Lexical Summary orthós: Straight, upright, correct, right Original Word: ὀρθός Strong's Exhaustive Concordance plain, rightly. Adverb from orthos; in a straight manner, i.e. (figuratively) correctly (also morally) -- plain, right(-ly). see GREEK orthos HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 3723 orthṓs (an adverb, derived from 3717 /orthós) – properly, straight (without deviation); correctly ("rightly") because conforming to the proper norm (standard). See 3717 (orthos). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom orthos Definition rightly NASB Translation correctly (3), plainly (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3723: ὀρθῶςὀρθῶς (ὀρθός), adverb, rightly: Mark 7:35; Luke 7:43; Luke 10:28; Luke 20:21. (Aeschylus and Herodotus down.) Topical Lexicon Topical DefinitionThe adverb ὀρθῶς means “rightly,” “correctly,” or “in a straight manner.” It describes that which conforms to God-given truth and order, whether in physical restoration (Mark 7:35) or intellectual and moral judgment (the three Lukan uses). In Scripture it functions as a concise affirmation that something aligns with the divine standard. Occurrences in the New Testament Mark 7:35 – The formerly mute man’s tongue “was loosened and he began to speak plainly” (ὀρθῶς), displaying the Messiah’s power to restore both body and normal function. Luke 7:43 – Jesus confirms Simon’s answer to the parable of the two debtors: “You have judged correctly.” Luke 10:28 – After the lawyer recites the two greatest commandments, Jesus replies, “You have answered correctly. Do this and you will live.” Luke 20:21 – Spies acknowledge Jesus as one who “speaks and teaches correctly” before attempting to ensnare Him. Literary and Theological Themes 1. Restoration to God’s created order The first appearance (Mark 7:35) ties ὀρθῶς to physical wholeness. Christ straightens what was crooked in the created order, foreshadowing the consummate restoration promised in Romans 8:21. 2. Right judgment and discernment In Luke 7:43 and 10:28, ὀρθῶς validates accurate theological understanding. Correct answers, however, are not ends in themselves; they must be wedded to obedience (“Do this and you will live”). Thus knowledge without practice is shown to be insufficient (James 1:22). 3. The authority of Jesus’ teaching Luke 20:21 highlights that even His opponents recognized Jesus “speaks and teaches correctly.” The term underscores the impeccable alignment of His instruction with the Law and Prophets, reinforcing the reliability of all He affirms (Matthew 5:17-19). Historical Usage Beyond the New Testament In Hellenistic literature the root family (ὀρθός, ὀρθόω) commonly describes straight roads, upright posture, and correct reasoning. Septuagint usage frequently pairs it with paths or ways (for example, Proverbs 3:6 “He will make your paths straight”), preparing the conceptual ground for New Testament employment: walking the straight path versus deviating into error. Orthos and the Emergence of “Orthodoxy” From ὀρθῶς grew the adjective ὀρθός (“straight, upright”) and the noun ὀρθοδοξία (“right opinion”). Early church writers adopted these cognates to describe fidelity to apostolic teaching. While ὀρθῶς itself appears only four times in the New Testament, its semantic field helped frame later confessional language that distinguishes truth from error (2 Timothy 2:15 “rightly handling the word of truth,” using a related compound). Ministry Implications 1. Preaching and Teaching The preacher’s goal mirrors Luke 20:21: to “speak and teach correctly,” submitting every sermon to Scriptural scrutiny so that content and tone remain aligned with God’s standard. 2. Discipleship and Pastoral Care Pastors must couple correct answers (Luke 10:28) with lived obedience, guiding believers from information to transformation. 3. Apologetics When adversaries concede that Jesus taught ὀρθῶς, it demonstrates that truth possesses an intrinsic, recognizable coherence. Christian apologetics should rely on this objective standard rather than mere rhetoric. 4. Healing and Compassion Ministries Mark 7:35 reminds ministries of mercy that bodily restoration is part of Christ’s redemptive scope, encouraging holistic care that addresses both physical and spiritual needs. Summary Strong’s Greek 3723 focuses attention on what is “straight” and “right” according to God. Whether describing miraculously restored speech or affirming doctrinal precision, ὀρθῶς spotlights the unwavering standard of divine truth to which all thought, action, and ministry must conform. Forms and Transliterations ορθως ορθώς ὀρθῶς orthos orthôs orthōs orthō̂sLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Mark 7:35 AdvGRK: καὶ ἐλάλει ὀρθῶς NAS: and he [began] speaking plainly. KJV: and he spake plain. INT: and he spoke plainly Luke 7:43 Adv Luke 10:28 Adv Luke 20:21 Adv |
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