μώλωψ
mṓlōps
G3468 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A swollen mark or wound on the body, such as a bruise, welt, or stripe resulting from a blow or lash; specifically, a raised and discolored area of flesh caused by beating or injury. The term can refer to any visible trace left on the skin or flesh from violence or trauma, such as a bruise or wound. In figurative contexts, may denote suffering evidenced by injury.
Semantic Range
bruise, welt, stripe, blow-mark, contusion, wound from a lash or strike; visible mark from injury or suffering
Root / Etymology
Etymology uncertain. The word μώλωψ is of uncertain derivation; suggestions link it to the base of μόλις ('with difficulty') or to ὀπτάνομαι ('to appear'), but no conclusive etymological path has been established. It is likely of pre-Greek or non-Indo-European origin.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek (see Homer, Hippocrates, et al.), μώλωψ refers to a bruise, welt, or contusion—a visible mark on the skin from a blow or strike. The term often occurs in medical and physical descriptions (e.g., in the Hippocratic corpus). In the Septuagint (LXX) and New Testament, it is used figuratively for the suffering or injury endured by an individual (e.g., Isaiah 53:5 LXX, 1 Peter 2:24), where 'by his wounds/bruises/stripes we are healed.' English translations typically render it as 'stripe' or 'wound,' but the term may refer more broadly to any distinct visible mark from injury. The concept overlaps with other Greek terms for wounds (τραῦμα, πληγή), but μώλωψ especially stresses the raised, visible evidence of impact, not a clean cut or gash. In Hellenistic and Roman-period sources, it retains the primary sense of a bruise or contusion. The meaning is physical and medical before it is metaphorical or theological.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ("moil"; probably akin to the base of μόλις) and probably (the face; from ὀπτάνομαι); a mole ("black eye") or blow-mark:--stripe.
Root Family
μώλ- (mṓlōps) — bruise, welt, stripe, wound from a blow
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3468-01 |
μώλωπι | molopi | N DAT M SG |
stripe | with a bruise | bruise | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3468-01 |
1 Peter 2:24 | μώλωπι | molopi | N DAT M SG |
stripe | with a bruise | bruise |