noun · feminine
glōssas
Greekγλῶσσα (glōssa)
Strong’sG1100
the tongue, a language, nation
stem glōss-50 times in the New Testamentin 10 of 27 books8 of 10 forms occur
Translated as
What it means
γλῶσσα, -ης, ἡ,
[in LXX chiefly for לָשׁוֹן;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G1100 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidgloce-sah'
the tongue; by implication, a language (specially, one naturally unacquired)
Fromof uncertain affinity;
King Jamestongue.
James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.
Every form
| Job in the sentence case | one singular | more than one plural |
|---|---|---|
| subject nominative | glōssas7×γλῶσσα | glōssais4×γλῶσσαι |
| object accusative | glōssan7×γλῶσσαν | glōssain1×γλώσσας |
| direct address vocative | glōssar | glōssair |
| of, belonging to genitive | glōssau4×γλώσσης | glōssaiu5×γλωσσῶν |
| to, for dative | glōssa7×γλώσσῃ | glōssai15×γλώσσαις |
Tinted cells are forms the New Testament never uses, so there is no Greek to show against them — but they are still correct Biblang, built from the slots below like any other.
Why these forms, and no others — the slots that make them
glōssa is this word in every one of its forms. The slots after it make all the rest.
same in every form varies — every value shown
Where it appears
50 occurrences, every one of them listed
glōssas“tongue”subjectnominative singular7×
Luke 1:64“tongue”anoigita de tem stomem autou parachrēma kai tas glōssas autou, kai lalate eulogarōtos ton theon.Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, praising God.
Acts 2:26“tongue”dia houtem eufrainita tas kardias mu kai agallieta tas glōssas mu, ēti de kai tas sarxas mu kataskēnati epi elpia;Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will dwell in hope,
Romans 14:11“tongue”grafitē gar; Zōamō mis, legatō kurios, hoti mi kamptati pantem gonuem, kai pantas glōssas exomologeti to theo.It is written: “As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God.”
Philippians 2:11“tongue”kai pantas glōssas exomologeteia hoti kurios Iēsus Christos eis doxan theou patērou.and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
James 3:5“tongue”houtōs kai tas glōssas mikrem melem atō kai megeim auchatō. Idou hēlikem purem hēlikan hulan anaptatō;In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it boasts of great things. Consider how small a spark sets a great forest ablaze.
James 3:6“tongue”kai tas glōssas purem, tos kosmos tau adikiau tas glōssas kathistanitō en tei melei nu, tas spilarōtas holem tem sōmem kai flogizarōtas ton trochon tau genesiau kai flogizirōtas hupo tau geennau.The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
James 3:6“tongue”kai tas glōssas purem, tos kosmos tau adikiau tas glōssas kathistanitō en tei melei nu, tas spilarōtas holem tem sōmem kai flogizarōtas ton trochon tau genesiau kai flogizirōtas hupo tau geennau.The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
glōssan“tongue”objectaccusative singular7×
Luke 16:24“tongue”kai autos fōnaratos legata; Patēror Abraam, elēasar min kai pempasar Lazaron hina baptateia tem akrem tou daktulou autou hudōreu kai katapsuchateia tan glōssan mu, hoti odunemō en ta floxa houta.So he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. For I am in agony in this fire.’
1 Corinthians 14:26“tongue”Tinem oun atō, adelfoir? hotan sunercheveiō, hekastos psalmon echatō, didachan echatō, apokalupsian echatō, glōssan echatō, hermēneian echatō; panteim pros oikodoman ginetōr.What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a psalm or a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All of these must be done to build up the church.
James 1:26“tongue”Ei tinos dokatō thrēskos arō mē chalinagōgarōtos glōssan autou alla apatarōtos kardian autou, houtou mataias tas thrēskeias.If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless.
James 3:8“tongue”tan de glōssan oudenos damazara dunetō anthrōpoiu; akatastatem kakem, mestas iou thanatēforou.but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
1 Peter 3:10“tongue”tos gar thelarōtos zōan agaparō kai horara hēmerain agathain pauatar tan glōssan apo kakeu kai cheileim teu mē lalara dolon,For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.
Revelation 13:7“language”kai dōita aute poiara polemon meta toiu hagioiu kai nikara autoin, kai dōita aute exousias epi pantan fulan kai laon kai glōssan kai ethnem.Then the beast was permitted to wage war against the saints and to conquer them, and it was given authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation.
