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Unveiling the Word

In biblical studies, understanding Greek words, especially verbs like ὄζω (ozō), can deepen our comprehension of New Testament texts and their underlying cultural and linguistic significance. This word appears in John 11:39, during the account of Lazarus’s resurrection. Martha, Lazarus’s sister, uses the word ozō when she expresses concern about the state of her brother’s body, saying that he “stinks” after four days in the tomb. The verb highlights both the reality of physical decay and the powerful act of life-giving restoration by Jesus, making it a crucial term in this narrative. Understanding ozō opens up a richer appreciation of the sensory and spiritual implications present in such moments in the New Testament.

Necessary Information

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Greek Word: ὄζω (ozō), pronounced OH-zo.

Etymology: The root of ozō is related to terms that express the emission of a smell or scent. It connects to earlier Greek words signifying an odor or the act of smelling, particularly in the context of physical decay.

Part of Speech: Ozō is a verb. In John 11:39, it functions in the indicative present active tense, signifying a state of being – in this case, the active process of emitting a smell. Grammatically, it carries the connotation of ongoing action, describing an observable condition.

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Defining Meanings

1. To Emit a Smell: The primary meaning of ὄζω (ozō) is “to emit a smell” or “to stink.” In the context of John 11:39, Martha refers to the odor that would naturally arise from a body that has been in the tomb for several days, implying the irreversible decay associated with death.

2. By Extension, Decay or Corruption: The word ozō can carry an extended meaning of corruption or decomposition, especially in contexts where physical bodies are concerned. This usage emphasizes the material reality of death and the inevitable decay that follows.

Exploring Similar Words

1. ὀσμή (osmē) [pronunciation: OS-may]: This noun means “odor” or “smell,” and is used in both positive and negative senses in the New Testament. Unlike ozō, osmē can refer to pleasing scents, such as the “fragrance of Christ” in 2 Corinthians 2:15.

2. σαπρός (sapros) [pronunciation: sap-ROS]: Meaning “rotten” or “corrupt,” this adjective is similar to ozō in its association with decay, though it applies more broadly to moral or material corruption (e.g., in Matthew 7:17, referring to a “bad tree”).

Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Tense, Voice, Mood:

• Ozō appears in the present active indicative in John 11:39, indicating an ongoing action: the continuous process of emitting an odor. In this context, it describes the natural consequence of death over time – the stench of decomposition.

Person and Number:

• In this verse, the verb ozō is third-person singular, referring to Lazarus’s body specifically.

Aspect:

• The imperfective aspect of ozō underscores the ongoing nature of the decay, contributing to Martha’s expression of hopelessness before Jesus intervenes.

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Studying Lexicon Insights

In examining ozō across multiple lexicons, its primary usage is tied to physical decay and the unpleasantness of odors associated with decomposition. In BDAG and Thayer’s lexicons, ozō is listed as “to emit a stench,” and the focus is on its association with death and bodily decay. The word rarely appears outside contexts of decay, underscoring its vivid contribution to descriptions of death in biblical texts. In Moulton and Milligan’s lexicon, ozō is noted as a common term in Greek to describe conditions of uncleanness or impurity, often used metaphorically in classical contexts to refer to corruption or moral decay. Its usage in the New Testament remains literal, preserving its immediate and sensory connotations.

This overview synthesizes insights from BDAG, Thayer’s, LSJ, Vine’s, Strong’s, LEH, and Moulton and Milligan.

Tracing Related Scriptures

1. John 11:39: “Jesus said, ‘Take away the stone.’ Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, ‘Lord, by this time there will be an odor [ὄζει] for he has been dead four days.’”

2. Ecclesiastes 10:1 (Septuagint): “Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking smell [ὄζει].” This verse connects the concept of stench to decay and corruption, echoing similar themes of bodily breakdown.

Analyzing Classical Usage

Author Name of Work Text

Plato Phaedo “The body, when it begins to decay, emits a foul odor [ὄζει].”

Septuagint Ecclesiastes 10:1 “Dead flies spoil the perfumer’s oil, making it stink [ὄζει].”

Homer The Iliad “The body left to rot [ὄζει] in the heat of the sun.”

Noteworthy Summary

The Greek verb ὄζω (ozō) captures the stark reality of death and decay, particularly in the context of Lazarus’s tomb in John 11:39. Its primary meaning, “to emit a stench,” underscores the finality of death, yet it also sets the stage for Christ’s miraculous resurrection of Lazarus. Ozō is used sparingly in the New Testament but vividly conveys sensory and spiritual decay, resonating with both ancient Greek understandings of corruption and biblical notions of life restored by divine power.

Did You Know?

1. The verb ozō is derived from ancient Greek roots that appear frequently in medical and anatomical texts to describe bodily decay and the processes of decomposition.

2. In classical Greek literature, ozō often metaphorically referred to moral corruption or social decay, although in the New Testament, it maintains a more literal meaning.

3. The stench of decay described by ozō in John 11:39 adds dramatic tension to the narrative, highlighting the magnitude of Jesus’ miracle in raising Lazarus from the dead.