Lexical Summary stoma: Mouth Original Word: στόμα Strong's Exhaustive Concordance mouth. Probably strengthened from a presumed derivative of the base of tomoteros; the mouth (as if a gash in the face); by implication, language (and its relations); figuratively, an opening (in the earth); specially, the front or edge (of a weapon) -- edge, face, mouth. see GREEK tomoteros NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. word Definition the mouth NASB Translation edge (2), face (4), lips (1), mouth (60), mouths (5), say* (1), testimony (1), utterance (1), voice (1), words (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4750: στόμαστόμα, στόματος, τό (apparently equivalent to τομα, with sigma ς( prefixed, from τέμνω, τετομα, therefore properly, 'cutting' (or 'cut'; so Etym. Magn. 728, 18; others, 'calling', etc.; but doubtful, cf. Curtius, § 226 b.; Vanicek, p. 1141 and references)); from Homer down; Hebrew פֶּה; the mouth; 1. properly, the mouth as a part of the body: of man, John 19:29; Acts 11:8; Revelation 1:16; Revelation 3:16, and often; of animals — as of a fish, Matthew 17:27; of a horse, James 3:3; Revelation 9:17; of a serpent, Revelation 12:15; Revelation 13:5; the jaws of a lion, 2 Timothy 4:17; Hebrews 11:33; Revelation 13:2. Since the thoughts of man's soul find verbal utterance by his mouth, καρδία (`the heart' or soul) and στόμα 'the mouth' are distinguished: Matthew 12:34; Matthew 15:8 Rec. from Isaiah 29:13; Romans 10:8, 10; in phrases chiefly of a Hebraistic character, the mouth (as the organ of speech) is mentioned in connection with words and speech, Matthew 21:16 (from Psalm 8:3), and words are said to proceed ἐκ τοῦ στόματος, Matthew 4:4 (from Deuteronomy 8:3); Luke 4:22; Ephesians 4:29; Colossians 3:8; James 3:10; τό στόμα λαλεῖ τί, Jude 1:16; on the Hebrew phrase ἀνοίγειν τό στόμα, see ἀνοίγω, p. 48{a} bottom ἡ ἄνοιξις τοῦ στοματου Ephesians 6:19; στόμα πρός στόμα λαλῆσαι (אֶל־פֶּה פֶּה דִּבֶּר, Numbers 12:8) literally, mouth (turned) to mouth (A. V. face to face), 2 John 1:12; 3 John 1:14, (τό στόμα πρός τό στόμα, of a kiss, Xenophon, mem. 2, 6, 32); God or the Holy Spirit is said to speak διά τοῦ στόματος τίνος (cf. Buttmann, 183 (159)), Luke 1:70; Acts 1:16; Acts 3:18, 21; Acts 4:25; or a person is said to hear a thing διά τοῦ στόματος, Acts 15:7; or ἀπό τοῦ στόματος τοῦ, from his own mouth, i. e. what he has just said, Luke 22:71; or ἐκ τοῦ στόματος, Acts 22:14; θρευσαι τί ἐκ τοῦ στόματος τοῦ, Luke 11:54; τό πνεῦμα τοῦ στόματος (the breath of his mouth, see πνεῦμα, 1 b.), 2 Thessalonians 2:8 (Psalm 32:6 2. Like Latinacies, στόμα μαχαίρας, the edge of the sword (פִּי־חֶרֶב, Genesis 34:26; (Joshua 19:48; Jeremiah 21:7, etc.); Judges 18:27, etc.; 2 Samuel 15:14 (but in the last two passages the Sept. render the Hebrew phrase by στόμα ῤομφαίας, which (together with στόμα ξίφους) is the more common translation; cf. Winers Grammar, 18, 30; Buttmann, 320 (274) n.)): Luke 21:24; Hebrews 11:34 (hence, δίστομος, which see; אָכַל of a sword, 2 Samuel 2:26; 2 Samuel 11:25). The most straightforward use appears when the mouth is treated as a physical opening for eating, breathing, and speaking (Matthew 15:17; John 19:29). The Gospels record Jesus using illustrations that hinge on this concrete sense: “Whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated” (Matthew 15:17), yet the very same organ is simultaneously the gateway for words that disclose the inner man. Seat of Spiritual Identity Speech reveals character. “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45). Genuine righteousness or hypocrisy is thus exposed in the words one utters (Matthew 12:34; James 3:3–12). The mouth serves as the diagnostic window to the soul, validating or refuting professed faith. Agent of Revelation and Prophecy Scripture repeatedly affirms that God’s authoritative word is delivered through human mouths. Peter could say, “God chose…that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the message of the gospel and believe” (Acts 15:7). The prophetic tradition is traced “through the mouth of His holy prophets from ages past” (Luke 