverted.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of μαστός unfolds across its varied contexts:
* **The Blessedness of Life and Nurture:** In Luke 11:27, μαστός serves as a tangible symbol of the blessedness of motherhood and the sacred act of providing physical sustenance. It points to the divine design for human life to be conceived, birthed, and nurtured, reflecting God's own care for His creation.
* **The Severity of Eschatological Judgment:** Luke 23:29 presents a stark theological reversal. The μαστός, typically a symbol of life and blessing, becomes a poignant marker of the catastrophic nature of impending judgment. The "blessing" of barrenness underscores the unparalleled suffering that awaits those who reject God, where the pain of childlessness pales in comparison to the agony of witnessing one's offspring endure divine wrath. This passage serves as a powerful warning about the consequences of impenitence.
* **The Majesty and Authority of the Divine:** In Revelation, the imagery of μαστός (chest) adorned with a golden sash on the glorified Christ and the angels transcends mere anatomy. It signifies the awe-inspiring majesty, supreme authority, and righteous judgment of God and His heavenly agents. The golden sash, a symbol of royalty and priesthood, transforms the μαστός into a locus of divine power, emphasizing the sacred and formidable nature of the heavenly realm and its inhabitants.
### Summary
The Greek word μαστός (mastós, `{{G3149}}`), primarily meaning "breast," carries significant theological weight across its biblical occurrences. In Luke's Gospel, it is deeply intertwined with the themes of **motherhood, nurture, and the blessing of life-giving** ([[Luke 11:27]]), celebrating the foundational role of a mother in human existence. However, in the context of eschatological warning, μαστός is powerfully recontextualized to convey the **severity of divine judgment**, where the absence of children becomes a paradoxical "blessing" in light of impending suffering ([[Luke 23:29]]). In the apocalyptic visions of Revelation, μαστός shifts its anatomical reference to the **chest area** and, adorned with a golden sash, becomes a potent symbol of **divine majesty, priestly authority, and the execution of righteous judgment** by Christ and His angelic emissaries ([[Revelation 1:13]], [[Revelation 15:6]]). Thus, μαστός evolves from a literal biological term to a profound theological symbol, illuminating truths about life, judgment, and the glorious authority of God.
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