Greek word · G4751

στόμαχος

stomachos

stomach

Originally the throat, gullet or any mouth-like opening (from στόμα, 'mouth'). By the Hellenistic period, especially in medical writing, it meant the stomach and digestive organs.

Appears once in the Greek New Testament. · Updated November 01, 2026

What it means

στόμαχος, -ου, ὁ

(στόμα),

prop., a mouth, an opening;

(a) in early Gk. writers, the throat;

(b) of the opening of the stomach (Arist.);

(with) in later writers (Plut., al.), the stomach: 1 Timothy 5:23.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of 1 Timothy 5:23

Range of meaning: Originally the throat, gullet or any mouth-like opening (from στόμα, 'mouth'). By the Hellenistic period, especially in medical writing, it meant the stomach and digestive organs.
Against the English: All versions say 'stomach'. This is accurate.
Used elsewhere in the period: This is the only New Testament use. Plutarch and the medical writers of the early Roman period use it of the stomach and digestion, and commonly prescribe wine for a weak stomach.

Where it appears

1 Timothy · 1

1 Timothy 5:23 στόμαχον stomach

Stop drinking only water and use a little wine instead, because of your stomach and your frequent ailments.

Here: The stomach or digestive tract. The word first meant 'throat' or 'gullet', but in medical writing of this period it means the stomach. Timothy has digestive trouble.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.