1:70; Acts 3:21). Jesus Himself cites Deuteronomy, declaring, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4), upholding the absolute reliability of divine revelation. Instrument of Praise and Worship The mouth is assigned to glorify God. Jesus appeals to Psalm Eight when He affirms, “From the mouths of children and infants You have ordained praise” (Matthew 21:16). Paul urges unified doxology “so that with one mind and one mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 15:6). False worship is unmasked when lips honor God while hearts remain distant (Isaiah 29:13 echoed implicitly in Matthew 15:8-11). Channel of Confession and Salvation Salvation is personally appropriated through verbal confession that springs from a believing heart: “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). The coupling of inner faith and outward confession underscores that saving belief cannot remain entirely private. Testimony and Judicial Function Legal veracity depends on corroborated mouths: “Every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses” (Matthew 18:16; 2 Corinthians 13:1). This principle, inherited from Mosaic law, safeguards justice within the covenant community and guides ecclesiastical discipline. Source of Defilement and Sin Sin’s corruption is frequently traced to speech. “A man is not defiled by what enters his mouth, but by what comes out of it” (Matthew 15:11). Paul laments humanity’s depravity: “Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness” (Romans 3:14). Believers must therefore “put aside…filthy language from your mouth” (Colossians 3:8) and avoid “unwholesome talk” (Ephesians 4:29). Divine Weapon in Judgment The exalted Christ wages eschatological warfare by what proceeds from His mouth. “Out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword” (Revelation 1:16), later employed to “strike down the nations” (Revelation 19:15). The “breath of His mouth” will overthrow the lawless one (2 Thessalonians 2:8). Conversely, the beast’s blasphemous mouth (Revelation 13:5-6) and the demonic frogs that come “out of the mouth of the dragon” (Revelation 16:13) illustrate satanic counterfeit and opposition. Control of the Tongue in Christian Ethics James insists that blessing and cursing emerging from the same mouth is a moral contradiction (James 3:10). Spiritual maturity demands bridled speech, not only avoidance of evil words but proactive edification: “Our mouth has spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is open wide” (2 Corinthians 6:11). Pastoral Applications 1. Evangelism: Depend on Spirit-given utterance (Luke 21:15; Ephesians 6:19). Intertestamental and Cultural Notes First-century Judaism viewed the mouth as the seat of both blessing (Berakoth) and impurity (Mishnah, Shabbat). Greek rhetoric prized eloquence; the New Testament counters by elevating Spirit-empowered simplicity (Acts 4:13; 1 Corinthians 1:17). Roman courts valued oral testimony, amplifying the significance of Paul’s stress on truthful mouths. Representative Occurrences Matthew 5:2; Luke 1:64; Acts 8:35; Romans 3:19; Hebrews 11:33; 1 Peter 2:22; Revelation 12:16. Together these texts portray the mouth as physical organ, moral barometer, prophetic conduit, worship instrument, confessional channel, judicial witness, and eschatological weapon—each aspect harmonizing within the redemptive storyline of Scripture. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 4:4 N-GNSGRK: ἐκπορευομένῳ διὰ στόματος θεοῦ NAS: THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.' KJV: out of the mouth of God. INT: coming out of [the] mouth of God Matthew 5:2 N-ANS Matthew 12:34 N-NNS Matthew 13:35 N-ANS Matthew 15:11 N-ANS Matthew 15:11 N-GNS Matthew 15:17 N-ANS Matthew 15:18 N-GNS Matthew 17:27 N-ANS Matthew 18:16 N-GNS Matthew 21:16 N-GNS Luke 1:64 N-NNS Luke 1:70 N-GNS Luke 4:22 N-GNS Luke 6:45 N-NNS Luke 11:54 N-GNS Luke 19:22 N-GNS Luke 21:15 N-ANS Luke 21:24 N-DNS Luke 22:71 N-GNS John 19:29 N-DNS Acts 1:16 N-GNS Acts 3:18 N-GNS Acts 3:21 N-GNS Acts 4:25 N-GNS Strong's Greek 4750 |
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