πτύσμα (G4427) — Greek Lexicon

πτύσμα

ptýsma

G4427 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Saliva, spit – the liquid secreted in the mouth and ejected, primarily by spitting. In Koine and Hellenistic Greek, used to refer specifically to the physical substance (spittle, saliva), whether as a bodily function or, contextually, in actions involving spitting, such as healing rituals or acts of insult.

Semantic Range

saliva, spittle, that which is spat; in ritual or medicinal contexts, saliva used as a medium (e.g., in healing, magical acts)

Root / Etymology

From πτύω (“to spit”). Formed with the nominal suffix -μα, indicating the result of an action; thus, 'that which is spat' or 'spittle.' Cognate with classical Greek terminology for bodily fluids produced by spitting.

Historical & Contextual Notes

πτύσμα appears rarely in Greek literature and is attested mainly in medical, magical, and religious texts across the Hellenistic and Roman periods. In the New Testament (e.g., John 9:6, Mark 7:33, Mark 8:23), it refers specifically to the saliva used by Jesus in healing rituals, reflecting both contemporary medical beliefs in the efficacy of saliva and ancient Near Eastern traditions. The Septuagint does not use πτύσμα, but the practice and symbolism of spitting as insult or healing is present in broader Greek and Israelite cultural contexts. The term is neutral and anatomical, unlike derivatives or gestures with social meaning (e.g., ἐμπτύω, 'to spit upon,' often signaling insult). Standard English translations render πτύσμα as 'spittle' or 'saliva,' which accurately conveys its concrete, physical reference but may not capture the cultural resonance of ritual or medicinal use in context.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from πτύω; saliva:--spittle.

Root Family

πτύ- (emptýō) — to spit, eject saliva

Root πτύ- to spit, eject from the mouth

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
G1716	ἐμπτύω	to spit upon
G4425	πτύον	winnowing-fork

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G4427-01`	πτύσματος	ptusmatos	`N GEN N SG`	spittle	of spittle	spittle	1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G4427-01`	John 9:6	πτύσματος	ptusmatos	`N GEN N SG`	spittle	of spittle	spittle

← G4426 Greek Lexicon G4428 →