φιμόω (G5392) — Greek Lexicon

φιμόω

phimóō

G5392 verb

SILEX Entry

Root φιμ- to muzzle, to silence, to restrain from eating or speech

Definition

To muzzle (an animal, esp. the mouth or jaws to prevent eating or making noise); by extension, to silence or render speechless (such as by force or censure); occurs primarily with reference to restraining or preventing an animal from eating, but also figuratively of silencing a person.

Semantic Range

to put a muzzle on (an animal), to prevent from eating (by muzzling), to restrain from making noise, to silence, to render speechless, to prevent someone from speaking

Root / Etymology

From the noun φῖμος (muzzle, restraint), from the root φιμ- (to shut, to confine). Forms a causative verb meaning to put a muzzle on, to silence.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, φιμόω is most commonly used to describe the act of placing a muzzle on animals to prevent them from eating or making noise, particularly with working animals such as oxen. In Hellenistic and Koine Greek, this literal sense persists, notably in legal and literary texts (cf. LXX Deut 25:4, 1 Cor 9:9, 1 Tim 5:18) concerning not muzzling oxen during threshing. Metaphorically, it also comes to mean 'to silence' or 'to cause to be speechless,' especially by force or threat (see Mark 1:25; Matthew 22:12). In these figurative contexts, the underlying concept is the restriction or prevention of expression. English translations frequently render it 'to muzzle' in literal contexts and 'to silence' in figurative settings. Unlike ἐφιμόω (aorist form and passive voice), φιμόω may emphasize the act of imposition, whether on an animal or a person. The semantic scope is narrower than more general verbs for silencing (such as σιγάω), focusing specifically on forced prevention, whether physical (muzzle) or social (censure).

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from (a muzzle); to muzzle:--muzzle.

Root Family

φιμόω (phimoō) — to muzzle, to silence, to restrain from eating or speech

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`G5392-04`	φιμώσεις	phimoseis	`V FUT ACT IND 2P SG`	you shall muzzle	you will muzzle	2
`G5392-05`	φιμώθητι	phimotheti	`V AOR PASS IMP 2P SG`	Be quiet	Be muzzled	2
`G5392-02`	ἐφιμώθη	ephimothe	`V AOR PASS IND 3P SG`		was muzzled	1
`G5392-03`	πεφίμωσο	pephimoso	`V PRF PASS IMP 2P SG`	be still!	be muzzled	1
`G5392-06`	φιμοῦν	phimoun	`V PRS ACT INF`	to silence	to muzzle	1
`G5392-01`	ἐφίμωσεν	ephimosen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`		he muzzled	1

Occurrences in Scripture

8 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`G5392-02`	Matthew 22:12	ἐφιμώθη	ephimothe	`V AOR PASS IND 3P SG`		was muzzled
`G5392-01`	Matthew 22:34	ἐφίμωσεν	ephimosen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`		he muzzled
`G5392-05`	Mark 1:25	φιμώθητι	phimotheti	`V AOR PASS IMP 2P SG`	Be quiet	Be muzzled
`G5392-03`	Mark 4:39	πεφίμωσο	pephimoso	`V PRF PASS IMP 2P SG`	be still!	be muzzled
`G5392-05`	Luke 4:35	φιμώθητι	phimotheti	`V AOR PASS IMP 2P SG`	Be quiet	Be muzzled
`G5392-04`	1 Corinthians 9:9	φιμώσεις	phimoseis	`V FUT ACT IND 2P SG`	you shall muzzle	you will muzzle
`G5392-04`	1 Timothy 5:18	φιμώσεις	phimoseis	`V FUT ACT IND 2P SG`	you-shall-muzzle	you will muzzle
`G5392-06`	1 Peter 2:15	φιμοῦν	phimoun	`V PRS ACT INF`	to silence	to muzzle

← G5391 Greek Lexicon G5393 →