τρίζω

I grate, gnash

Definition

The verb τρίζω (trizō) means to grind, grate, or gnash, specifically referring to the grinding or gnashing of teeth. In its single New Testament occurrence, it describes the physical action of teeth grinding, which is a vivid expression of intense anguish, rage, or torment. This action is not merely a physical symptom but is used symbolically to convey extreme emotional or spiritual distress. The word captures a visceral, audible sign of suffering.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Mark 9:18. In this context, it describes a symptom experienced by a boy possessed by an unclean spirit: 'and wherever it seizes him, it dashes him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth (τρίζει τοὺς ὀδόντας) and becomes rigid.' Here, the gnashing is a physical manifestation of the boy's torment under demonic oppression, highlighting the severity of his condition.

Etymology

The word τρίζω is an onomatopoeic verb in ancient Greek, imitating the harsh, grating sound of grinding or gnashing. It is derived from the sound 'triz,' representing a screech or grind. Cognates and related words in Greek often convey similar harsh, repetitive sounds, such as τρίζω being used for the chirping of crickets or the creaking of doors, but in the New Testament, its meaning is specialized to the gnashing of teeth.

Semantic Range

Though used only once directly, the concept of 'gnashing of teeth' is theologically significant in the New Testament, appearing in other verses (e.g., Matthew 8:12, 13:42, 22:13, 24:51, 25:30; Luke 13:28) with the related verb βρύχω (brychō, G1031). It is a powerful image of the anguish, despair, and fury experienced in final judgment and separation from God. Understanding τρίζω enriches reading by connecting a specific physical action in a healing narrative to the broader biblical theme of eschatological torment, emphasizing the reality of spiritual conflict and its consequences.

In the ancient Greco-Roman and Jewish world, gnashing teeth was a recognized cultural expression of extreme grief, rage, or pain. It was not merely a medical symptom but a communicative bodily action understood to signify intense emotional states, such as fury in battle or lamentation in mourning. This cultural understanding makes the biblical usage immediately evocative to original audiences, conveying profound distress more vividly than a simple description of pain.

βρύχω (brychō, G1031) — Also means 'to gnash' but is used specifically in eschatological contexts of judgment (e.g., Matthew 8:12).

Word Details

Scripture References