Lexical Summary optos: Roasted, cooked Original Word: ὀπτός Strong's Exhaustive Concordance broiled. From an obsolete verb akin to hepso (to "steep"); cooked, i.e. Roasted -- broiled. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. word Definition roasted NASB Translation broiled (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3702: ὀπτόςὀπτός, ὀπτη, ὀπτον (ὀπτάω (to roast, cook)), cooked, broiled: Luke 24:42. (Exodus 12:8, 9; in classical Greek from Homer down.) Topical Lexicon Linguistic and Cultural Background The verb behind Strong’s Greek 3702 (ὀπτός, optos) describes food “cooked on the fire,” typically “broiled” or “roasted.” In Hellenistic usage it was the ordinary culinary term for meat or fish prepared directly over heat. Among Mediterranean peoples, fish was often cooked this way because it required little fuel and preserved flavor near the shoreline. Single New Testament Occurrence Luke 24:42 records the only appearance of the noun’s genitive form (ὀπτοῦ): “They gave Him a piece of broiled fish”. This event occurs on the evening of Resurrection Sunday when the risen Christ appears to the gathered disciples in Jerusalem (Luke 24:36–49). Demonstration of the Bodily Resurrection The broiled fish serves a crucial apologetic purpose. Jesus invites the disciples to examine His hands and feet, then asks for food. By eating something as ordinary as roasted fish in their presence (Luke 24:43), He dispels the notion that His resurrection was merely spiritual or illusory. Luke, a physician attentive to physical detail, underscores that the resurrected body is real, tangible, and capable of normal human functions, yet no longer subject to death (Acts 1:3). Culinary Context in First-Century Judea Fishing dominated the Galilean economy; salted or roasted fish was a dietary staple transported from towns such as Magdala and Capernaum to Jerusalem. Roasting required only a small charcoal fire—precisely the kind mentioned in John 21:9, where the risen Jesus later prepares breakfast for His disciples. The evangelists’ inclusion of such culinary details frames the resurrection within everyday life, reinforcing its historicity. Symbolism of Fish in the Gospel Tradition Although ὀπτός itself appears once, fish imagery permeates the Gospels: Early Christians adopted the fish (ἰχθύς) as a confessional symbol for “Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior.” Luke’s reference to broiled fish therefore resonates with both ordinary sustenance and profound christological confession. Connections with Old Testament Roasting The Passover lamb had to be “roasted over the fire” (Exodus 12:8-9), prefiguring deliverance through a sacrificed, yet intact, body. While Luke speaks of fish rather than lamb, the shared idea of roasting links resurrection fulfillment to earlier redemptive themes: a prepared body that ensures covenant liberation (Hebrews 10:5-10). Pastoral and Discipleship Implications 1. Assurance of Resurrection Hope: Believers can anticipate a future bodily resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:35-57) grounded in Christ’s tangible victory. Patristic and Early Church Reception Church Fathers such as Ignatius and Tertullian appealed to Luke 24:42-43 when defending the incarnation against Docetism. They argued that a Christ who chewed and digested fish could not be a mere apparition. Catacomb art often portrays Christ with fish and bread, echoing Luke’s emphasis on physical reality and divine provision. Summary Strong’s Greek 3702, though occurring only once, anchors a decisive resurrection proof. The “broiled fish” of Luke 24:42 affirms the physicality of Jesus’ risen body, ties the resurrection to Israel’s culinary history, highlights Luke’s concern for concrete evidence, and enriches the Church’s sacramental and evangelistic life. What appears as an ordinary meal becomes an enduring testimony that “He is risen indeed” (Luke 24:34). Forms and Transliterations οπτά οπτόν οπτου οπτού ὀπτοῦ optou optoûLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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