The Greek word ózō, represented by G3605, is a primary verb with a very specific meaning: to scent, typically referring to a foul odor or to stink. Its use in the Bible is exceptionally rare, appearing only 1 time in 1 unique verse, making its single appearance highly significant.
The sole use of G3605 occurs in the account of the raising of Lazarus. When Jesus commands the tombstone to be moved, Martha protests, expressing the grim reality of her brother's physical state. She says to Jesus, "Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days" John 11:39. This usage is stark and literal, employed to describe the smell of decay that accompanies death, emphasizing the finality of the situation from a human perspective.
The context of G3605 is further clarified by words used alongside it in its only appearance:
- G2076 estí (he is): This verb of being is used in John 11:39 to establish the duration of death: "for he hath been dead four days." It is a fundamental word used throughout scripture to define a state of being, such as in Hebrews 11:1 where "faith is the substance of things hoped for."
- G2348 thnḗskō (to die; be dead): This word provides the direct cause for the condition described by G3605. Lazarus stinks because he has died and is now dead. This word is used both literally, as with the dead man in Luke 7:12, and figuratively, as in 1 Timothy 5:6, where one who lives in pleasure "is dead while she liveth."
While appearing only once, the theological weight of G3605 is found in its dramatic context.
- Emphasizing Physical Corruption: The word graphically illustrates the physical consequence of death. Martha's statement is not merely that her brother is gone, but that his body is actively undergoing the process of decay John 11:39.
- Highlighting the Hopelessness of Death: By using a word that signifies an irreversible natural process, the narrative establishes the utter hopelessness of the situation without divine intervention. The stench is proof of death's victory over the physical body.
- Magnifying Christ's Power: The explicit mention of decay serves to magnify the miracle that follows. Jesus does not simply resuscitate a recently deceased person; he reverses the corruption of a body that has been dead for four days, demonstrating complete authority over both death and its physical effects John 11:39.
In summary, G3605 is a vivid and potent word whose singular use in scripture is unforgettable. While its meaning is purely physical, its context in John 11:39 gives it profound significance. It establishes the grim reality and finality of death, thereby serving as a dark backdrop against which the life-giving power of Jesus is displayed in one of his most powerful miracles.
TRV