What does φιμόω (phimóō) mean in the Bible?
φιμόω (phimóō): To silence or restrain someone from speaking; literally to muzzle, metaphorically to shut up forcibly.
Greek · G5392
φιμόω
To muzzle
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 the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
φιμόω G5392
Pronunciation phimóō
What does φιμόω (phimóō) mean in the Bible?
φιμόω (phimóō): To silence or restrain someone from speaking; literally to muzzle, metaphorically to shut up forcibly.
Full entry for φιμόω (G5392) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G5392?
The BSB source-word alignment has 8 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include Be silent (2), Do not muzzle (2), [Jesus] had silenced (1), [the man] was speechless (1), Be still (1).
Where does φιμόω (phimóō) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Matthew 22:12. Its strongest book concentrations include Mark (2), Matthew (2), 1 Corinthians (1), 1 Peter (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 It Be silent 2× Mark 1:25, Luke 4:35
Do not muzzle 2× 1 Corinthians 9:9, 1 Timothy 5:18
[Jesus] had silenced 1× Matthew 22:34
[the man] was speechless 1× Matthew 22:12
Be still 1× Mark 4:39
you should silence 1× 1 Peter 2:15
Show sample aligned rows
Matthew 22:12 ἐφιμώθη to [the man] was speechless Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular Matthew 22:34 ἐφίμωσεν to [Jesus] had silenced Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Mark 1:25 Φιμώθητι to Be silent Verb - Aorist Imperative Passive - 2nd Person Singular Mark 4:39 πεφίμωσο to Be still Verb - Perfect Imperative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Singular Luke 4:35 Φιμώθητι to Be silent Verb - Aorist Imperative Passive - 2nd Person Singular 1 Corinthians 9:9 κημώσεις to Do not muzzle Verb - Future Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular 1 Timothy 5:18 φιμώσεις to Do not muzzle Verb - Future Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular 1 Peter 2:15 φιμοῦν to you should silence Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Matthew 22:12
Aligned rows 8
Books represented 6
Matthew 2 Mark 2 Luke 1 1 Corinthians 1 1 Timothy 1 1 Peter 1
Source forms
Φιμώθητι 2x Phimōthēti Mark 1:25, Luke 4:35
ἐφιμώθη 1x ephimōthē Matthew 22:12
ἐφίμωσεν 1x ephimōsen Matthew 22:34
κημώσεις 1x kēmōseis 1 Corinthians 9:9
πεφίμωσο 1x pephimōso Mark 4:39
φιμοῦν 1x phimoun 1 Peter 2:15
φιμώσεις 1x phimōseis 1 Timothy 5:18
Parsing patterns
Verb - Aorist Imperative Passive - 2nd Person Singular 2x Mark 1:25, Luke 4:35
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular 2x 1 Corinthians 9:9, 1 Timothy 5:18
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular 1x Matthew 22:34
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular 1x Matthew 22:12
Verb - Perfect Imperative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Singular 1x Mark 4:39
Verb - Present Infinitive Active 1x 1 Peter 2:15
Evidence Summary
Greek word. To silence or restrain someone from speaking; literally to muzzle, metaphorically to shut up forcibly.
Strong's G5392
Lexical occurrences 7 verses Greek text appearances 8 times Word forms 3 forms 7 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Mark 4:35–41 Source Gloss
to muzzle
Extended definition Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith
To silence or restrain someone from speaking; literally to muzzle, metaphorically to shut up forcibly.
(φιμός, a muzzle), [in LXX: Deu.25:4 (חָסַם), Dan LXX Su 1:61, 4Ma.1:35 א R * ;] to muzzle: 1Co.9:9, 1Ti.5:18" (LXX) ; metaphorically, to put to silence: with accusative of person(s), Mat.22:34, 1Pe.2:15; pass., to be silenced, silent: Mat.22:12, Mrk.1:25 4:39, Luk.4:35.
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
8 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
Matthew 22:12 Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Passive Indicative
ἐφιμώθη. efimwqh
I muzzle, silence
Read verse Matthew 22:34 Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Active Indicative
ἐφίμωσε efimwsen
I muzzle, silence
Read verse Mark 1:25 Verb Second Person Singular Aorist Passive Imperative
Φιμώθητι, fimwqhti
I muzzle, silence
Read verse Mark 4:39 Verb Second Person Singular Perfect Passive Imperative
πεφίμωσο. pefimwso
I muzzle, silence
Read verse Luke 4:35 Verb Second Person Singular Aorist Passive Imperative
Φιμώθητι, fimwqhti
I muzzle, silence
Read verse 1 Corinthians 9:9 Verb Second Person Singular Future Active Indicative
φιμώσεις fimwseiv
I muzzle, silence
Read verse 1 Timothy 5:18 Verb Second Person Singular Future Active Indicative
φιμώσεις. fimwseiv
I muzzle, silence
Read verse 1 Peter 2:15 Verb Present Active Infinitive
φιμοῦν fimoun
I muzzle, silence
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 groups 3 Aligned forms 7 Tenses Aorist, Perfect, Future, Present Voices Passive, Active
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
Tenses
Voices
Imperative command or strong request 3×
Aorist Passive Mark 1:25 · Luke 4:35 2×
Perfect Passive Mark 4:39 1×
Indicative states a fact or reality 3×
Aorist Passive Matt 22:12 1×
Aorist Active Matt 22:34 1×
Future Active 1 Tim 5:18 1×
Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract 1×
Present Active 1 Pet 2:15 1×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 8 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
aorist 4 future 2 present 1 perfect 1
Voice
active 4 passive 4
Mood
indicative 4 imperative 3 infinitive 1
NT Occurrences
Matthew 22:12 ἐφιμώθη aorist passive indicative completed Matthew 22:34 ἐφίμωσεν aorist active indicative completed Mark 1:25 Φιμώθητι aorist passive imperative imperative Mark 4:39 πεφίμωσο perfect passive imperative imperative Luke 4:35 Φιμώθητι aorist passive imperative imperative 1 Corinthians 9:9 κημώσεις future active indicative prospective 1 Timothy 5:18 φιμώσεις future active indicative prospective 1 Peter 2:15 φιμοῦν present active infinitive infinitive
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)
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Additional Occurrences
Luke 4:31–37 φιμώθητι phimóō
Be silent
Mark 4:35–41 πεφίμωσο phimóō
be muzzled, silenced
New Testament Witnesses
be silenced
Showing 3 selected witnesses from 7 lexical occurrence verses.
Why This Word Matters
Shows sovereign command over chaotic forces.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain