Greek word · G4768

στυγνάζω

stygnazō

be gloomy

To be or become gloomy, sullen, sad. Used of a darkened face and, by extension, of a darkened, threatening sky.

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated November 01, 2026

What it means

στυγνάζω

(στυγνός, sombre, gloomy, sullen, Isaiah 5:17, Wisdom of Solomon 17:5, Dan LXX 2:12*), [in LXX: Ezekiel 27:35 (שָׁמֵם)* ;]

to have a sombre, gloomy appearance: of the human countenance (RV, his countenance fell), Mark 10:22; of the sky (so στυγνότης, Polyb., iv, 21, 1), Matthew 16:3 ([WH], R, mg., om.).†

(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 Matthew 16:3

Range of meaning: To be or become gloomy, sullen, sad. Used of a darkened face and, by extension, of a darkened, threatening sky.
Against the English: KJV “lowring” (lowering, an older word for frowning or scowling) keeps the picture of a face. BSB “overcast” and WEB “threatening” give the weather meaning but lose the face.
Used elsewhere in the period: Rare. In the New Testament only here and Mark 10:22, where the rich man's face falls. In the LXX it is used of people appalled or grim-faced (Ezek 27:35; 28:19; 32:10).

From the study of Mark 10:22

Range of meaning: To become dark, gloomy or overcast. Used of the sky, and figuratively of a face that clouds over. It also means to be appalled, stunned or horrified. The root στυγν- carries the idea of something hateful or grim.
Against the English: KJV 'was sad' and BSB 'was saddened' make it a mild emotion. WEB 'his face fell' and NIV/NLT 'the man's face fell' keep the visible darkening. NRSV 'he was shocked' follows the sense of dismay. YLT 'gloomy' is closest to the root.
How it drifted: In modern English 'sad' is a soft, general word. The Greek describes a sudden, visible change of expression, closer to being stunned. Turning it into 'sad' loses the jolt.
Used elsewhere in the period: In the New Testament it appears only here and in Matt 16:3, where the sky is 'red and lowering (stygnazōn)', meaning overcast and threatening. In the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint) it describes kings and peoples who are 'appalled' or who 'shudder' at the fall of Tyre and Egypt (Ezek 27:35; 28:19; 32:10). BDAG gives 'be shocked, appalled' for Mark 10:22.

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

Matthew 16:3 στυγνάζων being overcast

and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but not the signs of the times.

Here: “Scowling” or “lowering.” The word is normally used of a gloomy human face (Mark 10:22, of the rich man whose face fell). The sky is pictured with a frowning face, which prepares for “the face of the sky” in the next sentence.

Mark · 1

Mark 10:22 στυγνάσας having been sad

But the man was saddened by these words and went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth.

Here: 'Having gone dark' or 'having been stunned'. It's a sudden reaction: his face clouded over and he was dismayed. This is shock as much as sadness.

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