λάρυγξ
the throat
Definition
The Greek word λάρυγξ (larygx) literally means 'throat' or 'gullet.' In its single New Testament occurrence in Romans 3:13, it is used metaphorically within a quotation from Psalm 5:9 (LXX) to describe the speech organ of the wicked as an 'open grave.' This vivid imagery connects the throat, as the passage for both breath and corrupt speech, to death and moral decay. The word carries the concrete anatomical sense of the front part of the neck and the passage to the stomach and lungs.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Romans 3:13. Here, the Apostle Paul quotes from the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint) as part of a catena of Old Testament proofs to demonstrate the universal sinfulness of humanity. The usage is entirely metaphorical, employing the physical 'throat' as a symbol for corrupt and deadly speech emanating from a sinful heart.
Etymology
The word λάρυγξ is of ancient Greek origin, referring directly to the throat, gullet, or windpipe. It is the source of the modern English medical term 'larynx.' Its meaning remained stable from classical through Koine Greek, consistently denoting this specific part of the anatomy.
Semantic Range
In Romans 3:13, λάρυγξ is theologically significant as it contributes to Paul's argument for the total depravity of humanity under sin. By describing the throat as an 'open grave,' Scripture graphically portrays how sin corrupts human nature to its very core, turning a life-giving passage into a symbol of death and moral putrefaction. This metaphor enriches our understanding of the depth of sin and the necessity of divine grace for salvation.
In the ancient Mediterranean world, an open grave was a potent symbol of ritual impurity, foul odor, and death (cf. Matthew 23:27). Associating the throat—the source of voice and breath, which signifies life—with a tomb created a stark, culturally understood contrast between life and death, purity and corruption, highlighting the profound spiritual deadness of unrighteous speech and intent.
στόμα (stoma, G4750) — a more general term for 'mouth,' often used for speech itself. φάρυγξ (pharynx, G5326) — another term for 'throat' or 'gullet,' used in Revelation 16:3 for the 'throat' of the sea.
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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