ὀστέον G3747
Bone, bones; the skeletal framework of the body, used literally of physical remains and figuratively of intimate union.
A neuter noun meaning bone or bones, appearing in both literal and figurative contexts across the NT. Jesus appeals to his physical bones to prove his bodily resurrection: 'a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have' (Luke 24:39). In Matt 23:27, whitewashed tombs are 'full of dead men's bones,' an image of hidden impurity. John 19:36 applies Psalm 34:20 to the crucifixion: 'not a bone of him shall be broken.' Ephesians 5:30 echoes Genesis 2:23 to describe believers as 'bone of his bone.' The Spanish 'hueso,' French 'os,' and German 'Knochen' are all straightforward equivalents.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Bone or bones — the hard skeletal material of the body, used both literally and in theologically significant figurative ways. In Luke 24:39, the risen Jesus invites the disciples to touch his bones as proof of physical resurrection, directly countering a docetic reading. Matt 23:27 deploys bones as symbols of death and defilement hidden behind outward beauty. John 19:36 fulfills Passover-lamb typology ('not a bone shall be broken,' cf. Exod 12:46; Ps 34:20). Eph 5:30 uses the Genesis 2:23 echo ('bone of my bones') to describe the church's intimate union with Christ. Heb 11:22 recalls Joseph's dying command about his bones — a tangible act of faith in the Exodus promise. 5×
AR["بِعِظامِ", "عَظْمٌ", "عِظامٌ", "عِظامِهِ", "عِظَامِهِ"]·ben["হাড়", "হাড়গুলির", "হাড়সমূহ", "হাড়ের"]·DE["Knochen", "ὀστέα", "ὀστέων"]·EN["bone", "bones", "of-bones"]·FR["os"]·heb["עֲצָמוֹת", "עֶצֶם", "עַצְמוֹת", "עַצְמוֹתָיו"]·HI["हड्डियाँ", "हड्डियों", "हड्डी", "हधधियोन"]·ID["Tulang", "tulang", "tulang-tulang"]·IT["ostea", "osteon", "osteōn", "ostoun"]·jav["Balung", "balung", "balung-balung"]·KO["뼈-가", "뼈들", "뼈들-의", "뼈들을", "뼈를"]·PT["Osso", "ossos"]·RU["Кость", "костей", "костях"]·ES["Hueso", "de-huesos", "huesos"]·SW["Mfupa", "mifupa", "ya-wafu"]·TR["Kemiği", "kemikler", "kemiklerini", "kemiklerle"]·urd["ہڈی", "ہڈیاں", "ہڈیوں", "ہڈیوں-سے", "ہڈیوں-کے"]
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
ὀστέον, τό, Attic dialect contraction ὀστοῦν, poetry ὀστεῦν Refs 1st c.AD+; Aeolic dialect perhaps ὄστιον Refs 7th c.BC+ (d)fragment 5: plural ὀστέα, Attic dialect contraction ὀστᾶ, late Epic dialect ὀστά [ᾰ] Refs 3rd c.AD+; Doric dialect ὀστία Refs 3rd c.BC+; but Trag. and Comedy texts use genitive plural ὀστέων, Refs 5th c.BC+, and it is so written in Refs 5th c.BC+: and the un contraction…