ὀστέον (G3747) — Greek Lexicon

ὀστέον

ostéon

G3747 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Bone; the hard, structural component of vertebrate bodies, typically referring to the physical skeletal material. In broader use, the word may refer to skeletal remains, or metaphorically to lifelessness or death, but always with the primary sense relating to anatomy.

Semantic Range

bone (anatomical), bones (skeletal remains), body part, metaphorically: structure of a body, remains

Root / Etymology

From the Greek root ὀστέ- (oste-), related to the concept of bone or skeleton. Cognate with Classical and later Greek ὀστέον. Ultimately shares roots with related Indo-European terms (cf. Latin os, ossis) but precise origins are debated.

Historical & Contextual Notes

ὀστέον appears in classical Greek literature with the primary meaning of 'bone,' both as an individual anatomical part and collectively (the skeleton). In medical, poetic, and common speech, the usage can refer simply to the bones of a living or dead person or animal. In the LXX (Septuagint), ὀστέον regularly translates Hebrew עֶצֶם (ʿetsem), maintaining a close correspondence in semantics and physical reference. In the New Testament, use is infrequent and almost exclusively in literal or closely related metaphorical senses (e.g., references to bodily remains, as in Matt 23:27 and Luke 24:39). The term does not generally carry extended metaphorical or idiomatic senses in Koine Greek, unlike in some later or more poetic contexts of Hebrew or English. Standard English translations, rendering it as 'bone,' accurately reflect the primary and contextual usages. The English medical/scientific term 'osteology' derives from this root. There is no real ambiguity between ὀστέον and other Greek terms for bone; older forms such as ὀστοῦν are synonymous but more common in earlier Attic and poetic usage.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of uncertain affinity; a bone:--bone.

Root Family

ὀστέον (osteon) — bone, skeletal part

Root ὀστέ- bone, skeletal part

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G3747-02`	ὀστέων	osteon	`N GEN N PL`	bones	of bones	bones	2
`G3747-01`	ὀστέα	ostea	`N ACC N PL`	bones	bones	bones	1
`G3747-03`	ὀστοῦν	ostoun	`N NOM N SG`	bone	bone	bone	1

Occurrences in Scripture

4 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G3747-02`	Matthew 23:27	ὀστέων	osteon	`N GEN N PL`	of bones	of bones	of bones
`G3747-01`	Luke 24:39	ὀστέα	ostea	`N ACC N PL`	bones	bones	bones
`G3747-03`	John 19:36	ὀστοῦν	ostoun	`N NOM N SG`	bone	bone	bone
`G3747-02`	Hebrews 11:22	ὀστέων	osteon	`N GEN N PL`	bones	of bones	bones

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