Quick Definition
a marriage, wedding, wedding-feast
Strong's Definition
nuptials
Derivation: of uncertain affinity;
KJV Usage: marriage, wedding
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
γάμος, γάμου, ὁ (probably from the root, gam, to bind, unite; Curtius, p. 546f), as in Greek writings from Homer down;
1. a wedding or marriage-festival: Joh_2:1; Rev_19:7 (under the figure of a marriage here is represented the intimate and everlasting union of Christ, at his return from heaven, with his church); τό δεῖπνον τοῦ γάμου, Rev_19:9 (a symbol of the future blessings of the Messiah's kingdom); especially a wedding-banquet, a marriage-feast: Mat_22:8; Mat_22:10 (here T WH Tr marginal reading νυμφών), Mat_22:11-12; plural (referring apparently to the several acts of feasting), Mat_22:2 ff,; ; Luk_12:36; Luk_14:8 (cf. Winers Grammar, § 27, 3; Buttmann, 23 (21)).
2. marriage, matrimony: Heb_13:4.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
γάμος gamos 16x
a wedding; nuptial festivities, a marriage festival, Mat_22:2 ; Mat_25:10 ; Joh_2:1-2 ; Rev_19:7 ; Rev_19:9 ;
any feast or banquet, Luk_12:36 ; Luk_14:8 ;
the marriage state, Heb_13:4 marry, marriage; wedding.
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
γάμος , -ου , ὁ ,
[in LXX for H4960 ;]
1. a wedding , esp . a wedding-feast: Mat_22:8-12 Joh_2:1-3 , Rev_19:7-9 ; pl . ( Field, Notes , 16), Mat_22:2-4 ; Mat_22:9 ; Mat_25:10 , Luk_12:36 ; Luk_14:8 .
2. marriage: Heb_13:4 ( Cremer , 666).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
γάμος [page 121]
P Tebt I. 104, a marriage contract of B.C. 92, is docketed on the verso ὁμο (λογία ) γάμου . For συγγραφὴ γάμου , see P Oxy IV. 713 .12 (A.D. 97) πεποίηνται πρὸς ἀλλήλους τοῦ γάμου συγγραφήν , and cf. P Amh II. 78 .10 (A.D. 184) τῇ συνγενίδι μου . . . πρὸς γάμον συνελθ [ώ ]ν , being married to my kinswoman (Edd.) The word is very common in connexion with the wedding festivities, e. g. P Oxy I. 111 .2 (iii/A.D.) ἐρωτᾷ σε Ἡραὶς δειπνῆσαι εἰς γάμους τέκνων αὐτῆς , ib. VI. 927 .2 (iii/A.D.) καλῖ σαι Ἔρως εἰς γάμους , P Flor III. 332 .22 (ii/A.D.) τοῖς γάμοις σου , on the occasion of your marriage. Cf. the use of the singular in Gen_29:22 , 1Ma_10:58 , and Mat_22:8 compared with .2 , where Field ( Notes , p. 16) finds no difference between sing. and plur. For the phrase γάμους ποιεῖν ( Mat_22:2 ) cf. Michel 1001 ii. 19 (the Will of Epicteta, in the Doric of Thera c. B.C. 200) μηδὲ χρῆσαι τὸ μουσεῖον μηθενί , εἴ κα μή τις τῶν ἐξ Ἐπιτελείας γάμον ποιῇ .
On the distinction between Egyptian, Greek, and Greek-Egyptian marriages in Egypt, and on the γάμος ἄγραφος as a provisional union in contrast to the fully constituted γάμος ἔγγραφος , see Hohlwein, L Ιgypte Romaine , p. 138 ff. Cf. also Archiv iii. pp. 70 f., 507; iv. pp. 264 f., 474 f.
Liddell-Scott — Intermediate Greek Lexicon
γάμος "a wedding, wedding-feast", Hom. , etc. "marriage, wedlock", id=Hom. , etc.; τὸν Οἰνέως γ. "marriage with" him, Soph. ; mostly in pl., like Lat. nuptiae, nuptials, Aesch. , etc.
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
γάμος, -ου, ὁ,
[in LXX for מִשְׁתֶּה ;]
__1. a wedding, esp. a wedding-feast: Mat.22:8, 10 11, 12, Jhn.2:1-3, Rev.19:7, 9; pl. (Field, Notes, 16), Mat.22:2-4, 9 25:10, Luk.12:36 14:8.
__2. marriage: Heb.13:4 (Cremer, 666).
† (AS)
📖 In-Depth Word Study
Marriage (1062) gamos
Marriage (1062) (gamos) described a public ceremony in which a man and a woman entered into a marital relationship and so speaks of a wedding or wedding feast (Jn 2:1). Here in Hebrews 13:4 gamos describes the actual state of being married. Eschatologically (prophetic, future) gamos refers to the wedding ceremony of the Bridegroom, Christ, with His Bride, the Church, at the outset of the Messianic (Millennial) Kingdom. (Rev 19:7-note, Rev 19:9-note). By metonymy gamos is used for wedding hall, the place where the wedding takes place (Mt 22:10)
Gamos = 16x in 16v in NAS - Mt 22:2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12; 25:10; Lk 12:36; 14:8; Jn 2:1, 2; Heb 13:4; Rev 19:7, 9. NAS = marriage(3), wedding(5), wedding feast(7).
Gamos - 4x in 4v in the non-apocryphal Septuagint (Lxx) - Ge 29:22; Esther 1:5; 2:18; 9:22;
Gamos - 21x in 20v in the Apocrypha - Tobit 6:13; 8:19, 20; 9:2, 6; 10:7; 11:19; Tbs. 6:13; 9:2, 5f; 10:8; 12:1; 1Macc 9:37, 41; 10:58; 3Macc 4:8; Wis 13:17; 14:24, 26;
Marriage is to be held in honor among all - The words "is to be held" are added to make the reading more fluid. More literally this reads "honorable the marriage in all". Note also that honor (precious) is the first word in the Greek for emphasis. This tells you the high and holy value God Himself places on His institution of marriage.
Young's gives us a more literal rendering...
honorable is the marriage in all, and the bed undefiled, and whoremongers and adulterers God shall judge.
Regard for marriage and for the physical intimacy of marriage is an essential aspect of the pursuit of holiness he has just discussed in the previous chapter (Heb 12:14-note).
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