Word Study for G5392 (φιμόω) | Strong's Concordance

phimóō /fee-mo'-o/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom (a muzzle)

Meaningto muzzle

KJV usagemuzzle.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of phimóō — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word phimóō, represented by G5392, means to muzzle. Based on the root word for a muzzle, it appears 11 times across 8 unique verses in scripture. While its literal definition is to restrain an animal, it is more frequently used figuratively to mean silencing, stilling, or rendering someone speechless.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, G5392 is applied in several distinct contexts. Its most literal meaning is found in passages that quote the Mosaic Law, "Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn" (1 Corinthians 9:9; 1 Timothy 5:18). However, the word is also used to demonstrate divine authority, as when Jesus commands the sea, "Peace, be still" Mark 4:39 or when he rebukes a demon, saying "Hold thy peace" Luke 4:35. It can also describe the result of being confronted by truth or authority, as when Jesus put the Sadducees to silence Matthew 22:34, or when a man without a wedding garment was rendered speechless Matthew 22:12.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related Greek words help to frame the context and meaning of phimóō:

G2008 epitimáō (to tax upon, i.e. censure or admonish; by implication, forbid:--(straitly) charge, rebuke): This word for "rebuke" is often used as the action that precedes the command to be silent. Jesus first rebuked the wind before telling it to "be still" G5392 and rebuked the unclean spirit before commanding it to "Hold thy peace" G5392 (Mark 4:39; Mark 1:25).
G4623 siōpáō (to be dumb... figuratively, to be calm... dumb, (hold) peace): This word is used in conjunction with G5392 in the command to the sea, "Peace G4623, be still G5392" Mark 4:39. It signifies a state of calm or quiet.
G1055 galḗnē (tranquillity:--calm): This term describes the result of the command to "be still." After Jesus rebuked the wind and sea, "there was a great calm" Mark 4:39, demonstrating the effect of the enforced silence.

Theological Significance

The conceptual weight of G5392 is significant, highlighting themes of authority and subjugation.

Absolute Authority over Creation and Spirits: The use of phimóō by Jesus against both natural forces like the wind and sea Mark 4:39 and demonic spirits Mark 1:25 establishes his supreme power to command order and enforce silence.
Silencing Opposition through Truth and Action: The word is used to describe how Jesus intellectually put the Sadducees to silence Matthew 22:34. Furthermore, believers are instructed that by doing good they can put to silence the ignorance of foolish men 1 Peter 2:15, demonstrating that righteous living can be a powerful refutation.
The Inability to Speak in Judgment: A man found improperly dressed at a wedding feast becomes speechless G5392 before the king Matthew 22:12. This illustrates a state of having no defense or excuse when confronted by rightful authority.

Summary

In summary, G5392 extends far beyond its literal definition of muzzling an animal. It serves as a powerful descriptor for the act of silencing, whether through a direct command of divine authority over nature and spirits, the intellectual defeat of opponents, or the state of being rendered speechless in the face of judgment. The word vividly illustrates the power to impose stillness and quiet upon chaos, opposition, and defiance.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 8 occurrences, inflected in 6 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Aorist Passive Imperative 2nd Singular 2×
Future Active Indicative 2nd Singular 2×
Aorist Active Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
Aorist Passive Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
Perfect Passive Imperative 2nd Singular 1×
Present Active Infinitive 1×

Singular: One.
2nd: Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Present: Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
Future: Action yet to take place.
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Perfect: A completed act whose results continue.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Passive: The subject is acted upon.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Imperative: A command or entreaty.
Infinitive: The verb as a noun — "to do".

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 8 verses across 6 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Matthew and Mark (2 verses each); never once in the other 21.

Matthew

Mark

Luke

1 Corinthians

1 Timothy

1 Peter

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.