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κοιλία

koilía

G2836 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A hollow space or cavity within the body, primarily referring to the abdomen or belly; by extension, the womb (as an interior, generative cavity). In figurative contexts, denotes the inner being or seat of emotion and desire. Semantic range includes both physical (the abdominal cavity, stomach, womb) and metaphorical (seat of appetite, inner self) senses.

Semantic Range

belly, abdomen, stomach, womb, cavity, seat of appetite, inner being, innermost self

Root / Etymology

From the root κοιλ- (koil-, 'hollow'), with the suffix -ία indicating a state or condition; connected to the adjective κοῖλος (koilos, 'hollow, concave'). Related to similar formations that signify hollow spaces or cavities in Greek anatomical and physical vocabulary.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Classical Greek uses κοιλία primarily for the physical belly or abdominal cavity, sometimes generically for any hollow space. In the Septuagint, κοιλία regularly renders Hebrew terms for belly or womb (e.g., בטן beten, רחם rechem), extending naturally to mean womb (place of gestation). In Hellenistic and Koine usage, as in the New Testament, κοιλία most often refers to the belly or stomach as the site of physical appetite, and to the womb as the generative cavity. Figuratively, it may refer to the inner self or the emotional center, though this is less common than for καρδία ('heart'). English translations may render it as 'belly,' 'womb,' or, less often, 'heart' or 'innermost being' depending on context. The word can be contrasted with γαστήρ (gaster), which also signifies 'stomach' but often more specifically the organ itself or appetite; κοιλία emphasizes the cavity or internal space.

Translation Consistency

primary "belly" 21 occurrences

Most occurrences in the P2 set are translated 'belly' and this term naturally covers the primary literal sense (abdomen/stomach) and the common figurative sense (seat of appetite/inner being). 'Belly' is everyday English, reads naturally across contexts, and is broader than the narrower 'womb', so it best serves a single, consistent rendering for all forms of κοιλία.

Alternatives (1 occurrence):
"wombs" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ("hollow"); a cavity, i.e. (especially) the abdomen; by implication, the matrix; figuratively, the heart:--belly, womb.

Root Family

κοιλία (koilia) — hollow cavity, belly, abdomen, womb, inner being

Root κοιλ- to be hollow, cavity

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2836-01 κοιλίᾳ koilia N DAT F SG womb in the belly cavity in the belly cavity 10
G2836-04 κοιλίας koilias N GEN F SG womb of the belly of the belly 7
G2836-03 κοιλίαν koilian N ACC F SG stomach belly belly 4
G2836-02 κοιλίαι koiliai N NOM F PL wombs hollow cavities wombs 1

Occurrences in Scripture

22 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2836-01 Matthew 12:40 κοιλίᾳ koilia N DAT F SG belly in the belly cavity in the belly cavity
G2836-03 Matthew 15:17 κοιλίαν koilian N ACC F SG belly belly belly
G2836-04 Matthew 19:12 κοιλίας koilias N GEN F SG womb of the belly of the belly
G2836-03 Mark 7:19 κοιλίαν koilian N ACC F SG stomach belly belly
G2836-04 Luke 1:15 κοιλίας koilias N GEN F SG womb of the belly of the belly
G2836-01 Luke 1:41 κοιλίᾳ koilia N DAT F SG womb in the belly cavity in the belly cavity
G2836-04 Luke 1:42 κοιλίας koilias N GEN F SG womb of the belly of the belly
G2836-01 Luke 1:44 κοιλίᾳ koilia N DAT F SG womb in the belly cavity in the belly cavity
G2836-01 Luke 2:21 κοιλίᾳ koilia N DAT F SG womb in the belly cavity in the belly cavity
G2836-01 Luke 11:27 κοιλία koilia N NOM F SG womb in the belly cavity in the belly cavity
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