φράσσω G5420
to stop up, block, silence; to close or shut, preventing passage or speech
This verb means to fence in, block up, or stop—whether literally closing a physical opening or metaphorically silencing speech or stopping action. Classical Greek used it for building barriers, blocking roads, or stopping up wounds. The New Testament uses are metaphorical: stopping mouths (silencing), closing doors to criticism, and shutting the mouths of lions. The passive form indicates being stopped or silenced by external force. The term emphasizes the effectiveness of the blockage—completely shut, unable to proceed or speak.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Romans 3:19 explains the law's purpose: that every mouth "may be stopped" (phragē, aorist passive subjunctive) and the whole world held accountable to God—universal silencing before divine judgment, no defense possible. Second Corinthians 11:10 has Paul vowing that this boast of his (supporting himself without burdening the Corinthians) "will not be stopped" (phragēsetai, future passive) in Achaia—no one will silence this testimony. Hebrews 11:33 lists faith's achievements, including those who "stopped" (ephraxan, aorist active) the mouths of lions—Daniel and others who miraculously escaped devouring. The Spanish cerrar/sea cerrada/será detenida, French fermer, and German verschliessen all convey shutting/stopping. The term spans divine silencing (all humanity before God), apostolic determination (Paul's witness won't be stopped), and miraculous deliverance (lions' mouths shut). 3×
AR["سَدُّوا", "يُسَدَّ"]·ben["বন্ধ-করল", "বন্ধ-হয়,", "রুদ্ধ-হবে"]·DE["verschliessen"]·EN["may-be-stopped", "stopped", "will-be-silenced"]·FR["fermer"]·heb["יִסָּכֵר", "סָתְמוּ", "תִּסָּתֵם"]·HI["बंद-किए", "बन्द-हो", "रोका-जाएगा"]·ID["akan-dibungkam", "dibungkam,", "menutup"]·IT["ephraxan", "ostruire"]·jav["badhé-dipuntutup", "dipunbuntet,", "nutup"]·KO["막았으니", "막혀지지-않을-것이다", "막히기-를"]·PT["fecharam", "seja-fechada", "será-detida"]·RU["заградили", "заградится", "замолчали"]·ES["cerraron", "sea-cerrada", "será-detenida"]·SW["hakutazuiliwa", "kifungwe", "waliziba"]·TR["durdurulmayacak", "kapansın", "kapattılar"]·urd["بند-کیے", "بند-ہو-جائے", "بند-ہوگی"]
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
φράσσω, Attic dialect φράττω Refs 5th c.BC+future φράξω Refsaorist ἔφραξα, Epic dialect φράξα Refs 8th c.BC+, Attic dialect infinitive φάρξαι Refsparticiple δια-φάρξαςRefs: perfect πέφρᾰκα Refs 8th c.BC+: pluperfect ἐμ-πεφράκεσαν Refs 1st c.AD+:—middle, see at {φράγνυμι}; future φράξομαι (ἐμ-) Refs 2nd c.AD+aorist ἐφραξάμην, Epic dialect φρ- Refs 8th c.BC+ —passive, future φραχθήσομαι NT+2nd…