Original Word: γλῶσσα
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: glóssa
Pronunciation: GLOHS-sah
Phonetic Spelling: (gloce-sah')
Definition: Tongue, Language
Meaning: the tongue, a language, a nation (usually distinguished by their speech).

tongue.

Of uncertain affinity; the tongue; by implication, a language (specially, one naturally unacquired) -- tongue.

1100 glṓssa – tongue, used of flowing speech; (figuratively) speaking, inspired by God, like the evidence of tongues-speaking supplied by the Lord in the book of Acts to demonstrate the arrival of the new age of the covenant (i.e. NT times).

[The normative experience of the 120 believers received "tongues (1100 /glṓssa) as of fire" (Ac 2:3) and miraculously spoke in other actual languages, i.e. that they could not speak before (Ac 2:4f). This sign was repeated in Ac 10:46, 19:6 – furnishing ample proof (three attestations) that the Lord had incorporated all believers into Christ's (mystical) body (1 Cor 12:13).]

Word Origin
from a prim. root glóch- (projecting point)
Definition
the tongue, a language
NASB Translation
tongue (25), tongues (25).

STRONGS NT 1100: γλῶσσα

γλῶσσα, γλωσης, ἡ (from Homer down), the tongue;

1. the tongue, a member of the body, the organ of speech: Mark 7:33, 35; Luke 1:64; Luke 16:24; 1 Corinthians 14:9; James 1:26; James 3:5, 6, 8; 1 Peter 3:10; 1 John 3:18; (Revelation 16:10). By a poetic and rhetorical usage, especially Hebraistic, that member of the body which is chiefly engaged in some act has ascribed to it what belongs to the man; the tongue is so used in Acts 2:26 (ἠγαλλιάσατο ἡ γλῶσσα μου); Romans 3:13; Romans 14:11; Philippians 2:11 (the tongue of every man); of the little tongue-like flames symbolizing the gift of foreign tongues, in Acts 2:3.

2. a tongue, i. e. the language used by a particular people in distinction from that of other nations: Acts 2:11; hence, in later Jewish usage (Isaiah 66:18; Daniel 3:4; Daniel 5:19 Theod.; Theod.; Judges 3:8) joined with φυλή, λαός, ἔθνος, it serves to designate people of various languages (cf. Winer's Grammar, 32), Revelation 5:9; Revelation 7:9; Revelation 10:11; Revelation 11:9; Revelation 13:7; Revelation 14:6; Revelation 17:15. λαλεῖν ἑτέραις γλώσσαις to speak with other than their native i. e. in foreign tongues, Acts 2:4, cf. Acts 2:6-11; γλώσσαις λαλεῖν καιναῖς to speak with new tongues which the speaker has not learned previously, Mark 16:17 (but Tr text WH text omit; Tr marginal reading brackets καιναῖς); cf. DeWette on Acts, p. 27ff (correct and supplement his references by Meyer on 1 Corinthians 12:10; cf. also B. D. under the word Tongues, Gift of). From both these expressions must be carefully distinguished the simple phrases λαλεῖν γλώσσαις, γλώσσαις λαλεῖν, λαλεῖν γλώσσῃ, γλώσσῃ λαλεῖν (and προσεύχεσθαι γλώσσῃ, 1 Corinthians 14:14), to speak with (in) a tongue (the organ of speech), to speak with tongues; this, as appears from 1 Corinthians 14:7ff, is the gift of men who, rapt in an ecstasy and no longer quite masters of their own reason and consciousness, pour forth their glowing spiritual emotions in strange utterances, rugged, dark, disconnected, quite unfitted to instruct or to influence the minds of others: Acts 10:46; Acts 19:6; 1 Corinthians 12:30; 1 Corinthians 13:1; 1 Corinthians 14:2, 4-6, 13, 18, 23, 27, 39. The origin of the expression is apparently to be found in the fact, that in Hebrew the tongue is spoken of as the leading instrument by which the praises of God are proclaimed (ἡ τῶν θείων ὕμνων μελῳδός, 4 Macc. 10:21, cf. Psalm 34:28 (); (); (); Psalm 125:2 (); Acts 2:26; Philippians 2:11; λαλεῖν ἐν γλώσσῃ, Psalm 38:4 (), and that according to the more rigorous conception of inspiration nothing human in an inspired man was thought to be active except the tongue, put in motion by the Holy Spirit (κατάχρηται ἕτερος αὐτοῦ τοῖς φωνητηριοις ὀργάνοις, στόματι καί γλωττη πρός μηνυσιν ὧν ἄν θέλῃ, Philo, rer. div. haer. § 53 (i. 510, Mang. edition)); hence, the contrast διατουνως (critical editions τῷ νοι<) λαλεῖν, 1 Corinthians 14:19 cf. 1 Corinthians 14:9. The plural in the phrase γλώσσαις λαλεῖν, used even of a single person (1 Corinthians 14:5f), refers to the various motions of the tongue. By metonymy, of the cause for the effect, γλῶσσαι tongues are equivalent to λόγοι ἐν γλώσσῃ (1 Corinthians 14:19) words spoken in a tongue (Zungenvorträge): 1 Corinthians 13:8; 1 Corinthians 14:22; γένη γλωσσῶν, 1 Corinthians 12:10, 28, of which two kinds are mentioned viz. προσευχή and ψαλμός, 1 Corinthians 14:15; γλῶσσαν ἔχω, something to utter with a tongue, 1 Corinthians 14:26. (On 'Speaking with Tongues' see, in addition to the discussions above referred to, Wendt in the 5th edition of Meyer on Acts (Acts 2:4); Heinrici, Korinthierbriefe, i., 372ff; Schaff, Hist. of the Chr. Church, i. 234-245 (1882); Farrar, St. Paul, i. 95ff.)

