What does θηλάζω (thēlázō) mean in the Bible?
θηλάζω (thēlázō) is a Greek word meaning "to suckle, (by implication) to suck".
Greek · G2337
θηλάζω
To suckle, (by implication) to suck
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through theConnect page. Screenshots are helpful.
θηλάζωG2337
Pronunciationthēlázō
What does θηλάζω (thēlázō) mean in the Bible?
θηλάζω (thēlázō) is a Greek word meaning "to suckle, (by implication) to suck".
Full entry for θηλάζω (G2337) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G2337?
The BSB source-word alignment has 5 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include nursing [mothers] (3), infants (1), nursed You (1).
Where does θηλάζω (thēlázō) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Matthew 21:16. Its strongest book concentrations include Luke (2), Matthew (2), Mark (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itnursing [mothers]3×Matthew 24:19, Mark 13:17, Luke 21:23
infants1×Matthew 21:16
nursed You1×Luke 11:27
Show sample aligned rows
Matthew 21:16θηλαζόντωνtoinfantsVerb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine PluralMatthew 24:19θηλαζούσαιςtonursing [mothers]Verb - Present Participle Active - Dative Feminine PluralMark 13:17θηλαζούσαιςtonursing [mothers]Verb - Present Participle Active - Dative Feminine PluralLuke 11:27ἐθήλασαςtonursed YouVerb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person SingularLuke 21:23θηλαζούσαιςtonursing [mothers]Verb - Present Participle Active - Dative Feminine Plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowMatthew 21:16
Aligned rows5
Books represented3
Matthew2Mark1Luke2
Source forms
θηλαζούσαις3xthēlazousaisMatthew 24:19, Mark 13:17, Luke 21:23
ἐθήλασας1xethēlasasLuke 11:27
θηλαζόντων1xthēlazontōnMatthew 21:16
Parsing patterns
Verb - Present Participle Active - Dative Feminine Plural3xMatthew 24:19, Mark 13:17, Luke 21:23
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular1xLuke 11:27
Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Plural1xMatthew 21:16
Evidence Summary
Greek word. to suckle, (by implication) to suck
Strong'sG2337
Lexical occurrences5 versesGreek text appearances6 timesWord forms2 forms5 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Source Gloss
to suckle, (by implication) to suck
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpusGreek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
6 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
Matthew 21:16Verb Present Active Participle Genitive Plural Masculine
θηλαζόντωνqhlazontwn
I give suck, suck
Read verseMatthew 24:19Verb Present Active Participle Dative Plural Feminine
θηλαζούσαιςqhlazousaiv
I give suck, suck
Read verseMark 13:17Verb Present Active Participle Dative Plural Feminine
θηλαζούσαιςqhlazousaiv
I give suck, suck
Read verseLuke 11:27Verb Second Person Singular Aorist Active Indicative
ἐθήλασας.eqhlasav
I give suck, suck
Read verseLuke 21:23Verb Present Active Participle Dative Plural Feminine
θηλαζούσαιςqhlazousaiv
I give suck, suck
Read verseLuke 23:29Verb Third Person Plural Aorist Active Indicative
ἐθήλασαν.eqhlasan
I give suck, suck
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
Grammatical Forms
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups2Aligned forms5TensesPresent, AoristVoicesActive
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
Tenses
Voices
Participleverbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality4×
Present ActiveMatt 24:19 · Mark 13:17 · Luke 21:23 · Matt 21:164×
Indicativestates a fact or reality1×
Aorist ActiveLuke 11:271×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 5 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
present4aorist1
Voice
active5
Mood
participle4indicative1
NT Occurrences
Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.
Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)