4738. stéthos
Lexical Summary
stéthos: Breast, chest

Original Word: στῆθος
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: stéthos
Pronunciation: STAY-thos
Phonetic Spelling: (stay'-thos)
KJV: breast
NASB: bosom, breast, breasts, chests
Word Origin: [from G2476 (ἵστημι - standing) (as standing prominently)]

1. the (entire external) bosom, i.e. chest

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
breast.

From histemi (as standing prominently); the (entire external) bosom, i.e. Chest -- breast.

see GREEK histemi

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
a prim. word
Definition
the breast
NASB Translation
bosom (2), breast (1), breasts (1), chests (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 4738: στῆθος

στῆθος, στήθους, τό (from ἵστημι; that which stands out, is prominent (Etym. Magn. 727, 19 διότι ἕστηκεν ἀσάλευτον)), from Homer down, the breast: John 13:25; John 21:20 (cf. κόλπος, 1); Revelation 15:6. τύπτειν εἰς τό στῆθος or τύπτειν τό στῆθος, of mourners (see κόπτω), Luke 18:13; Luke 23:48.

Topical Lexicon
Overview of New Testament Usage

The noun translated “breast” or “chest” appears five times in the Greek New Testament. Two occurrences describe human emotion expressed through striking the chest (Luke 18:13; Luke 23:48). Two spotlight the place of closest personal fellowship with the incarnate Son (John 13:25; John 21:20). One depicts angelic purity and readiness for judgment (Revelation 15:6). Each context sheds light on the heart-level realities of repentance, intimacy, and holiness.

Gesture of Contrition and Mourning

1. Luke 18:13 – The tax collector, “standing at a distance, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner.’”
2. Luke 23:48 – After witnessing the crucifixion, “the crowds that had gathered for this scene, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts.”

In both passages the act of striking the chest conveys profound inner sorrow. Within Jewish culture, the breast was viewed as the seat of thought and emotion; striking it symbolized remorse springing from the heart. The publican’s heartfelt plea becomes Jesus’ model of saving repentance (Luke 18:14), while the crowds’ reaction at Calvary reveals conscience awakened by the sight of the righteous Sufferer.

Place of Intimate Fellowship with Christ

1. John 13:25 – “Leaning back against Jesus’ chest, he asked, ‘Lord, who is it?’”
2. John 21:20 – Peter turns and sees “the disciple whom Jesus loved, who had leaned on Jesus’ chest at the supper.”

The beloved disciple’s position communicates privileged nearness to the Lord, allowing him to hear His heart both literally and figuratively. The physical closeness during the Last Supper anticipates the spiritual communion all believers enjoy through union with Christ (John 14:20). The recollection in John 21 underscores the reliability of the eyewitness testimony that follows (John 21:24).

Symbol of Angelic Purity and Readiness

Revelation 15:6 – “Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues, dressed in clean, bright linen and girded with golden sashes around their chests.”

The golden sashes across angelic chests echo priestly attire (Exodus 28:4) and highlight moral purity and royal authority. Positioned at the breast, the sash signifies wholehearted devotion to executing God’s righteous judgments. The imagery contrasts sharply with human contrition in Luke; here the breast is a platform for divine holiness rather than human guilt.

Theological and Ministry Implications

Repentance: Physical expressions can—and often should—mirror heart realities. Gospel preaching may call hearers not merely to intellectual assent but to deep-seated contrition like the publican’s.

Pastoral Care: John’s example invites Christians to cultivate closeness with Christ. Prayer, meditation on Scripture, and participation in the Lord’s Supper foster this relational nearness.

Eschatology: Revelation’s vision reminds the church that judgment proceeds from the unwavering purity of heaven. Believers can trust that final wrath is administered from a heart perfectly aligned with divine holiness.

Historical Background

In Second Temple Judaism and Greco-Roman society, the chest signified the locus of emotion and will. Striking the breast appears in contemporary literature as a gesture of grief or repentance. Reclining on another’s chest during meals reflected deep friendship, a social dynamic present at first-century banquets. The New Testament authors employ these cultural symbols to convey spiritual truths without contradiction, affirming the consistency of Scripture.

Summary

Across its five New Testament occurrences, the term points to the inner life—sorrow over sin, affectionate communion with the Savior, and the pure resolve of heaven’s messengers. The varied settings form a coherent biblical testimony: true righteousness flows from the heart, whether in penitential tears, loving fellowship, or holy judgment.

Forms and Transliterations
στήθει στήθεων στηθη στήθη στηθος στήθος στῆθος στήθους στηθύνια στηθύνιον στηθυνίου stethe stēthē stḗthe stḗthē stethos stêthos stēthos stē̂thos
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Luke 18:13 N-ANS
GRK: ἔτυπτεν τὸ στῆθος αὐτοῦ λέγων
NAS: but was beating his breast, saying,
KJV: upon his breast, saying, God
INT: was striking the breast of himself saying

Luke 23:48 N-ANP
GRK: τύπτοντες τὰ στήθη ὑπέστρεφον
NAS: beating their breasts.
KJV: smote their breasts, and returned.
INT: beating the breasts returned [home]

John 13:25 N-ANS
GRK: ἐπὶ τὸ στῆθος τοῦ Ἰησοῦ
NAS: on Jesus' bosom, said
KJV: lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him,
INT: on the breast of Jesus

John 21:20 N-ANS
GRK: ἐπὶ τὸ στῆθος αὐτοῦ καὶ
NAS: had leaned back on His bosom at the supper
KJV: on his breast at supper,
INT: on the bosom of him and

Revelation 15:6 N-ANP
GRK: περὶ τὰ στήθη ζώνας χρυσᾶς
NAS: around their chests with golden
KJV: and having their breasts girded
INT: about the breasts sashes golden

Strong's Greek 4738
5 Occurrences


στήθη — 2 Occ.
στῆθος — 3 Occ.

4737
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