ὠρύομαι (G5612) — Greek Lexicon

ὠρύομαι

ōrýomai

G5612 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To produce a loud, deep, or mournful cry or roar, typically of animals (especially lions), but also extended metaphorically to human lamentation or wailing. The core sense is the vocalization of a powerful, resonant, and often unsettling sound. Metaphorically, it can refer to the utterance of distress, anguish, or protest.

Semantic Range

to roar (of animals, esp. lions); to cry out with grief or pain; to wail or lament loudly; to emit a loud, deep, or mournful sound (literal or metaphorical)

Root / Etymology

The etymology is uncertain. ὠρύομαι is likely onomatopoetic, imitating the sound of a roar or loud cry. No clear, earlier root within Greek is attested and it does not have a convincing derivation from other Indo-European roots.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ὠρύομαι most often described the roar of a lion or other wild animal. The term is found in Homer and later writers to indicate both literal animal sounds and human expressions of grief, anguish, or anger, especially in poetic contexts. In Hellenistic and Koine Greek—including the Septuagint and New Testament—the word retains its sound-imitation force, with frequent use for wild animal noises (especially lions, e.g., Amos 3:8 LXX) and figuratively for loud, public mourning or protest. The word highlights the emotive and disruptive character of the sound produced. English translations typically narrow the meaning to 'roar,' especially in animal contexts, but the Greek term may embrace a broader field including human cries of distress. Notably, ὠρύομαι appears in the New Testament in 1 Peter 5:8, describing the devil 'roaring' like a lion, emphasizing audible threat and intimidation. Related terms with similar meanings include βοάω (to shout, cry aloud) and μυκάομαι (to bellow, usually of cattle), but ὠρύομαι specifically connoted a wild, often frightening or sorrowful, outcry.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

middle voice of an apparently primary verb; to "roar":--roar.

Root Family

ὠρύομαι (ōryomai) — to roar, to cry out loudly, to wail

Root ὠρυ- to roar, to cry out loudly, to wail

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G5612-01`	ὠρυόμενος	oruomenos	`V PRS MID PTCP NOM M SG`	roaring	roaring	roaring	1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G5612-01`	1 Peter 5:8	ὠρυόμενος	oruomenos	`V PRS MID PTCP NOM M SG`	roaring	roaring	roaring

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