Pronunciation Guide: oh-DOOS
Quick Answer: ὀδούς (odous) means “tooth” in Greek and appears prominently in the “eye for eye, tooth for tooth” principle, representing God’s perfect standard of proportional justice and the need for measured response rather than excessive revenge.
1. What Does ὀδούς Mean?
Strong’s G3599: ὀδούς (odous) is the Greek word for “tooth,” referring to the hard, calcified structures in the mouth used for biting and chewing. In biblical usage, it carries both literal and metaphorical significance. While it can simply denote the physical tooth, it more often appears in contexts relating to justice, retaliation, and divine judgment. The word represents not just a body part, but a symbol of proportional response and measured justice in God’s moral order.
Key Insight: The tooth symbolizes God’s perfect balance between mercy and justice, teaching believers about proportional response rather than excessive revenge.
2. Where Does ὀδούς Come From?
- Part of speech: Noun (masculine)
- Root origin: Ancient Greek, related to the root ed- meaning “to eat”
- Primary usage: Appears in legal, teaching, and metaphorical contexts
- Language family: Indo-European, cognate with Latin “dens” and English “dental”
ὀδούς Morphology:
This section helps readers recognize different grammatical forms of the word when studying the original Greek texts, enabling deeper engagement with Scripture in its original language.
Morphology:
- ὀδούς (nominative singular) – tooth (subject)
- ὀδόντος (genitive singular) – of a tooth
- ὀδόντι (dative singular) – to/for a tooth
- ὀδόντα (accusative singular) – tooth (direct object)
- ὀδόντες (nominative plural) – teeth (subject)
- ὀδόντων (genitive plural) – of teeth
- ὀδοῦσι (dative plural) – to/for teeth
- ὀδόντας (accusative plural) – teeth (direct object)
3. What Is the History of ὀδούς?
The word ὀδούς has ancient roots in Indo-European languages, appearing in classical Greek literature from Homer onwards. In ancient Greek culture, teeth were significant symbols of strength, aggression, and the ability to defend oneself. Classical authors like Aeschylus and Sophocles used dental imagery to convey themes of violence, revenge, and justice. The Septuagint translators chose ὀδούς to render the Hebrew שֵׁן (shen) in the famous lex talionis passages, maintaining the metaphorical power of proportional justice.
Early church fathers like John Chrysostom and Augustine frequently referenced the “tooth for tooth” principle when discussing Christian ethics and the relationship between Old Testament law and New Testament grace. They understood that while the physical application of this law represented divine justice, the Messiah’s teaching transcended mere retaliation to embrace forgiveness and transformation of the heart.
Historical Summary: From classical Greek strength symbols to biblical justice metaphors, ὀδούς evolved from literal dental references to profound theological principles about proportional response.
4. How Should ὀδούς Be Translated?
Primary meanings of ὀδούς:
- Literal tooth (physical dental structure)
- Symbol of retaliation or revenge
- Metaphor for proportional justice
- Representation of aggressive force
- Instrument of judgment or punishment
Translation Tip: Context determines whether ὀδούς should be translated literally as “tooth” or understood metaphorically as representing justice, retaliation, or measured response.
ὀδούς Translation Options:
- Tooth – Most direct translation, used when referring to the physical body part
- Retaliation – When used metaphorically in justice contexts
- Proportional response – Captures the legal principle behind the phrase
- Just measure – Emphasizes the balanced nature of divine justice
- Retribution – When context involves divine judgment or punishment
5. How Is ὀδούς Used in the Bible?
The word ὀδούς appears strategically throughout Scripture, most notably in passages dealing with divine justice and proportional response. In the New Testament, it occurs primarily in Jesus’ teachings where He references and then transcends the Old Testament principle of “tooth for tooth.” The Messiah uses this familiar legal concept to introduce a revolutionary approach to conflict resolution – turning the other cheek rather than seeking equivalent retaliation.
The Septuagint usage of ὀδούς consistently translates the Hebrew concept of measured justice, where punishment should fit the crime exactly, neither exceeding nor falling short of appropriate response. This principle prevented both inadequate justice and excessive revenge, establishing a foundation for legal systems that would influence Western civilization for millennia.
Usage Summary: ὀδούς appears in key justice passages, evolving from Old Testament proportional law to New Testament teachings about forgiveness and non-retaliation.
Cross-reference verses using ὀδούς:
- “But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth [ὀδούς] for a tooth.’” Matthew 5:38-39
- “And if anyone injures his neighbor, just as he has done, so it shall be done to him: fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth [ὀδούς] for tooth; just as he has injured a man, so it shall be inflicted on him.” Leviticus 24:19-20
- “Your eye shall not pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth [ὀδούς] for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.” Deuteronomy 19:21
6. What Cultural Context Surrounds ὀδούς?
In ancient Near Eastern culture, the principle of “tooth for tooth” represented revolutionary legal progress, limiting revenge to proportional response rather than allowing unlimited retaliation. Before this principle, the natural human tendency was to escalate conflicts – if someone broke your tooth, you might kill their entire family. The lex talionis (“law of retaliation”) established that punishment should match the offense exactly, creating the foundation for just legal systems.
