γλῶσσα (G1100) — Greek Lexicon

γλῶσσα

glōssa

G1100 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

The tongue, the muscular organ in the mouth; by extension, speech or language, often referring to a distinct language or dialect spoken by a group. In some contexts, 'tongue' may also mean utterance or mode of speaking, with specialized usage for unintelligible or ecstatic speech.

Semantic Range

the tongue (physical organ); language; dialect; manner of speaking; utterance; ecstatic or inspired speech

Root / Etymology

The noun γλῶσσα appears to be of pre-Greek or non-Indo-European origin; its etymology is uncertain. It is not derived from an identifiable Greek verbal or nominal root, though it may be related to other ancient Mediterranean languages.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, γλῶσσα primarily denotes the physical tongue, the organ of speech and taste, but also comes to mean 'language' or 'dialect' as a metonym for spoken language. In Hellenistic and Koine usage (including the Septuagint and New Testament), the sense of 'language' becomes prominent, used for distinct languages and dialects (e.g., ἑλληνικὴ γλῶσσα, 'Greek language'). In the New Testament, particularly Pauline writings, γλῶσσα can denote ecstatic or unlearned speech, sometimes described as 'speaking in tongues' (see 1 Corinthians 12–14), a term carried into English translation but whose sense in Greek may be closer to unintelligible or inspired utterance. Greek typically uses διάλεκτος to refer more specifically to a 'dialect.' The standard English translations mostly cover 'tongue' (literal sense) and 'language,' but sometimes obscure the distinction between unlearned/inspired utterance and established languages.

Translation Consistency

primary "tongue" 50 occurrences

“Tongue” covers the primary senses in the SILEX range: the physical organ, a language or dialect, and an utterance/manner of speaking (including ecstatic speech). It matches the majority of existing renderings (’tongue/tongues’) and reads naturally across contexts where glōssa appears.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of uncertain affinity; the tongue; by implication, a language (specially, one naturally unacquired):--tongue.

Root Family

γλῶσσα (glōssa) — tongue (organ), language, speech

Root γλωσσ- tongue (organ), language, speech

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G1100-03`	γλώσσαις	glossais	`N DAT F PL`	tongues	to/for tongues	to/for tongues	15
`G1100-01`	γλῶσσα	glossa	`N NOM F SG`	tongue	tongue	tongue	7
`G1100-04`	γλῶσσάν	glossan	`N ACC F SG`	tongue	a tongue	a tongue	7
`G1100-06`	γλώσσῃ	glosse	`N DAT F SG`	in a tongue	in a tongue	in a tongue	7
`G1100-08`	γλωσσῶν	glosson	`N GEN F PL`	of tongues	of tongues	of tongues	5
`G1100-02`	γλῶσσαι	glossai	`N NOM F PL`	tongues	tongues	tongues	4
`G1100-07`	γλώσσης	glosses	`N GEN F SG`	tongue	of tongue	of tongue	4
`G1100-05`	γλώσσας	glossas	`N ACC F PL`	tongues	tongues	tongues	1

