κοιλία
belly, womb, the inner man
Definition
Κοιλία is a versatile Greek noun primarily meaning 'belly' or 'abdomen,' referring to the physical cavity containing digestive organs (e.g., Matthew 15:17). It also specifically denotes the 'womb,' as seen in the miraculous pregnancies of Elizabeth and Mary (Luke 1:15, 41). In a metaphorical sense, it represents the 'inner self' or seat of emotions and spiritual life, such as in Jesus' teaching about living water flowing from the believer's heart (John 7:38).
Biblical Usage
The word is used 22 times across the Gospels, Acts, and Paul's letters. In the Gospels, it often refers literally to the stomach in teachings about food and purity (Mark 7:19) or figuratively for the womb in birth narratives (Luke 1:44). Paul uses it metaphorically for the inner person (Romans 16:18; Philippians 3:19). A unique usage is in Matthew 12:40, where Jesus compares His burial to Jonah's time in the 'belly' of the fish.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek root κοῖλος (koilos), meaning 'hollow' or 'cavity.' This root gives κοιλία its core sense of an interior space, whether anatomical (abdomen, womb) or metaphorical (inner being). It is related to other Greek words for hollow objects.
Semantic Range
Κοιλία is theologically significant as it bridges physical and spiritual realms. It highlights the incarnation—Jesus was formed in a womb (Luke 1:42)—and the believer's inner transformation, where the Spirit dwells (John 7:38). Understanding its range clarifies passages about physical purity versus spiritual condition, emphasizing that God concerns Himself with both body and heart.
In ancient Greek thought, the 'belly' was sometimes viewed as the seat of base appetites, a concept Paul engages with (Philippians 3:19). The womb was culturally central to lineage and blessing, making references to it (e.g., Luke 1:41-44) deeply meaningful in narratives of God's covenant promises.
γαστήρ (gastēr, G1064) — a more poetic or classical term for stomach/womb, often with a similar range but less common in the NT. σπλάγχνα (splagchna, G4698) — denotes 'inward parts,' especially as the seat of deep compassion or affection, differing from κοιλία's broader physical focus.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
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