Original Word: θηλάζω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: thélazó
Pronunciation: thay-LAH-zo
Phonetic Spelling: (thay-lad'-zo)
KJV: (give) suck(-ling)
NASB: nursing babies, nursed
Word Origin: [from thele (the nipple)]

1. to suckle, (by implication) to suck

to suckle, suck.

From thele (the nipple); to suckle, (by implication) to suck -- (give) suck(-ling).

Cognate: 2337 thēlázō – to nurse (suck milk). See 2338 (thēlys).

Word Origin
from thélé (a nipple)
Definition
to suckle
NASB Translation
nursed (1), nursing babies (4).

STRONGS NT 2337: θηλάζω

θηλάζω; 1 aorist ἐθήλασα; (θηλή a breast (cf. Peile, Etym., p. 124f));

1. transitive, to give the breast, give suck, to suckle: Matthew 24:19; Mark 13:17; Luke 21:23 (Lysias, Aristotle, others; the Sept. for הֵינִיק); μαστοί ἐθήλασαν, Luke 23:29 R G.

2. intransitive, to suck: Matthew 21:16 (Aristotle, Plato, Lucian, others; the Sept. for יָנַק); μαστούς, Luke 11:27; Job 3:12; Song of Solomon 8:1; Joel 2:16; Theocritus, 3:16.

Root Imagery and Conceptual Framework

Strong’s Greek 2337 evokes the intimate act by which a mother sustains her child at her own breast. The picture is one of utter dependence met by sacrificial nurture, a theme Scripture often employs to illustrate spiritual realities—divine care for His people and the humble posture from which true praise arises.

Occurrences in the New Testament

1. Luke 11:27 – “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and blessed are the breasts that nursed You!”. A woman in the crowd extols the privilege of Mary’s maternal role. Jesus immediately elevates the greater blessing of obedience (Luke 11:28), yet the verse underscores the honor Scripture places on motherhood and the holy vocation of nourishing life.
2. Matthew 21:16 – Quoting Psalm 8, Jesus affirms that prophetic praise issues even “from the mouths of children and nursing infants.” Their helplessness becomes a vessel for declaring divine strength, turning conventional expectations upside-down.
3. Matthew 24:19; Mark 13:17; Luke 21:23 – “How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers!”. In His Olivet Discourse Christ warns of coming tribulation. The reference to nursing women highlights the severity of those days by spotlighting society’s most vulnerable, calling believers to compassionate preparedness and trust in God’s sovereignty when natural rhythms of care are disrupted.

Historical and Cultural Setting

First-century Jewish and Greco-Roman cultures valued extended breastfeeding; it bonded mother and child and often continued for two to three years. Mothers who nursed were regarded with respect, yet they also bore heightened vulnerability in times of flight or famine—the very scenario Jesus foresaw. Understanding this context amplifies the poignancy of His warning.

Theological Themes

1. Dependency and Provision – The image of the infant at the breast mirrors the believer’s reliance on the Lord. As newborns crave milk (1 Peter 2:2), so disciples pursue pure spiritual nourishment.
2. Reversal of Strength – God’s power is perfected in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Through nursing infants He ordains praise (Matthew 21:16), demonstrating that greatness in the kingdom is measured not by self-sufficiency but by childlike trust.
3. Eschatological Mercy – The woes pronounced upon nursing mothers are not condemnations of motherhood but compassionate acknowledgments of hardship. They exhort the church to intercede for and protect the defenseless amid trials.

Pastoral and Ministry Applications

• Affirming Motherhood – Congregations should honor mothers who literally and spiritually nourish the next generation, recognizing the biblical dignity attached to their labor.
• Cultivating Childlike Faith – Worship that springs from humble hearts echoes the praise of infants; leaders are to foster environments where weakness is not shamed but offered to God.
• Crisis Preparedness – Jesus’ warnings urge believers to develop practical and spiritual readiness, ensuring special care for pregnant and nursing women during upheaval.
• Gospel Analogy – Just as a mother imparts life through her own body, so Christ gives His life for the world (John 6:51). Nursing imagery thus deepens appreciation for the self-giving nature of redemption.

Legacy in Church History

Early Christian writers, from Clement of Alexandria to Augustine, drew on the nursing motif to describe both the incarnation (the Word taking flesh to “feed” humanity) and the church’s catechetical role as “mother.” This thread continues in hymns and sermons that celebrate God’s tenderness while calling believers to similar sacrificial love.

Conclusion

Across its five occurrences, Strong’s 2337 seamlessly weaves maternal nurture into the fabric of praise, prophecy, and pastoral care. It calls the reader to trust the Lord with infant-like dependence, honor those who nourish life, and stand ready to serve the vulnerable when trials come, confident that the God who feeds His children will sustain them to the end.

εθήλαζεν εθήλασα εθήλασαν εθηλασας εθήλασας ἐθήλασας εθήλασε θηλάζει θηλάζοντα θηλάζοντος θηλαζοντων θηλαζόντων θηλαζουσαις θηλαζούσαις θηλαζούσας θηλάζων θηλάσαι θηλάσει θηλάσειεν θηλάσεις θηλάσητε θήλασόν θηλυκού θηλυμανείς ethelasas ethēlasas ethḗlasas thelazonton thelazónton thēlazontōn thēlazóntōn thelazousais thelazoúsais thēlazousais thēlazoúsaisInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts