ὀδούς

a tooth

Definition

The Greek word ὀδούς (odoys) refers literally to a tooth, as in the hard structure in the mouth used for biting and chewing. In the New Testament, it is used almost exclusively in a figurative sense within the idiom 'gnashing of teeth' (ὁ βρυγμὸς τῶν ὀδόντων), which vividly describes the anguish, despair, and rage of those excluded from God's kingdom, as seen in judgment parables (Matthew 8:12, 13:42, 22:13). The sole literal use is found in the 'eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth' principle cited in Matthew 5:38, referencing the Old Testament law of retaliation (lex talionis).

Biblical Usage

ὀδούς appears 11 times in the New Testament, exclusively in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. Its primary usage is in the phrase 'gnashing of teeth,' a set expression for the torment of the condemned in eschatological judgment, used by Jesus in several parables (e.g., Matthew 13:42, 24:51, 25:30). The single non-figurative occurrence is in Matthew 5:38, where Jesus references the Mosaic law. In Mark 9:18, it describes a symptom of a boy's demonic possession, 'he gnashes his teeth,' showing physical distress.

Etymology

Derived from the ancient Greek noun ὀδούς (genitive ὀδόντος), meaning 'tooth.' It is related to the verb ἔδω (edō, 'to eat'), highlighting its primary function. This root is also found in many English dental and odontology terms via Latin 'dens' (tooth).

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as the key component in the phrase 'gnashing of teeth,' a powerful image Jesus uses to depict the final state of the unrighteous—characterized by bitter remorse, fury, and eternal separation from God's presence (Matthew 13:50, 25:30). Understanding this idiom enriches reading by clarifying that biblical hell involves not just physical pain but profound psychological and spiritual anguish—the agony of irreversible loss and judgment. It starkly contrasts with the joy of the kingdom, underscoring the seriousness of Jesus' warnings.

In the ancient world, 'gnashing of teeth' was a common idiom for expressing extreme grief, rage, or frustration (cf. Job 16:9, Psalm 35:16, Acts 7:54). For Jesus' Jewish audience, it would have immediately evoked imagery from the Hebrew Scriptures describing the distress of the wicked. The literal 'tooth for a tooth' principle (Matthew 5:38) referenced a well-known law (Exodus 21:24) intended to limit vengeance to proportional justice, which Jesus transcends with his call to non-retaliation.

None directly relevant for its primary figurative usage. For the concept of biting or chewing, a related verb is δάκνω (daknō, G1143) — 'to bite.'

Word Details

Scripture References