ἐπιστομίζω
epistomízō
G1993 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To stop the mouth, i.e., to silence or cause to cease speaking, especially by constraint or by confuting arguments. Initially refers to physically closing or stopping the mouth, later used more figuratively for restraining someone from speaking, refuting, or preventing misleading or harmful speech in social and rhetorical situations.
Semantic Range
to physically cover or close the mouth, to silence someone forcibly, to restrain or suppress speech, to stop mouths (figurative), to prevent misleading or disruptive speech
Root / Etymology
From ἐπί (upon, over) + στόμα (mouth), thus meaning 'to put [something] over the mouth.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek literature, ἐπιστομίζω occurs rarely and retains the literal sense of covering or closing the mouth. In Koine Greek, including the Septuagint, it is used occasionally with the more figurative meaning of silencing someone, particularly in rhetorical or polemical contexts. In the New Testament (notably Titus 1:11), it denotes the act of restraining or preventing the spread of disruptive teachings. English translations such as 'to stop mouths' or 'to silence' capture part of the sense but may miss the physical root of the term, which evokes the image of forcibly shutting someone's mouth. The term thus ranges from the literal act of covering the mouth to the social function of suppressing speech, argument, or misleading instruction. Related terms include φιμοῦν (to muzzle) and σιωπάω (to be silent), but ἐπιστομίζω emphasizes the act of externally imposing silence or restraint, rather than self-imposed or passive silence.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἐπί and στόμα; to put something over the mouth, i.e. (figuratively) to silence:--stop mouths.
Root Family
στομ- (dístomos) — mouth, edge (of a blade), double
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1993-01 |
ἐπιστομίζειν | epistomizein | V PRS ACT INF |
be stopped | to silence | to silence | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1993-01 |
Titus 1:11 | ἐπιστομίζειν | epistomizein | V PRS ACT INF |
be stopped | to silence | to silence |