Word Origin: Derived from a root word meaning "tongue."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Hebrew equivalent often associated with "γλῶσσα" is Strong's Hebrew 3956 (לָשׁוֹן, lashon), which also means "tongue" or "language." This term is used in the Old Testament to refer to both the physical organ and the concept of language or speech.

Usage: The word "γλῶσσα" appears in various contexts within the New Testament, often referring to the physical tongue, the act of speaking, or languages. It is notably used in discussions of spiritual gifts, particularly the gift of speaking in tongues.

Context: The Greek word "γλῶσσα" is a multifaceted term found throughout the New Testament. It is used both literally and metaphorically, with its primary literal meaning being the physical tongue. In a metaphorical sense, "γλῶσσα" extends to encompass language and speech, highlighting the importance of communication in human interaction and divine revelation.

In the New Testament, "γλῶσσα" is frequently associated with the miraculous gift of speaking in tongues, as seen in the events of Pentecost (Acts 2:4) where the apostles spoke in various languages, understood by people from different regions. This event signifies the universality of the Gospel message and the breaking down of language barriers through the Holy Spirit's power.

The Apostle Paul addresses the use of "γλῶσσα" in the context of spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12-14, emphasizing the need for interpretation and edification within the church. He underscores that while speaking in tongues is a gift from the Spirit, it should be exercised in a manner that builds up the body of Christ.

Additionally, "γλῶσσα" is used in James 3:5-6 to illustrate the power of the tongue in influencing both good and evil, likening it to a small fire that can set a forest ablaze. This passage serves as a cautionary reminder of the responsibility that comes with speech.

Overall, "γλῶσσα" in the New Testament underscores the significance of language as a tool for communication, edification, and the spread of the Gospel, while also highlighting the potential for misuse and the need for careful stewardship of one's words.

γλωσσα γλωσσά γλώσσα γλώσσά γλῶσσα γλῶσσά γλωσσαι γλώσσαι γλῶσσαι γλωσσαις γλώσσαις γλωσσαν γλώσσαν γλώσσάν γλῶσσαν γλῶσσάν γλωσσας γλώσσας γλωσση γλώσση γλώσσῃ γλωσσης γλώσσης γλωσσων γλωσσών γλωσσῶν glossa glôssa glôssá glōssa glō̂ssa glō̂ssá glossai glôssai glōssai glō̂ssai glossais glōssais glṓssais glossan glôssan glôssán glōssan glō̂ssan glō̂ssán glossas glōssas glṓssas glosse glōssē glṓssei glṓssēi glosses glōssēs glṓsses glṓssēs glosson glossôn glōssōn glōssō̂nInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts