στόμα (G4750) — Greek Lexicon

στόμα

stóma

G4750 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Mouth—the bodily organ of eating, speaking, or breathing; by extension, language, speech, or utterance; figuratively, an opening or orifice (of a cave, pit, or similar); in specific contexts, the edge or forefront (of a weapon or object). The primary meaning is the anatomical mouth, with contextual extensions to functions of speaking, voicing, or forming an opening.

Semantic Range

mouth (of a person or animal), speech or words, source of communication, opening or orifice, front or edge (of a weapon, tool, or object), mouth/opening of a cave, grave, or natural formation, metaphorical opening or outlet

Root / Etymology

Root: στόμ- (stom-). στόμα is possibly related to the root of τομώτερος (sharper), from τέμνω (to cut), indicating a sense of an opening or cut. Some derive it from an Indo-European base *stom- ('mouth, opening'), but the relationship is debated. Etymology remains partially uncertain.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, στόμα primarily meant the mouth of a person or animal, as the organ for eating and speaking (e.g., Homer, Herodotus). By metonymy, it developed senses related to speech or voice ("in the mouth", meaning "by word"). In rhetoric and literature, it refers to speech, utterance, or the person speaking. In topographical or natural contexts, στόμα described the opening of natural features (e.g., "mouth of a cave"), and this carried into Hellenistic and Koine usage, including the Septuagint and New Testament (e.g., 'mouth of the grave', 'mouth of a river'). The extension to 'edge' or 'front' appears especially in martial or descriptive contexts—such as the 'mouth/edge of a sword' (Septuagint, NT). English translations often simply render στόμα as 'mouth', but this can obscure metaphorical uses (e.g., as 'utterance', 'verbal statement', 'edge/front'). The figurative use for openings in the earth or objects was already established in pre-Koine Greek. The term stands in contrast with terms such as γλῶσσα (the tongue; also language) or φωνή (voice, sound), though overlap in semantic range occurs in idiomatic expressions (e.g., "by the mouth of the prophets").

Translation Consistency

primary "mouth" 49 occurrences

The primary, most natural rendering of στόμα is the anatomical/noun 'mouth.' It covers the dominant senses in the SILEX range—body mouth, speech/utterance (mouths/words), and openings/orifices (mouth of a cave, mouth of a river) —and matches the vast majority of existing P2 renderings (70 of 78). Using 'mouth' gives consistent, idiomatic English while still fitting the figurative extensions (edge/front can be rendered contextually from 'mouth').

Alternatives (1 occurrence):

"edge" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

probably strengthened from a presumed derivative of the base of τομώτερος; the mouth (as if a gash in the face); by implication, language (and its relations); figuratively, an opening (in the earth); specially, the front or edge (of a weapon):--edge, face, mouth.

Root Family

στόμ- (stóma) — mouth, opening, utterance

Root στόμ- mouth, opening, utterance

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G4750-05`	στόματος	stomatos	`N GEN N SG`	mouth	of the mouth	of the mouth	34
`G4750-01`	στόμα	stoma	`N ACC N SG`	mouth	mouth	mouth	28
`G4750-03`	στόματι	stomati	`N DAT N SG`	mouth	to the mouth	mouth	11
`G4750-02`	στόματα	stomata	`N ACC N PL`	mouths	mouths	mouths	3
`G4750-04`	στομάτων	stomaton	`N GEN N PL`	mouths	of mouths	mouths	2

