ἐπιστομίζω
epistomizō
to silence
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Greek verb ἐπιστομίζω (epistomizō) translates to "to silence". Its sole occurrence in the Bible suggests a rare or specific context of usage. Based on its definition and limited appearance, it is likely used in situations where someone's ability to speak is being suppressed, either directly or indirectly. Given the meaning and limited usage, it's plausible that this verb is employed to convey a sense of constraint or obstruction of vocal expression. This could be literal, such as gagging or silencing someone by physical means, or figurative, implying the suppression of a message, voice, or opinion. Without further information on its specific usage, the significance of ἐπιστομίζω remains somewhat ambiguous. However, its meaning as "to silence" implies a potential context where communication is being restricted or obstructed, which may be relevant in various biblical narratives.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence across the text