βρύχω
brýchō
G1031 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To grind, chatter, or gnash the teeth, primarily as an involuntary expression of intense emotion or physical distress. The term refers to the audible or forceful action of pressing the upper and lower teeth together, frequently associated with extreme pain, anger, or anguish. In literary and biblical contexts, often describes the act as an outward sign of suffering, fury, or frustration, and sometimes as an anticipatory sign of judgment or despair.
Semantic Range
to grind or gnash the teeth (involuntarily), to chatter the teeth (from cold or emotion), to express pain or rage through gritting teeth, to react to anguish or anger with a harsh noise of teeth
Root / Etymology
Root is βρυχ-, of onomatopoeic origin, imitating the harsh sound produced by chattering or grinding teeth. No certain connection to other Greek words; etymology uncertain beyond mimetic formation.
Historical & Contextual Notes
First attested in earlier Greek literature with the sense of a guttural or harsh noise. In classical Greek, closely related to βρυχάομαι (to roar, especially of animals), though in the case of βρύχω the focus is on the teeth and the specific act of grinding or gnashing. In the Septuagint and New Testament, βρύχω appears with reference to extreme agony or anger, often used in scenes of judgment or exclusion (e.g., 'weeping and gnashing of teeth'), a formulaic phrase in eschatological and apocalyptic contexts. The word is used infrequently outside of biblical and Jewish Greek literature. Standard English translations such as 'gnash' may not fully convey the nuance of involuntary suffering or rage, nor the vividness of the Greek image, which can include both emotional and physical dimensions.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primary verb; to grate the teeth (in pain or rage):--gnash.
Root Family
βρύχω (brychō) — to grind, to gnash, to chatter (with the teeth)
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1031-01 |
ἔβρυχον | ebruchon | V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL |
they gnashed | they were gnashing teeth | they were gnashing | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1031-01 |
Acts 7:54 | ἔβρυχον | ebruchon | V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL |
they gnashed | they were gnashing teeth | they were gnashing |