In Jewish culture, this principle was rarely applied literally but served as a guideline for financial compensation and legal settlements. Rabbinical literature reveals that courts typically assigned monetary damages equivalent to the injury rather than inflicting identical physical harm. This demonstrates the Hebrew understanding that justice involves restoration and proportionality rather than mere vengeance. The Messiah’s reference to this familiar legal principle in His Sermon on the Mount would have immediately resonated with His Jewish audience, making His call to transcend retaliation even more revolutionary.
Cultural Context: The “tooth for tooth” principle revolutionized ancient justice by limiting revenge to proportional response, establishing foundations for civilized legal systems worldwide.
7. What Does ὀδούς Teach Us About God?
The concept of ὀδούς in Scripture reveals profound truths about God’s character and His approach to justice. יהוה (Yahweh) is not arbitrary in His judgments but operates according to perfect proportionality – His punishment always fits the crime exactly. This divine standard of measured justice demonstrates that God is both completely just and completely merciful, never exceeding what righteousness demands while never falling short of what justice requires.
The Messiah’s teaching about turning the other cheek doesn’t abolish God’s justice but reveals His higher way of transforming hearts rather than merely punishing behavior. When Jesus transcends the “tooth for tooth” principle, He shows us that God’s ultimate goal is restoration, not retaliation. This reflects the divine nature – God could justly demand equivalent payment for our sins, but instead He provided the ultimate substitutionary sacrifice through His Son, demonstrating both perfect justice (sin’s penalty was paid) and perfect love (we were spared).
Theological Core: ὀδούς reveals God’s perfect balance of justice and mercy, showing His desire to transform hearts rather than merely exact punishment.
8. How Can I Apply ὀδούς to My Life?
Understanding the biblical principle behind ὀδούς challenges us to examine our natural responses to offense and injustice. When someone wrongs us, our flesh often desires disproportionate revenge – we want to hurt them more than they hurt us. The “tooth for tooth” principle first calls us to limit our response to proportional measures, but the Messiah calls us to an even higher standard – responding with grace and seeking restoration rather than retaliation.
This doesn’t mean we ignore justice or enable evil behavior, but rather that we choose to trust God’s perfect justice while we extend His mercy. In practical terms, this means responding to criticism with patience rather than attack, to financial loss with trust in God’s provision rather than bitter retaliation, and to personal offense with the goal of reconciliation rather than revenge. The tooth reminds us that God’s way is always better than our way, and His justice is always more perfect than our attempts at settling scores.
Self-Examination Questions: When wronged, do I seek proportional justice or excessive revenge? How can I trust God’s perfect justice while extending His mercy to those who hurt me? What areas of my life need His transforming grace rather than my natural retaliation?
9. What Words Are Similar to ὀδούς?
- ὀφθαλμός (ophthalmos) – “eye,” often paired with tooth in justice passages, representing witness and perception in legal contexts – See G3788
- χείρ (cheir) – “hand,” another body part used in proportional justice statements, symbolizing action and power – See G5495
- ψυχή (psyche) – “life/soul,” the ultimate measure in “life for life” justice, representing the highest value in proportional law – See G5590
- δικαιοσύνη (dikaiosyne) – “righteousness/justice,” the virtue that ὀδούς principles aim to establish and maintain – See G1343
- ἐκδίκησις (ekdikesis) – “vengeance/retribution,” what the tooth principle limits and what divine justice perfects – See G1557
10. Did You Know?
- What does ὀδούς mean in modern Greek? Modern Greek still uses οδόντας (odontas) for teeth, maintaining the ancient root while the biblical principle of proportional justice has influenced legal systems worldwide, showing the enduring relevance of Scripture.
- How did ancient Greek philosophers use ὀδούς? Aristotle used dental imagery when discussing justice in his Nicomachean Ethics, arguing that proportional response reflects natural law and divine order, concepts that later influenced Christian theological development.
- What’s the difference between ὀδούς and Hebrew שֵׁן (shen)? While both mean “tooth,” the Hebrew שֵׁן carries additional connotations of sharpness and cutting edge, often used metaphorically for destructive speech, while ὀδούς focuses more on the justice principle.
- Why does the Bible use ὀδούς only in justice contexts? Unlike other body parts mentioned frequently, ὀδούς appears almost exclusively in legal passages because teeth were seen as instruments of aggression and self-defense, making them perfect symbols for proportional retaliation.
- How does ὀδούς relate to the concept of substitutionary atonement? The “tooth for tooth” principle demonstrates that justice demands equivalent payment, which the Messiah fulfilled by taking our punishment upon Himself, satisfying divine justice while extending divine mercy.
- What causes excessive retaliation today? Human pride and wounded emotions often drive us beyond the biblical “tooth for tooth” principle into destructive cycles of escalating revenge, which the Messiah’s teaching about turning the other cheek is designed to break.
11. Remember This
ὀδούς reminds us that God’s justice is perfectly measured – never too little, never too much – and points us toward His higher way of transforming enemies into family through grace rather than grinding them down through revenge.