Occurrences in Scripture

78 occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G4750-05`	Matthew 4:4	στόματος	stomatos	`N GEN N SG`	mouth	of the mouth	of the mouth
`G4750-01`	Matthew 5:2	στόμα	stoma	`N ACC N SG`	mouth	mouth	mouth
`G4750-01`	Matthew 12:34	στόμα	stoma	`N NOM N SG`	mouth	mouth	mouth
`G4750-01`	Matthew 13:35	στόμα	stoma	`N ACC N SG`	mouth	mouth	mouth
`G4750-01`	Matthew 15:11	στόμα	stoma	`N ACC N SG`	mouth	mouth	mouth
`G4750-05`	Matthew 15:11	στόματος	stomatos	`N GEN N SG`	mouth	of the mouth	of the mouth
`G4750-01`	Matthew 15:17	στόμα	stoma	`N ACC N SG`	mouth	mouth	mouth
`G4750-05`	Matthew 15:18	στόματος	stomatos	`N GEN N SG`	mouth	of the mouth	of the mouth
`G4750-01`	Matthew 17:27	στόμα	stoma	`N ACC N SG`	mouth	mouth	mouth
`G4750-05`	Matthew 18:16	στόματος	stomatos	`N GEN N SG`	mouth	of the mouth	of the mouth
`G4750-05`	Matthew 21:16	στόματος	stomatos	`N GEN N SG`	the mouth	of the mouth	of the mouth
`G4750-01`	Luke 1:64	στόμα	stoma	`N NOM N SG`	mouth	mouth	mouth
`G4750-05`	Luke 1:70	στόματος	stomatos	`N GEN N SG`	mouth	of the mouth	of the mouth
`G4750-05`	Luke 4:22	στόματος	stomatos	`N GEN N SG`	mouth	of the mouth	of the mouth
`G4750-01`	Luke 6:45	στόμα	stoma	`N NOM N SG`	mouth	mouth	mouth
`G4750-05`	Luke 11:54	στόματος	stomatos	`N GEN N SG`	mouth	of the mouth	of the mouth
`G4750-05`	Luke 19:22	στόματός	stomatos	`N GEN N SG`	mouth	of the mouth	of the mouth
`G4750-01`	Luke 21:15	στόμα	stoma	`N ACC N SG`	a mouth	mouth	mouth
`G4750-03`	Luke 21:24	στόματι	stomati	`N DAT N SG`	by the edge	to the mouth	by the edge
`G4750-05`	Luke 22:71	στόματος	stomatos	`N GEN N SG`	mouth	of the mouth	of the mouth
`G4750-03`	John 19:29	στόματι	stomati	`N DAT N SG`	mouth	to the mouth	mouth
`G4750-05`	Acts 1:16	στόματος	stomatos	`N GEN N SG`	mouth	of the mouth	of the mouth
`G4750-05`	Acts 3:18	στόματος	stomatos	`N GEN N SG`	mouth	of the mouth	of the mouth
`G4750-05`	Acts 3:21	στόματος	stomatos	`N GEN N SG`	mouth	of the mouth	of the mouth
`G4750-05`	Acts 4:25	στόματος	stomatos	`N GEN N SG`	mouth	of the mouth	of the mouth
`G4750-01`	Acts 8:32	στόμα	stoma	`N ACC N SG`	mouth	mouth	mouth
`G4750-01`	Acts 8:35	στόμα	stoma	`N ACC N SG`	mouth	mouth	mouth
`G4750-01`	Acts 10:34	στόμα	stoma	`N ACC N SG`	mouth	mouth	mouth
`G4750-01`	Acts 11:8	στόμα	stoma	`N ACC N SG`	mouth	mouth	mouth
`G4750-05`	Acts 15:7	στόματός	stomatos	`N GEN N SG`	mouth	of the mouth	of the mouth
`G4750-01`	Acts 18:14	στόμα	stoma	`N ACC N SG`	mouth	mouth	mouth
`G4750-05`	Acts 22:14	στόματος	stomatos	`N GEN N SG`	mouth	of the mouth	of the mouth
`G4750-01`	Acts 23:2	στόμα	stoma	`N ACC N SG`	mouth	mouth	mouth
`G4750-01`	Romans 3:14	στόμα	stoma	`N NOM N SG`	mouth	mouth	mouth
`G4750-01`	Romans 3:19	στόμα	stoma	`N NOM N SG`	mouth	mouth	mouth
`G4750-03`	Romans 10:8	στόματί	stomati	`N DAT N SG`	mouth	to the mouth	mouth
`G4750-03`	Romans 10:9	στόματί	stomati	`N DAT N SG`	mouth	to the mouth	mouth
`G4750-03`	Romans 10:10	στόματι	stomati	`N DAT N SG`	with the mouth	to the mouth	with the mouth
`G4750-03`	Romans 15:6	στόματι	stomati	`N DAT N SG`	mouth	to the mouth	mouth
`G4750-01`	2 Corinthians 6:11	στόμα	stoma	`N NOM N SG`	mouth	mouth	mouth
`G4750-05`	2 Corinthians 13:1	στόματος	stomatos	`N GEN N SG`	mouth	of the mouth	of the mouth
`G4750-05`	Ephesians 4:29	στόματος	stomatos	`N GEN N SG`	mouth	of the mouth	of the mouth
`G4750-05`	Ephesians 6:19	στόματός	stomatos	`N GEN N SG`	mouth	of the mouth	of the mouth
`G4750-05`	Colossians 3:8	στόματος	stomatos	`N GEN N SG`	mouth	of the mouth	of the mouth
`G4750-05`	2 Thessalonians 2:8	στόματος	stomatos	`N GEN N SG`	mouth	of the mouth	of the mouth
`G4750-05`	2 Timothy 4:17	στόματος	stomatos	`N GEN N SG`	mouth	of the mouth	of the mouth
`G4750-02`	Hebrews 11:33	στόματα	stomata	`N ACC N PL`	mouths	mouths	mouths
`G4750-02`	Hebrews 11:34	στόματα	stomata	`N ACC N PL`	the edge	mouths	mouths
`G4750-02`	James 3:3	στόματα	stomata	`N ACC N PL`	mouths	mouths	mouths
`G4750-05`	James 3:10	στόματος	stomatos	`N GEN N SG`	mouth	of the mouth	of the mouth

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