Revelation 14:6“language”Kai horama allon angelon peterōton en mesouranēme, echarōton euangeliem aiōniem euangelizara epi toin katherōtoin epi tau gēau kai epi pantem ethnem kai fulan kai glōssan kai laon,Then I saw another angel flying overhead, with the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth — to every nation and tribe and tongue and people.
glōssau“tongue”of, belonging togenitive singular4×
Mark 7:33“tongue”kai apolamberatos auton apo tou ochlou kata idian ballata toin daktuloin autou eis teim oueim autou kai ptuaratos hapteta tau glōssau autou,So Jesus took him aside privately, away from the crowd, and put His fingers into the man’s ears. Then He spit and touched the man’s tongue.
Mark 7:35“tongue”kai anoigila autou tais akoais, kai luita tos desmos tau glōssau autou, kai lalate orthōs;Immediately the man’s ears were opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak plainly.
1 Corinthians 14:9“tongue”houtōs kai vis dia tau glōssau ean mē eusēmon logon dōaveia, pōs gnōskiti tem lalirōtem? evi gar eis aēron lalarōtois.So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.
Revelation 5:9“language”kai adalō ōdan kainan legarōtois; Axios asō lambara tem bibliem kai anoigara tain sfragiain auteu, hoti sfazisa kai agorazasa to theo en te haime su ek pantau fulau kai glōssau kai laou kai ethneu,And they sang a new song: “Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and by Your blood You purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
glōssa“tongue”to, fordative singular7×
1 Corinthians 14:2“tongue”tos gar lalarōtos glōssa ouk anthrōpoi lalatō alla theo, oudenos gar akouatō, pneume de lalatō mustērieim;For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries in the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 14:4“tongue”tos lalarōtos glōssa heauton oikodomatō; tos de profēteuarōtos ekklēsan oikodomatō.The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.
1 Corinthians 14:13“tongue”Dio tos lalarōtos glōssa proseuchetōr hina diermēneuateiō.Therefore, the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.
1 Corinthians 14:14“tongue”ean gar proseuchemeiō glōssa, tem pneumem mu proseuchetō, tos de nouos mu akarpos atō.For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
1 Corinthians 14:19“tongue”alla en ekklēsa thelamō pente logoin to nouo mu lalara, hina kai alloin katēchameia, ē murioi logoin en glōssa.But in the church, I would rather speak five coherent words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
1 Corinthians 14:27“tongue”eite glōssa tinos lalatō, kata duo ē tem pollotatem treis, kai ana merem, kai henos diermēneuatōr;If anyone speaks in a tongue, two, or at most three, should speak in turn, and someone must interpret.
1 John 3:18“tongue”Teknieim, mē agapaneiō logo mēde ta glōssa alla en erge kai alētheia.Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth.
glōssais“tongues”subjectnominative plural4×
Acts 2:3“tongues”kai horila autoi diamerizerōtais glōssais hōsei pureu, kai kathizata epi henon hekaston autoiu,They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
1 Corinthians 13:8“tongues”Tas agapas oudepote piptatō. eite de profēteiais, katargili; eite glōssais, paueli; eite gnōsias, katargiti.Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be restrained; where there is knowledge, it will be dismissed.
1 Corinthians 14:22“tongues”hōste tais glōssais eis sēmem alō ouk toi pisteuarōtoi alla toi apistoi, tas de profēteias ouk toi apistoi alla toi pisteuarōtoi.Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.
Revelation 17:15“languages”Kai legatō mi; Teim hudōreim heim horasa, hou tas pornas kathetō, laois kai ochlois alō kai ethneim kai glōssais.Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute was seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues.
glōssain“tongues”objectaccusative plural1×
Revelation 16:10“tongues”Kai tos pemptos ekchata tan fialan autou epi ton thronon teu thēreu; kai gineta tas basileias auteu skotirētas, kai masele tain glōssain autoiu ek tou ponou,And the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness, and men began to gnaw their tongues in anguish
glōssaiu“tongues”of, belonging togenitive plural5×
1 Corinthians 12:10“tongues”allo energēmeim dunamiaiu, allo profēteias, allo diakrisiais pneumeiu, hetero geneim glōssaiu, allo hermēneias glōssaiu;to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in various tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
1 Corinthians 12:10“tongues”allo energēmeim dunamiaiu, allo profēteias, allo diakrisiais pneumeiu, hetero geneim glōssaiu, allo hermēneias glōssaiu;to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in various tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
1 Corinthians 12:28“tongues”kai hoin men titheta tos theos en ta ekklēsa prōtem apostoloin, deuterem profētoin, tritem didaskaloin, epeita dunamiain, epeita charismeim iameiu, antilēmpsiain, kubernēsiain, geneim glōssaiu.And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues.
