ὁμοί-ωσις G3669
Likeness, resemblance, or similarity; the state of being made like something or someone else
This noun denotes likeness or resemblance, particularly the state of being made similar to something. In James 3:9, it appears in an ethical indictment: 'With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.' The phrase echoes Genesis 1:26-27—humanity bears God's image and likeness. James' point is devastating: cursing humans is indirectly cursing God, whose likeness they bear. The term emphasizes the resemblance or similarity that connects humanity to the divine.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Resemblance or likeness, particularly humanity's creation in God's image. James 3:9 says we curse 'people made in the likeness of God,' recalling Genesis 1:26-27. The term emphasizes similitude—humans resemble their Creator, bearing divine image. James argues this makes cursing humans morally intolerable: to demean image-bearers is to assault God's likeness. The theological weight transforms ethical discourse: every person reflects the divine. 1×
AR["شِبهِ"]·ben["সাদৃশ্যে"]·DE["Gleichnis"]·EN["likeness"]·FR["ὁμοίωσιν"]·heb["דְּמוּת"]·HI["समानता"]·ID["gambar"]·IT["omoiōsin"]·jav["gambaran"]·KO["형상-으로"]·PT["semelhança"]·RU["подобию"]·ES["semejanza"]·SW["sura"]·TR["benzerliğine"]·urd["شباہت"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ὁμοί-ωσις, εως, ἡ, a being made like, θεῷ Refs 5th c.BC+ __2 likeness, resemblance, Refs 4th c.BC+; opposed to ἀλλοίωσις, NT+5th c.BC+ __3 establishment of a resemblance, τῆς ὁ. ἕνεκεν αὐτῆς λαμβάνεσθαι τὰς μεταφοράς Refs 5th c.BC+ __3.b Grammars, comparison, -ώσεως ἐπιρρήματα Refs 2nd c.BC+ __4 simile, Ps.-Refs 1st c.AD+ __5 Refs 4th c.BC+ name for nine, Refs