Quick Definition
θηλάζω v. I give suck, suck
Strong's Definition
from thele (the nipple); to suckle, (by implication) to suck
KJV Usage: (give) suck(-ling)
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | θῆλυς
23.7 · Physiological Processes and States · Eat, Drink
to nurse (of a baby), to suck, to feed on the activity of a baby feeding at the breast In a number of languages there are highly specific terms for the manner in which babies nurse, including ‘to suck upon’ or ‘to pull at the breasts.’ There may also be distinctions in terminology depending upon whether the child in question is a helpless infant held in the arms or a small child capable of moving about. See also discussion at 23.8.
23.8 · Physiological Processes and States · Eat, Drink
to nurse a baby to cause a baby to feed at the breast In many languages entirely distinct terms are employed for the causative and noncausative meanings of ‘to nurse.’ Still additional distinctions may be employed depending upon the age of the child. One term may be used in speaking of helpless infants, while another may be used of small children who are able to walk around, but who still are nursed from time to time.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
θηλάζω; 1 aor. ἐθήλασα; (θηλή a breast, [οἷ Peile, Etym. p. 124 sq.]); 1. trans. to give the breast, give suck, to suckle: Mt. xxiv.19; Mk. xiii. 17; Lk. xxi. 23, (Lys., Aristot., al.; Sept. for p27) 5 μαστοὶ ἐθήλασαν, Lk. xxiii. 29 RG. 2. intrans. to suck: Mt. xxi. 16 (Aristot., Plat., Boone al.; Sept. for P3)) ; μαστούς, Lk. xi. 27; Job iii. Gant viii. 1; Joel ii. 16; Theoer. iii. 16.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
θηλάζω thēlazō 5x
to suckle, give suck, Mt. 24:19; Mk. 13:17; Lk. 21:23; to suck, Mt. 21:16; Lk. 11:27*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
θηλάζω
(< θηλή, a breast), [in LXX chiefly for ינק hi.;]
of the mother, to suckle: Mt 24:19, Mk 13:17, Lk 21:23.
Of the young, to suck: Mt 21:16; μαστούς, Lk 11:27 (cf. Jb 3:12, Ca 8:1, al.).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
θηλάζω is common in the series of nursing contracts in BGU IV., e.g. 11078 (B.C. 13) συνχωρεῖ ἡ Διδύ]μη τροφεύσειν καὶ θηλάσειν tw [πα]ρ᾿ ἑα[τῆι κατὰ πόλιν τῶι ἰδίωι] αὐτῆς γάλακτι καθαρῶι καὶ ἀφθόρωι. For a similar transitive usage, as in ΜῈ 2419, cf. the family-letter of late iii/A.p., P Lond 951 vevso?# (=III. p. 213), where the writer urges the getting of a nurse for a newly arrived infant, rather than that the mother should be compelled to ‘‘nurse”’ herself— Hxovg[a] ὅ[τ]. θηλάζειν αὐτὴν ἀναγκάζεις, el θέλ[εις τ]ὸ βρέφος ἐχέτω τροφόν, ἐγὼ γὰρ οὐκ ἐπιτίρέϊπω τῇ θυγατρί μου θηλάζειν. The verb is intransitive, as in Mt 217%, in P Ryl IT. 15338 (A.D. 138-161) ὃν κατέλιψα ἐν Ζμύρνῃ τῆς ᾿Ασίας παρὰ τροφῴ θηλάζοντα, ‘‘whom I have left at Smyrna in Asia being yet a foster-child” (Edd.). For a form θελάσζω see PSI IV. 368!® (B.c. 250-49) with the editor’s note.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
θηλάζω (thēlazō) — to suckle. θηλάζω, Doric dialect aorist 1 ἐθήλαξα [Refs 3rd c.BC+]: (θηλή):
I. of the mother or nurse, suckle, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: absolutely, give suck, οἱ μαστοί, οἳ οὐκ ἐθήλασαν [NT]:—also in middle, ἐπιμελεῖσθαι, ὅπως μέτριον χρόνον θηλάσονται [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, to be sucked, ὁ δελφὶς.. θηλάζεται ὑπὸ τῶν τέκνων [Refs 4th c.BC+]
II. of the young animal, suck, [Refs]; θηλάζων χοῖρος a sucking pig, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; seldom of an infant, [Refs 5th c.AD+]
II.2. with accusative, λεαίνας μασδὸν ἐθήλαξεν [Refs 4th c.BC+]