ὀδούς (odous)
odous
tooth
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 11 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek noun odous refers simply to a tooth, appearing eleven times in the New Testament with a heavy concentration in the Gospel of Matthew and the Revelation of John. In its literal sense, it denotes the hard structures used for biting and chewing, serving as the basis for several vivid idioms that describe physical suffering or social conflict.
One prominent usage appears in Mark 9:18, where a father describes his son’s condition to Jesus, noting that when a spirit seizes him, it throws him down and causes him to foam at the mouth and grind his teeth. This image of bruxism conveys intense physical distress and helplessness, illustrating how the word captures raw human vulnerability in moments of crisis.
More significantly, odous anchors some of Jesus’ most striking metaphors for judgment. In Matthew 13:42 and 25:30, he describes the fate of the wicked as outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. This phrase, also found in Luke 13:28, uses the violent action of grinding teeth to express profound anguish, regret, or rage at exclusion from the kingdom. The word thus moves from a mundane anatomical term to a powerful symbol of eternal separation.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word for tooth in Greek is odous. It appears in the New Testament to describe both physical pain and deep spiritual sorrow. In Mark 9:18, a father tells Jesus that a spirit makes his son grind his teeth in agony. This shows how the body reacts to intense suffering. It reminds us that God sees our physical struggles and does not ignore them.
More often, Jesus uses this word to describe the feeling of being left out of God’s kingdom. In Matthew 25:30, he speaks of weeping and gnashing of teeth in outer darkness. This image is not about literal dental pain but about the deep regret of missing a relationship with God. It highlights the seriousness of choosing life over separation.
When we read these verses, we can feel both comfort and caution. We are comforted because Jesus cares about our pain. We are cautioned because he wants us to stay close to him. The hope is that we do not end up in that place of regret but remain with him in the light.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 11 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- teeth.4×
- teeth3×
- of teeth.2×
- tooth.’1×
- tooth1×
- his teeth1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ὀδόντων.4×
- ὀδόντων.¶2×
- ὀδόντας2×
- ὀδόντων,1×
- ὀδόντος.1×
- ὀδόντες1×
- ὀδόντα1×
Key Verses
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Mark 9:18
and wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they weren’t able.”
This verse shows odous used literally to describe physical distress and helplessness when a spirit causes a boy to grind his teeth.
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Matthew 25:30
Throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Here the word is part of the phrase 'gnashing of teeth,' which symbolizes the profound anguish of being excluded from God's kingdom.
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Matthew 5:38
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’
Jesus references the old law of 'a tooth for a tooth' to contrast human vengeance with his call for radical mercy and non-retaliation.
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Acts 7:54
Now when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth.
This occurrence describes the raw anger of the crowd as they gnash their teeth at Stephen, showing how the word can express hostile rage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'gnashing of teeth' mean in the Bible?
Why does Jesus mention 'a tooth for a tooth'?
Is the word for tooth used literally anywhere?
Every Occurrence (11 verses across 5 books)
Matthew 7 verses
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’
Matthew 8:12but the children of the Kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of…
Matthew 13:42and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 13:50and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 22:13Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and throw him into the outer darkness. That…
Matthew 24:51and will cut him in pieces and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. That is where the weeping and grinding of teeth…
Matthew 25:30Throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’