Greek word · G5420

φράσσω

phrassō

to stop

To fence in, block up, stop, shut. It is used literally of barring an opening and figuratively of silencing someone (Rom 3:19, 'that every mouth may be stopped'; 2 Cor 11:10).

Appears 3 times in 3 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

φράσσω

[in LXX: Job 38:8 (סָכַךְ hi.), Hosea 2:6(8) (שׂוּךְ), Proverbs 21:13 (אָטַם), etc. ;]

to fence in, stop, close: στόματα λεόντων, Hebrews 11:33; στόμα, metaphorically, Romans 3:19; pass., καύχησις, 2 Corinthians 11:10.†

(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 Hebrews 11:33

Range of meaning

To fence in, block up, stop, shut. It is used literally of barring an opening and figuratively of silencing someone (Rom 3:19, 'that every mouth may be stopped'; 2 Cor 11:10).

Against the English

KJV/ESV/WEB 'stopped' and BSB/NIV/NASB 'shut' are both fine. 'Blocked' or 'barred shut' would keep the physical picture.

Used elsewhere in the period

Theodotion's Greek version of Daniel 6:22 (6:23 in Greek numbering) reads that God 'sent his angel and stopped up (enephraxen) the mouths of the lions'. Hebrews uses the plain form of the same verb with the same object. Daniel 6:23 also gives the reason Daniel was unharmed: 'because he trusted in his God' (Theodotion: hoti episteusen en tō theō autou). 1 Maccabees 2:60 says Daniel was 'rescued from the mouth of lions', and 4 Maccabees 16:21 and 18:13 cite Daniel among the lions.

From the study of 2 Corinthians 11:10

Range of meaning

To fence in, enclose, hedge; to block or stop up (a road, a channel, an opening); used figuratively of stopping a mouth, that is, silencing someone. Related to φραγμός, 'fence, hedge' (Matt 21:33).

Against the English

KJV/WEB 'stop' keeps the blocking idea. BSB and others render it 'silenced', which picks up the 'stopping the mouth' image. Both fit. The Greek picture is concrete: a passage fenced or dammed so nothing gets through.

Used elsewhere in the period

Rom 3:19: 'so that every mouth may be stopped'. Heb 11:33: '[they] stopped the mouths of lions'. LXX Prov 21:13: 'whoever stops his ears from hearing the poor'. In classical Greek it is common for fencing or barricading.

From the study of Romans 3:19

Range of meaning

To fence in, block up, stop, close. Used of stopping up openings, and figuratively of silencing someone.

Against the English

'Stopped' (KJV, YLT), 'silenced' (BSB, NIV, ESV), 'closed' (WEB). All are accurate. 'Silenced' captures the courtroom sense best, while 'stopped' keeps the physical picture of a mouth blocked shut.

Used elsewhere in the period

Hebrews 11:33 ('stopped the mouths of lions'); 2 Corinthians 11:10 ('this boasting will not be stopped'). The Septuagint uses the compound emphrassō for the silencing of the wicked: Psalm 62:12 LXX (63:11) 'the mouth of those speaking unjust things was stopped'; Psalm 106:42 LXX (107:42) 'all lawlessness shall stop its mouth'; Job 5:16.

Where it appears

Romans · 1

  1. Romans 3:19 φραγῇ, may be stopped,

    Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.

    Here: 'Be stopped up, blocked shut' (aorist passive). The picture is a courtroom where the accused has no answer left. The passive leaves the one doing the silencing unstated: Scripture's verdict, and behind it God.

2 Corinthians · 1

  1. 2 Corinthians 11:10 φραγήσεται will be stopped

    As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia.

    Here: Future passive, 'will be blocked/stopped up'. The picture is of a way being fenced off or a mouth being shut. No one will barricade or silence this boast.

Hebrews · 1

  1. Hebrews 11:33 ἔφραξαν shut

    who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,

    Here: 'Blocked' or 'shut'. The image is a mouth physically barred closed. The phrase follows the Greek of Daniel 6:22 (Theodotion's version), where God's angel 'stopped up the mouths of the lions'.

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