perhaps from the base of ἐσθίω; a "tooth":--tooth.
Transliteration:odoús
Pronunciation:od-ooce
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
* **Lemma:** ὀδούς (odoús)
* **Strong's Number:** `{{G3599}}`
* **Definition:** The primary and almost exclusive meaning of ὀδούς is "tooth." It refers to the hard, bony structures found in the mouth, primarily used for biting and chewing.
* **Etymology:** The Strong's definition suggests a possible derivation from the base of ἐσθίω (esthiō, `{{G2068}}`), meaning "to eat." This etymological connection highlights the fundamental physiological function of teeth in mastication and the process of sustenance. While its literal sense is straightforward, the biblical usage of ὀδούς frequently extends into metaphorical or symbolic contexts, particularly in relation to judgment, destruction, or the predatory nature of certain entities.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term ὀδούς appears a limited number of times in the New Testament, yet each occurrence carries significant contextual weight.
* **Literal Usage:**
* One of the more direct literal references occurs in the description of the demonic locusts in Revelation: "Their faces were like human faces, and they had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth." [[Revelation 9:8]]. Here, the imagery of "lions' teeth" emphasizes their formidable and destructive capability.
* While the specific word ὀδούς is not used for the grinding of teeth in [[Mark 9:18]] (where τρίζω is used), the context of a demon-possessed boy grinding his teeth indicates the physical action involving teeth.
* **Metaphorical Usage:**
* The most pervasive and theologically significant use of ὀδούς is within the phrase "weeping and gnashing of teeth" (ὁ κλαυθμὸς καὶ ὁ βρυγμὸς τῶν ὀδόντων). This idiom appears consistently throughout Matthew's Gospel: [[Matthew 8:12]], [[Matthew 13:42]], [[Matthew 13:50]], [[Matthew 22:13]], [[Matthew 24:51]], [[Matthew 25:30]]. It also appears in [[Luke 13:28]]. In these instances, the phrase invariably describes the profound anguish, despair, and futile rage experienced by those who are cast out of the Kingdom of God into "outer darkness." The "gnashing of teeth" (βρυγμὸς τῶν ὀδόντων) conveys intense pain, regret, and a sense of powerless, grinding frustration.
* In Acts, Stephen's accusers are described as gnashing their teeth at him (ἔβρυχον τοὺς ὀδόντας ἐπ’ αὐτόν): "But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him." [[Acts 7:54]]. This usage vividly portrays a visceral, hostile reaction of extreme anger, malice, and indignation.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **Hebrew Equivalents:** The primary Hebrew equivalent is שֵׁן (shen, `{{H8127}}`), which also denotes "tooth." Like ὀδούς, שֵׁן is used both literally for physical teeth (e.g., [[Genesis 49:12]], [[Proverbs 25:19]]) and metaphorically to signify destructive power, often associated with wild animals or oppressive forces (e.g., [[Psalm 3:7]], [[Psalm 58:6]], [[Job 4:10]]). The breaking of teeth in the Old Testament often symbolizes the disarming or removal of an enemy's power.
* **Verbs of Mastication/Grinding:**
* ἐσθίω (esthiō, `{{G2068}}`): "to eat." The proposed etymological link to ὀδούς underscores the functional relationship.
* βρύχω (brychō): "to gnash," "to grind one's teeth." This verb is directly associated with ὀδούς in the "weeping and gnashing of teeth" idiom, describing a violent, involuntary grinding sound indicative of extreme emotional distress.
* τρίζω (trizō): "to gnash" or "to grind." Used in [[Mark 9:18]] to describe the demon-possessed boy.
* **Concepts of Judgment and Punishment:** The repeated use of "gnashing of teeth" directly links ὀδούς to eschatological themes of divine judgment, the exclusion of the unrighteous, and their subsequent torment.
* **Predatory Imagery:** In Revelation, the comparison of locusts' teeth to lions' teeth connects ὀδούς to broader biblical themes of predatory beasts symbolizing destructive powers or empires (e.g., Daniel's visions).
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of ὀδούς is predominantly derived from its metaphorical applications, especially within the idiom "weeping and gnashing of teeth."
* **The Reality of Divine Judgment:** The recurring motif of "gnashing of teeth" serves as a stark and visceral depiction of the dire consequences for those who reject God's Kingdom. It underscores the severity and reality of eternal separation from God, a state characterized by profound anguish, despair, and futile rage. This imagery is not merely symbolic of sorrow but suggests a deep, internal torment and powerless aggression against an irreversible fate.
* **Exclusion from the Kingdom:** The contexts in which this phrase appears (e.g., the parables of the weeds, the wedding feast, the talents) consistently link it to those found unworthy, unprepared, or unfaithful to the Kingdom of Heaven. Their gnashing of teeth is a physical manifestation of their spiritual agony at being cast out from God's presence and blessings.
* **Human Hostility and Malice:** In instances like Stephen's martyrdom, the gnashing of teeth by his accusers reveals the intense, irrational hatred and malice that humanity can direct against God's messengers. It portrays a deep-seated antagonism towards divine truth and righteousness.
* **Destructive Power of Evil:** In Revelation, the teeth of the locusts symbolize the destructive power unleashed during periods of divine judgment, often associated with demonic or oppressive forces. This imagery draws on Old Testament parallels where teeth represent the capacity to devour and destroy.
### Summary
The Greek word ὀδούς (odoús, `{{G3599}}`), meaning "tooth," while literally referring to the anatomical structures in the mouth, accrues profound theological significance primarily through its metaphorical usage in the New Testament. Its most impactful appearance is within the idiom "weeping and gnashing of teeth," a recurring phrase in the Gospels that powerfully depicts the extreme anguish, despair, and futile rage experienced by those facing divine judgment and exclusion from the Kingdom of God. This imagery underscores the stark reality and severity of eternal separation from God. Furthermore, ὀδούς is employed to convey intense human hostility and malice (as exemplified by the reaction to Stephen) and to symbolize the destructive, predatory power of evil forces (as seen in the description of the locusts in Revelation). The suggested etymological link to "eating" (ἐσθίω, `{{G2068}}`) subtly reinforces the functional aspect of teeth in consumption, which is then inverted or amplified in its metaphorical applications to describe the consuming nature of judgment or the destructive intent of adversaries. Thus, ὀδούς, though a simple anatomical term, becomes a potent symbol of judgment, exclusion, and destructive power within the biblical narrative.
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