Occurrences in Scripture

50 occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G1100-07`	Mark 7:33	γλώσσης	glosses	`N GEN F SG`	tongue	of tongue	of tongue
`G1100-07`	Mark 7:35	γλώσσης	glosses	`N GEN F SG`	tongue	of tongue	of tongue
`G1100-03`	Mark 16:17	γλώσσαις	glossais	`N DAT F PL`	tongues	to/for tongues	to/for tongues
`G1100-01`	Luke 1:64	γλῶσσα	glossa	`N NOM F SG`	tongue	tongue	tongue
`G1100-04`	Luke 16:24	γλῶσσάν	glossan	`N ACC F SG`	tongue	a tongue	a tongue
`G1100-02`	Acts 2:3	γλῶσσαι	glossai	`N NOM F PL`	tongues	tongues	tongues
`G1100-03`	Acts 2:4	γλώσσαις	glossais	`N DAT F PL`	tongues	to/for tongues	to/for tongues
`G1100-03`	Acts 2:11	γλώσσαις	glossais	`N DAT F PL`	tongues	to/for tongues	tongues
`G1100-01`	Acts 2:26	γλῶσσά	glossa	`N NOM F SG`	tongue	tongue	tongue
`G1100-03`	Acts 10:46	γλώσσαις	glossais	`N DAT F PL`	with tongues	to/for tongues	to/for tongues
`G1100-03`	Acts 19:6	γλώσσαις	glossais	`N DAT F PL`	in tongues	to/for tongues	to/for tongues
`G1100-03`	Romans 3:13	γλώσσαις	glossais	`N DAT F PL`	tongues	to/for tongues	tongues
`G1100-01`	Romans 14:11	γλῶσσα	glossa	`N NOM F SG`	tongue	tongue	tongue
`G1100-08`	1 Corinthians 12:10	γλωσσῶν	glosson	`N GEN F PL`	of tongues	of tongues	of tongues
`G1100-08`	1 Corinthians 12:10	γλωσσῶν	glosson-2	`N GEN F PL`	of tongues	of tongues	of tongues
`G1100-08`	1 Corinthians 12:28	γλωσσῶν	glosson	`N GEN F PL`	of tongues	of tongues	of tongues
`G1100-03`	1 Corinthians 12:30	γλώσσαις	glossais	`N DAT F PL`	with tongues	to/for tongues	with tongues
`G1100-03`	1 Corinthians 13:1	γλώσσαις	glossais	`N DAT F PL`	tongues	to/for tongues	tongues
`G1100-02`	1 Corinthians 13:8	γλῶσσαι	glossai	`N NOM F PL`	tongues	tongues	tongues
`G1100-06`	1 Corinthians 14:2	γλώσσῃ	glosse	`N DAT F SG`	in a tongue	in a tongue	in a tongue
`G1100-06`	1 Corinthians 14:4	γλώσσῃ	glosse	`N DAT F SG`	in a tongue	in a tongue	in a tongue
`G1100-03`	1 Corinthians 14:5	γλώσσαις	glossais	`N DAT F PL`	in tongues	to/for tongues	to/for tongues
`G1100-03`	1 Corinthians 14:5	γλώσσαις	glossais-2	`N DAT F PL`	in tongues	to/for tongues	to/for tongues
`G1100-03`	1 Corinthians 14:6	γλώσσαις	glossais	`N DAT F PL`	tongues	to/for tongues	to/for tongues
`G1100-07`	1 Corinthians 14:9	γλώσσης	glosses	`N GEN F SG`	tongue	of tongue	of tongue
`G1100-06`	1 Corinthians 14:13	γλώσσῃ	glosse	`N DAT F SG`	in a tongue	in a tongue	in a tongue
`G1100-06`	1 Corinthians 14:14	γλώσσῃ	glosse	`N DAT F SG`	in a tongue	in a tongue	in a tongue
`G1100-03`	1 Corinthians 14:18	γλώσσαις	glossais	`N DAT F PL`	in tongues	to/for tongues	with tongues
`G1100-06`	1 Corinthians 14:19	γλώσσῃ	glosse	`N DAT F SG`	a tongue	in a tongue	in a tongue
`G1100-02`	1 Corinthians 14:22	γλῶσσαι	glossai	`N NOM F PL`	tongues	tongues	tongues
`G1100-03`	1 Corinthians 14:23	γλώσσαις	glossais	`N DAT F PL`	in tongues	to/for tongues	to/for tongues
`G1100-04`	1 Corinthians 14:26	γλῶσσαν	glossan	`N ACC F SG`	a tongue	a tongue	a tongue
`G1100-06`	1 Corinthians 14:27	γλώσσῃ	glosse	`N DAT F SG`	in a tongue	in a tongue	in a tongue
`G1100-03`	1 Corinthians 14:39	γλώσσαις	glossais	`N DAT F PL`	in tongues	to/for tongues	to/for tongues
`G1100-01`	Philippians 2:11	γλῶσσα	glossa	`N NOM F SG`	tongue	tongue	tongue
`G1100-04`	James 1:26	γλῶσσαν	glossan	`N ACC F SG`	tongue	a tongue	a tongue
`G1100-01`	James 3:5	γλῶσσα	glossa	`N NOM F SG`	tongue	tongue	tongue
`G1100-01`	James 3:6	γλῶσσα	glossa	`N NOM F SG`	tongue	tongue	tongue
`G1100-01`	James 3:6	γλῶσσα	glossa-2	`N NOM F SG`	tongue	tongue	tongue
`G1100-04`	James 3:8	γλῶσσαν	glossan	`N ACC F SG`	tongue	a tongue	a tongue
`G1100-04`	1 Peter 3:10	γλῶσσαν	glossan	`N ACC F SG`	tongue	a tongue	a tongue
`G1100-06`	1 John 3:18	γλώσσῃ	glosse	`N DAT F SG`	tongue	in a tongue	in a tongue
`G1100-07`	Revelation 5:9	γλώσσης	glosses	`N GEN F SG`	language	of tongue	of tongue
`G1100-08`	Revelation 7:9	γλωσσῶν	glosson	`N GEN F PL`	languages	of tongues	of tongues
`G1100-03`	Revelation 10:11	γλώσσαις	glossais	`N DAT F PL`	tongues	to/for tongues	to/for tongues
`G1100-08`	Revelation 11:9	γλωσσῶν	glosson	`N GEN F PL`	tongues	of tongues	of tongues
`G1100-04`	Revelation 13:7	γλῶσσαν	glossan	`N ACC F SG`	language	a tongue	a tongue
`G1100-04`	Revelation 14:6	γλῶσσαν	glossan	`N ACC F SG`	tongue	a tongue	a tongue
`G1100-05`	Revelation 16:10	γλώσσας	glossas	`N ACC F PL`	tongues	tongues	tongues
`G1100-02`	Revelation 17:15	γλῶσσαι	glossai	`N NOM F PL`	tongues	tongues	tongues

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