Lexical Summary ous: Ear Original Word: οὖς Strong's Exhaustive Concordance ear. Apparently a primary word; the ear (physically or mentally) -- ear. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. word Definition the ear NASB Translation ear (12), ears (23), hearing (1), whispered* (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3775: οὖςοὖς, genitive ὠτός, plural ὦτα, dative ὦσιν, τό (cf. Latinauris,ausculto, audio, etc.; akin to ἀΐω, αἰσθάνομαι; cf. Curtius, § 619; Vanicek, p. 67); from Homer down; Hebrew אֹזֶן; the ear; 1. properly: Matthew 13:16; Mark 7:33; Luke 22:50; 1 Corinthians 2:9; 1 Corinthians 12:16; ὦτα τίνος εἰς δέησιν, to hear supplication, 1 Peter 3:12; ἡ γραφή πληροῦται ἐν τοῖς ὠσί τίνος, while present and hearing, Luke 4:21 (Baruch 1:3f); those unwilling to hear a thing are said συνέχειν (which see 2 a.) τά ὦτα, to stop their ears, Acts 7:57; ἠκούσθη τί εἰς τά ὦτα τίνος, something was heard by, came to the knowledge of (A. V. came to the ears of) one, Acts 11:22; likewise ἐισέρχεσθαι, James 5:4; γίνεσθαι, to come unto the ears of one, Luke 1:44; ἀκούειν εἰς τό οὖς, to hear (A. V. in the ear i. e.) in familiar converse, privately, Matthew 10:27 (εἰς οὖς often so in classical Greek; cf. Passow (Liddell and Scott), under the word, 1); also πρός τό οὖς λαλεῖν, Luke 12:3. 2. metaphorically equivalent to: the faculty of perceiving with the mind, the faculty of understanding and knowing: Matthew 13:16; ὁ ἔχων (or εἰ τίς ἔχει) ὦτα (or οὖς, in Rev.) (sometimes (especially in Mark and Luke) with ἀκούειν added; cf. Buttmann, § 140, 3) ἀκουέτω, whoever has the faculty of attending and understanding, let him use it, Matthew 11:15; Matthew 13:9, 43; Mark 4:9, 23; Mark 7:16 (T WH omit; Tr brackets the verse); Luke 8:8; Luke 14:35 (34); Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; Revelation 3:6, 13, 22; Revelation 13:9; τοῖς ὠσί βαρέως ἀκούειν, to be slow to understand or obey (A. V. their ears are dull of hearing), Matthew 13:15; Acts 28:27 (from Isaiah 6:10); ὦτα ἔχοντες οὐκ ἀκούετε, Mark 8:18; ὦτα τοῦ μή ἀκούειν, (ears that they should not hear; cf. Buttmann, 267 (230)), Romans 11:8; θέσθε τούς λόγους τούτους εἰς τά ὦτα (A. V. let these words sink into your ears i. e.) take them into your memory and hold them there, Luke 9:44; ἀπερίτμητος τοῖς ὦσιν (see ἀπερίτμητος), Acts 7:51. Strong’s Greek 3775 refers to the human ear, employed throughout the New Testament both in its physical sense (the organ for hearing) and, more frequently, as a vivid symbol for spiritual receptivity and obedient response to the Word of God. From the preaching of Jesus to the apocalyptic messages of Revelation, the ear functions as a theological barometer measuring faith, hardness of heart, and divine attentiveness. Hebraic Background The Jewish mind approached hearing as an action-word that implied obedience; “Hear, O Israel” (Deuteronomy 6:4) means “listen and do.” The Septuagint frequently uses the same Greek noun to translate the Hebrew ’ōzen, embedding this covenantal expectation directly into New Testament usage. Consequently, every call to “have ears to hear” carries the weight of Torah faithfulness and prophetic summons. Physical Sense 1. Literal organ: Luke 22:50 records the severing of the servant’s ear during Jesus’ arrest, underscoring the reality of Christ’s non-violent kingdom when He immediately heals the wound (Luke 22:51). Figurative and Spiritual Sense 1. Readiness to receive revelation: Matthew 13:9; Mark 4:23; Revelation 2–3 repeatedly declare, “He who has ears, let him hear.” The phrases presuppose that not all physical ears are spiritually functional. Ears in the Ministry of Jesus Repeated invitations to hear mark the teaching ministry (Matthew 11:15; Mark 7:16; Luke 8:8). Jesus asserts that true kinship with Him is verified by responsive hearing (Luke 8:21). The miraculous opening of deaf ears (Mark 7:33-37, using a related verb) confirms His messianic authority and prefigures the spiritual opening offered through the gospel. Apostolic Teaching and Mission Stephen’s accusation, “You stiff-necked people… you always resist the Holy Spirit; your ears are uncircumcised” (Acts 7:51), connects rejection of the gospel with the Old Testament imagery of “uncircumcised ears” (Jeremiah 6:10). Paul’s ministry concludes with the same Isaiah citation in Acts 28, situating Gentile inclusion and Jewish resistance within prophetic foresight. Prophetic and Apocalyptic Usage Seven times in Revelation 2–3 the risen Christ repeats, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” This refrain unites all congregations under a single divine summons that transcends time and geography. Revelation 13:9 extends the call to any individual who will heed amid tribulation, offering both comfort and caution. Pastoral Implications 1. Preaching: The preacher must aim not merely at informing minds but at opening ears through Spirit-empowered exposition. Worship and Prayer Corporate worship rehearses the Shema dynamic: God addresses His people, and they respond. Prayer rests on the assurance that “His ears are inclined to their prayer,” fostering confidence and humility. Historical-Theological Reflections Early Christian writers like Ignatius and Irenaeus echoed the Lord’s refrain, emphasizing orthodoxy as hearing the apostolic message. The Protestant Reformers reclaimed sola Scriptura by insisting that the church live “by every word” heard from Scripture. Key Themes for Teaching and Preaching • Hearing equals obeying; selective listening is disobedience. Synthesis Every appearance of Strong’s 3775 forms a golden thread tying human responsibility to divine initiative. Physical ears remind believers of created dependence; spiritual ears call them to repentant faith; God’s ears guarantee that no prayer, cry, or injustice escapes His notice. In the New Testament narrative the ear becomes a conduit of grace, a sign of judgment, and a pledge of consummation—summoning the church in every age to “be quick to listen” and to proclaim the Word that alone opens ears and saves souls. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 10:27 N-ANSGRK: εἰς τὸ οὖς ἀκούετε κηρύξατε NAS: you hear [whispered] in [your] ear, proclaim KJV: in the ear, [that] preach ye INT: in the ear you hear proclaim Matthew 11:15 N-ANP Matthew 13:9 N-ANP Matthew 13:15 N-DNP Matthew 13:15 N-DNP Matthew 13:16 N-NNP Matthew 13:43 N-ANP Mark 4:9 N-ANP Mark 4:23 N-ANP Mark 7:16 Noun-ANP Mark 7:33 N-ANP Mark 8:18 N-ANP Luke 1:44 N-ANP Luke 4:21 N-DNP Luke 8:8 N-ANP Luke 9:44 N-ANP Luke 12:3 N-ANS Luke 14:35 N-ANP Luke 22:50 N-ANS Acts 7:51 N-DNP Acts 7:57 N-ANP Acts 11:22 N-ANP Acts 28:27 N-DNP Acts 28:27 N-DNP Romans 11:8 N-ANP Strong's Greek 3775 |
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