στόμαχος
stómachos
G4751 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
The physical organ in humans and animals that receives and begins to digest food; specifically, the stomach. In extended contexts, used to refer to the digestive tract or belly, with an emphasis on the aspect of nourishment and physical health. In some metaphorical uses, can denote appetite or the seat of physical vitality.
Semantic Range
stomach (digestive organ), gullet, digestive tract, belly (region); by extension, appetite or seat of physical vitality in certain contexts
Root / Etymology
From στόμα ('mouth'), with the suffix -αχος forming a noun indicating an internal organ connected to the mouth. The formation draws from the idea of the mouth as an entry point, with στόμαχος designating the chamber receiving what enters through the mouth.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Attested in classical Greek as early as Hippocrates with the sense of 'stomach' (the principal organ of digestion). The term as used in the Hellenistic and Roman periods, including the New Testament (e.g., 1 Timothy 5:23), refers to the organ responsible for primary digestion, not just the gullet or an undefined cavity. In medical and literary sources, στόμαχος can sometimes denote the region of the abdomen, but precise anatomical boundaries vary according to period and author. English Bible translations often render it simply as 'stomach,' which is accurate but may overlook the word's broader connotations of health and appetite in Greek cultural-medical contexts. Unlike the more general κοιλία (belly, abdomen), στόμαχος refers specifically to the digestive organ after the mouth, aligning more with the anatomical stomach rather than the entire abdominal cavity. The meaning remains consistent between the LXX, Koine literature, and the New Testament, always denoting the organ and never an abstract or spiritual concept.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from στόμα; an orifice (the gullet), i.e. (specially), the "stomach":--stomach.
Root Family
στόμαχος (stomachos) — mouth, opening, ingest; digestive organ
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4751-01 |
στόμαχον | stomachon | N ACC M SG |
stomach | the stomach | stomach | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4751-01 |
1 Timothy 5:23 | στόμαχον | stomachon | N ACC M SG |
stomach | the stomach | stomach |