### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **mḗtra**, represented by `{{G3388}}`, is defined as the matrix or **womb**. It is derived from the word for mother (μήτηρ). This specific term appears **2 times** in **2 unique verses**, highlighting its role in contexts of birth and lineage.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The uses of `{{G3388}}` in scripture are precise and significant. In Luke, it is cited from the Law of the Lord, which states that "Every male that openeth the **womb** shall be called holy to the Lord" [[Luke 2:23]]. This establishes the womb as the point of origin for the firstborn male's consecrated status. In Romans, the word is used to describe the context of Abraham's faith, where he considered "the deadness of Sara's **womb**" [[Romans 4:19]], illustrating a state of natural impossibility from which God would bring forth life.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide further context for the meaning of `{{G3388}}`:
* `{{G1272}}` **dianoígō** (to open thoroughly): This word is used literally in the phrase "openeth the **womb**" [[Luke 2:23]]. It is also used figuratively to describe the opening of understanding [[Luke 24:45]] and the heart [[Acts 16:14]], connecting physical opening with spiritual revelation.
* `{{G3500}}` **nékrōsis** (decease; figuratively, impotency): This describes the state of Sara's womb as one of "deadness" or impotency [[Romans 4:19]]. It is also used to refer to "the dying of the Lord Jesus" [[2 Corinthians 4:10]], linking physical barrenness with the concept of death.
* `{{G4983}}` **sōma** (the body): This term appears alongside `{{G3388}}` in [[Romans 4:19]], where Abraham considered his own **body** to be dead. The **body** is the physical vessel that contains the womb and is subject to natural processes like aging and death.
* `{{G730}}` **árrhēn** (male): This word specifies who is consecrated to the Lord upon opening the womb [[Luke 2:23]]. It is foundational to the created order, as God made them "**male** and female" from the beginning [[Mark 10:6]].
### Theological Significance
The theological importance of `{{G3388}}` is concentrated in its two appearances.
* **Origin of Consecration:** The womb is identified as the physical starting point for the fulfillment of the law concerning the firstborn. The act of opening the **womb** initiates a male's status as "holy to the Lord" [[Luke 2:23]].
* **Symbol of Human Inability:** Sara's womb, in its "deadness," represents the limits of human ability and the finality of nature apart from divine intervention [[Romans 4:19]].
* **Vessel of Divine Promise:** Despite its physical state of "deadness," Sara's **womb** was the chosen vessel through which God would fulfill His promise. This makes it a powerful symbol of faith that trusts God to bring life from a place of barrenness.
### Summary
In summary, `{{G3388}}` is a focused term for the **womb** that carries significant weight in its limited usage. It functions as a linchpin in understanding both the legal requirements of holiness under the Law and the nature of faith that looks beyond physical limitations. The word connects the biological reality of birth to the theological realities of consecration and the fulfillment of God's promises.
TRV