5490. chasma

Lexicon

chasma: Chasm, gulf, gap

Original Word: χάσμα
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: chasma
Pronunciation: KHAHS-mah
Phonetic Spelling: (khas'-mah)
Definition: Chasm, gulf, gap
Meaning: a gap, gulf, chasm.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

gulf.

From a form of an obsolete primary chao (to "gape" or "yawn"); a "chasm" or vacancy (impassable interval) -- gulf.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from chaskó (to yawn)
Definition
a chasm, wide space
NASB Translation
chasm (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 5490: χάσμα

χάσμα, χασματος, τό (χαίνω to yawn), a gaping opening, a chasm, gulf: equivalent to a great interval, Luke 16:26. (Hesiod theog. 740; Euripides, Plato, Plutarch, Lucian, Aelian, others.)

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: From a form of the Greek verb "χάσκω" (chaskō), meaning "to yawn" or "to gape."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for "χάσμα," the concept of a divide or separation can be found in various Hebrew terms that describe physical or metaphorical separations. Some related Hebrew words include:

• בָּדַל (badal) • Strong's Hebrew 914, meaning "to divide" or "to separate."
• פֶּרֶץ (perets) • Strong's Hebrew 6556, meaning "a breach" or "a gap."

These Hebrew terms, while not direct translations, convey similar ideas of division and separation, which are central to the understanding of "χάσμα" in its New Testament context.

Usage: The term "χάσμα" is used in the New Testament to describe a significant divide or separation, often with a metaphorical or spiritual implication.

Context: The Greek word "χάσμα" appears in the New Testament in the context of a parable told by Jesus in the Gospel of Luke. Specifically, it is found in Luke 16:26, where it describes the great gulf fixed between the place of comfort where Abraham resides and the place of torment where the rich man finds himself after death. This chasm signifies an unbridgeable divide between the righteous and the unrighteous in the afterlife, emphasizing the finality of one's eternal destiny based on earthly life choices.

In Luke 16:26 (BSB), the passage reads: "And besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that those who want to cross from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross from there to us." This verse highlights the permanence of the separation and the impossibility of altering one's eternal state after death.

Theologically, "χάσμα" serves as a powerful illustration of the consequences of moral and spiritual decisions made during one's lifetime. It underscores the importance of repentance and faith in God, as well as the reality of divine justice. The imagery of the chasm reinforces the concept of an eternal divide between those who are saved and those who are not, a theme that resonates throughout Scripture.

Forms and Transliterations

χασμα χάσμα χαυώνας χαφουρή chasma chásma

Englishman's Concordance

Luke 16:26 N-ANS
GRK: καὶ ὑμῶν χάσμα μέγα ἐστήρικται
NAS: us and you there is a great chasm fixed,
KJV: there is a great gulf fixed: so that
INT: and you a chasm great has been fixed

Strong's Greek 5490
1 Occurrence

χάσμα — 1 Occ.