Lexical Summary odous: Tooth Original Word: ὀδούς Strong's Exhaustive Concordance tooth. Perhaps from the base of esthio; a "tooth" -- tooth. see GREEK esthio HELPS Word-studies 3599 odoús – tooth. 3599 /odoús ("tooth, teeth") is also used metaphorically: a) of the particular level of compensation or recompense needed in a situation (Mt 5:38); and, b) for how the unredeemed in Gehenna express their indescribable agony, i.e. by "the gnashing of teeth" (Mt 13:42,50,22:13, 24:51, 25:30). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. word Definition a tooth NASB Translation teeth (10), tooth (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3599: ὀδούςὀδούς (according to Etym. Magn. 615, 21 (Pollux 6, 38) from ἔδω, Latinedere, etc., cf. Curtius, § 289; others from the root, da, to divide, cf. δαίω, δάκνω; (Latindens); Fick i., p. 100), ὀδόντος, ὁ, from Homer down; the Sept. for שֵׁן; a tooth: Matthew 5:38; Mark 9:18; Acts 7:54; plural Revelation 9:8; ὁ βρυγμός τῶν ὀδόντων, see βρυγμός. Topical Lexicon Scope of the Term Strong’s Greek 3599 refers to the bodily “tooth,” yet in the New Testament it serves both literal and figurative purposes. The word occurs twelve times and clusters around three primary themes: (1) Mosaic jurisprudence, (2) violent rage and demonic oppression, and (3) eschatological judgment. Each use is fully consonant with the larger biblical witness, moving from everyday life to final destiny. Mosaic Justice and the Principle of Retribution Matthew 5:38 cites the well-known lex talionis: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’ ” While the verse merely repeats the physical member, Jesus immediately transcends the literal retribution it represented under the Sinai covenant, calling His followers to radical non-resistance (Matthew 5:39-42). The solitary appearance of the term here anchors the continuity between Old Covenant civil law and New Covenant heart-ethic, showing that the Lord did not annul justice but fulfilled and deepened it. Gnashing of Teeth as an Expression of Agony and Rage The majority of occurrences depict “gnashing of teeth,” an idiom for intense emotional eruption. 1. Demonic oppression: “Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down… he gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid” (Mark 9:18). In both scenes the clenched jaw embodies hatred toward the work of God. The physical act signals inward rebellion, unmasking the spiritual bondage that underlies visible violence. Weeping and Gnashing in Final Judgment Seven verses (Matthew 8:12; 13:42; 13:50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30; Luke 13:28) place teeth-gnashing in “the outer darkness.” The refrain serves four didactic purposes: • Certainty – The repetition underscores the reality of divine judgment. Apocalyptic Imagery of Ferocity Revelation 9:8 transfers the term from human beings to infernal locusts: “Their teeth were like those of lions.” Here “teeth” symbolize predatory strength unleashed in the trumpet judgments. The same organ that grinds in human rage now tears in supernatural assault, amplifying the dread associated with unrepented sin during the end-time woes. Historical and Cultural Background In first-century Palestine, teeth held practical and symbolic value. Good teeth signified vitality; broken teeth implied weakness (see Psalm 58:6 LXX). Judicially, “tooth for tooth” limited vengeance, curbing blood feuds by matching penalty to harm. Jesus’ citation in the Sermon on the Mount would have resonated with listeners accustomed to honor-shame cycles and retaliatory customs. Pastoral and Homiletic Applications • Justice tempered by mercy: Believers may appeal to lawful redress but must eschew personal vengeance, following Christ’s pattern. Christological Implications Jesus alone never gnashes His teeth; He bears the grinding hostility of sinners yet prays, “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34). By absorbing the curse foretold in lex talionis, He secures a covenant of grace whereby His people will one day “hunger no longer… nor will the sun beat down on them” (Revelation 7:16), and by implication their teeth will bite only the Bread of Life in eternal peace. Eschatological Consistency The progression from Mosaic “tooth for tooth” to eschatological “gnashing of teeth” illustrates the unbroken moral line of Scripture: sin brings measured recompense unless atoned for in Christ. The final state of the wicked—locked in remorse—stands opposite the redeemed, who “shall see His face” (Revelation 22:4) with mouths filled not with grinding but with praise. Distribution Summary Matthew (nine usages) establishes the theological motif; Mark, Luke, Acts, and Revelation provide complementary snapshots of present hostility and future horror. Together they render Strong’s 3599 a small but potent reminder that every bodily member, even a single tooth, speaks to the grand narrative of creation, fall, redemption, and consummation. Forms and Transliterations οδοντα οδόντα ὀδόντα οδοντας οδόντας ὀδόντας οδοντες οδόντες ὀδόντες οδοντος οδόντος ὀδόντος οδοντων οδόντων ὀδόντων οδούσι οδούσιν odonta odónta odontas odóntas odontes odóntes odonton odontōn odónton odóntōn odontos odóntosLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 5:38 N-AMSGRK: ὀφθαλμοῦ καὶ ὀδόντα ἀντὶ ὀδόντος NAS: FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.' KJV: an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: INT: eye and tooth for tooth Matthew 5:38 N-GMS Matthew 8:12 N-GMP Matthew 13:42 N-GMP Matthew 13:50 N-GMP Matthew 22:13 N-GMP Matthew 24:51 N-GMP Matthew 25:30 N-GMP Mark 9:18 N-AMP Luke 13:28 N-GMP Acts 7:54 N-AMP Revelation 9:8 N-NMP Strong's Greek 3599 |
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