ὄσφρησις (osphrēsis)
osphrēsis
sense of smell
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun osphrēsis refers simply to the physical sense of smell or the act of smelling. It is a rare word in biblical Greek, appearing only once in the New Testament within Paul’s discussion of spiritual gifts in First Corinthians.
Paul uses it as part of a rhetorical question to highlight the absurdity of wanting uniformity in the body of Christ: "If the whole body were an osphrēsis, where would be the sense of hearing?" (1 Corinthians 12:17). By invoking this specific sensory faculty, he illustrates that if every member possessed only one function, the organism would lack basic perception and coordination. The word serves as a concrete example of bodily diversity rather than a metaphor for spiritual insight.
Its etymology links it directly to the verb osphraomai, meaning "to smell." While other senses like sight or hearing often carry theological weight in Scripture, this term remains strictly physiological here. It underscores Paul’s argument that the church requires a variety of distinct functions to operate as a healthy whole.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word osphrēsis appears only once in Scripture, tucked inside Paul’s letter to Corinth. He uses it not to teach about noses or aromas, but to make a simple point about community. If our bodies had only one sense, we would be blind to so much of what matters. The same logic applies to the church.
Paul asks where the hearing would be if everyone were just smelling. He highlights that diversity is not a flaw in God’s design but a necessity for survival. We need different gifts, perspectives, and roles to perceive the world fully. Your unique contribution fills a gap that no one else can reach.
This rare word reminds us that uniformity is not unity. True harmony comes from many distinct parts working together. Rather than wishing you had someone else’s gift, trust that your specific role is essential for the whole body to function well.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- sense of smell?1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ὄσφρησις;1×
Key Verses
-
I Corinthians 12:17
If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the smelling be?
Paul uses this term as a rhetorical example to show that a body with only one sensory function would be incomplete and unable to perceive reality fully.