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στόμα

stóma

G4750 noun

SILEX Entry

Root στόμ- mouth, opening, utterance

Definition

Mouth—the bodily organ of eating, speaking, or breathing; by extension, language, speech, or utterance; figuratively, an opening or orifice (of a cave, pit, or similar); in specific contexts, the edge or forefront (of a weapon or object). The primary meaning is the anatomical mouth, with contextual extensions to functions of speaking, voicing, or forming an opening.

Semantic Range

mouth (of a person or animal), speech or words, source of communication, opening or orifice, front or edge (of a weapon, tool, or object), mouth/opening of a cave, grave, or natural formation, metaphorical opening or outlet

Root / Etymology

Root: στόμ- (stom-). στόμα is possibly related to the root of τομώτερος (sharper), from τέμνω (to cut), indicating a sense of an opening or cut. Some derive it from an Indo-European base *stom- ('mouth, opening'), but the relationship is debated. Etymology remains partially uncertain.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, στόμα primarily meant the mouth of a person or animal, as the organ for eating and speaking (e.g., Homer, Herodotus). By metonymy, it developed senses related to speech or voice ("in the mouth", meaning "by word"). In rhetoric and literature, it refers to speech, utterance, or the person speaking. In topographical or natural contexts, στόμα described the opening of natural features (e.g., "mouth of a cave"), and this carried into Hellenistic and Koine usage, including the Septuagint and New Testament (e.g., 'mouth of the grave', 'mouth of a river'). The extension to 'edge' or 'front' appears especially in martial or descriptive contexts—such as the 'mouth/edge of a sword' (Septuagint, NT). English translations often simply render στόμα as 'mouth', but this can obscure metaphorical uses (e.g., as 'utterance', 'verbal statement', 'edge/front'). The figurative use for openings in the earth or objects was already established in pre-Koine Greek. The term stands in contrast with terms such as γλῶσσα (the tongue; also language) or φωνή (voice, sound), though overlap in semantic range occurs in idiomatic expressions (e.g., "by the mouth of the prophets").

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

probably strengthened from a presumed derivative of the base of τομώτερος; 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.

Root Family

στόμα (stoma) — mouth, opening, utterance

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G4750-05 στόματος stomatos N GEN N SG mouth of the mouth 34
G4750-01 στόμα stoma N ACC N SG mouth mouth 28
G4750-03 στόματι stomati N DAT N SG mouth to the mouth 11
G4750-02 στόματα stomata N ACC N PL mouths mouths 3
G4750-04 στομάτων stomaton N GEN N PL of mouths 2

Occurrences in Scripture

78 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G4750-05 Matthew 4:4 στόματος stomatos N GEN N SG of the mouth
G4750-01 Matthew 5:2 στόμα stoma N ACC N SG mouth
G4750-01 Matthew 12:34 στόμα stoma N NOM N SG mouth
G4750-01 Matthew 13:35 στόμα stoma N ACC N SG mouth
G4750-01 Matthew 15:11 στόμα stoma N ACC N SG mouth
G4750-05 Matthew 15:11 στόματος stomatos N GEN N SG of the mouth
G4750-01 Matthew 15:17 στόμα stoma N ACC N SG mouth
G4750-05 Matthew 15:18 στόματος stomatos N GEN N SG of the mouth
G4750-01 Matthew 17:27 στόμα stoma N ACC N SG mouth
G4750-05 Matthew 18:16 στόματος stomatos N GEN N SG of the mouth
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