στῆθος G4738
Breast, chest; the front of the torso, associated with closeness, grief, and priestly adornment.
The breast or chest — the front of the upper torso — appearing in the New Testament in contexts of emotional expression, intimate closeness, and ceremonial dress. The tax collector beats his chest in penitent humility (Luke 18:13), and the crowds at the crucifixion return home striking their chests in grief (Luke 23:48). The beloved disciple reclines on Jesus' chest at the Last Supper (John 13:25; 21:20), a posture of deep intimacy and trust. In Revelation 15:6, angels emerge wearing golden sashes across their chests, evoking priestly splendor. Spanish pecho, French poitrine, and German Brust all consistently denote the same anatomical region.
Senses
1. sense 1 — The breast or chest, referring to the front surface of the upper torso. In the NT this body part appears in three distinct contexts: penitential or grief-stricken beating of the chest (Luke 18:13 — the tax collector; Luke 23:48 — the mourning crowds), intimate physical closeness (John 13:25; 21:20 — the beloved disciple leaning on Jesus' chest at the Last Supper), and ceremonial attire (Rev 15:6 — angels girded with golden sashes across their chests). The word can also carry the metaphorical sense of 'heart' as the seat of feeling (attested in classical Greek), though the NT uses remain primarily physical. Spanish pecho, French poitrine, and German Brust all confirm the consistent anatomical reference across all five passages. 5×
AR["صَدرَ", "صَدْرِ", "صَدْرِهِ", "صُدورَ", "صُدورِهِم"]·ben["στήθη-বুকে", "বুক", "বুকে"]·DE["Brust", "στήθη", "στῆθος"]·EN["chest", "chests"]·FR["poitrine"]·heb["חֲזוֹתֵיהֶם", "חָזֶה", "חָזוֹת"]·HI["छातियों", "छाती"]·ID["dada", "dadanya"]·IT["stethe", "stethos", "stēthē"]·jav["dadanipun", "dhadha", "jaja"]·KO["가슴", "가슴들", "가슴들을", "가슴에", "가슴을"]·PT["peito", "peitos"]·RU["груди", "грудь", "грудям,"]·ES["pecho", "pechos"]·SW["kifua", "matako", "vifua,"]·TR["göğsü", "göğsüne", "göğüslerini", "göğüslerinin"]·urd["سینوں", "سینے", "چھاتی"]
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
στῆθος, εος, τό, breast, of both sexes, being the front part of the θώραξ, divided into two μαστοί Refs 8th c.BC+ in post-Homeric verse; found once in Refs 8th c.BC+; of animals, Refs 5th c.BC+; σ. φάσσης ἑψημένης Refs 2nd c.AD+: as the seat of the voice and breath, Refs 8th c.BC+; more frequently as the seat of the heart, Refs 8th c.BC+; chest, Refs 5th c.BC+; τὰ σ. breasts of a woman, Refs 5th…