Revelation 7:9“language”Meta houteim horama, kai idou ochlos pollos, hon arithmara auton oudenos dunete, ek panteu ethneu kai fulaiu kai laoiu kai glōssaiu, histanarētois enōpion tou thronou kai enōpion teu arnieu, periballerētoin stolain leukain, kai foinixois en tai cheirai autoiu;After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.
Revelation 11:9“languages”kai blepalō ek toiu laoiu kai fulaiu kai glōssaiu kai ethneiu tem ptōmem autoiu hēmerain treis kai hēmisuem, kai teim ptōmeim autoiu ouk afiēkalō tithira eis mnēmem.For three and a half days all peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will view their bodies and will not permit them to be laid in a tomb.
glōssai“tongues”to, fordative plural15×
Mark 16:17“tongues”sēmeim de toi pisteuaratoi houteim parakolouthati, en te onome mu daimoneim ekballali, glōssai lalali kainai,And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
Acts 2:4“tongues”kai pimplēila pantois pneumeu hagieu, kai archela lalarō heterai glōssai kathōs tem pneumem dōate apofthengerō autoi.And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Acts 2:11“tongues”Ioudaiois tē kai prosēlutois, Krois kai Arapsois, akouanō lalarōtoiu autoiu tai hēmeterai glōssai teim megaleieim tou theou.both Jews and converts to Judaism; Cretans and Arabs— we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”
Acts 10:46“tongues”akouale gar autoiu lalarōtoiu glōssai kai megalunarōtoiu ton theon. tote apokrinita Petros;For they heard them speaking in tongues and exalting God. Then Peter said,
Acts 19:6“tongues”kai epititharatou autoi tou Paulou cheirain erchata tem pneumem tem hagiem epi autoin, lalale tē glōssai kai profēteuale.And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
Romans 3:13“tongues”tafos anoigirētos tos larunxos autoiu, tai glōssai autoiu doliale, ios aspiaiu hupo teim cheileim autoiu,“Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The venom of vipers is on their lips.”
1 Corinthians 12:30“tongues”mē pantois charismeim echalō iameiu? mē pantois glōssai lalalō? mē pantois diermēneualō?Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?
1 Corinthians 13:1“tongues”Ean tai glōssai toiu anthrōpoiu lalameiō kai toiu angeloiu, agapan de mē echameiō, ginamē chalkos ēcharōtos ē kumbalem alalazarōtem.If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal.
1 Corinthians 14:5“tongues”thelamō de pantoin vin lalarō glōssai, mallon de hina profēteuaveiō; megoteros de tos profēteuarōtos ē tos lalarōtos glōssai, ektos ei mē diermēneuateiō, hina tas ekklēsas oikodoman lambateia.I wish that all of you could speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be edified.
1 Corinthians 14:5“tongues”thelamō de pantoin vin lalarō glōssai, mallon de hina profēteuaveiō; megoteros de tos profēteuarōtos ē tos lalarōtos glōssai, ektos ei mē diermēneuateiō, hina tas ekklēsas oikodoman lambateia.I wish that all of you could speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be edified.
1 Corinthians 14:6“tongues”Nun de, adelfoir, ean erchameia pros vin glōssai lalarōtos, tinem vin ōfelami, ean mē vi lalameia ē en apokalupsia ē en gnōsia ē en profēteia ē en didacha?Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?
1 Corinthians 14:18“tongues”eucharistamō to theo, pantoiu vu mallon glōssai lalamō;I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
1 Corinthians 14:23“tongues”ean oun sunerchateia tas ekklēsas holas epi tem autem kai pantois lalaleiō glōssai, eiserchaleia de idiōtois ē apistois, ouk legali hoti mainevō?So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who are uninstructed or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds?
1 Corinthians 14:39“tongues”hōste, adelfoir mu, zēlavōr tem profēteuarō, kai tem lalarō mē kōluavōr glōssai;So, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
Revelation 10:11“languages”Kai legalō mi; Datō sin palin profēteuara epi laoi kai ethnei kai glōssai kai basilevoi polloi.And they told me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.”