Quick Definition
κόλπος, ου, ὁ n.m. bosom, bosom of a garment, a bay, gulf
Strong's Definition
apparently a primary word; the bosom; by analogy, a bay
KJV Usage: bosom, creek
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun, m. | -ου
8.39 · Body, Body Parts, and Body Products · Parts of the Body
bosom, lap the region of the body extending from the breast to the legs, especially when a person is in a seated position The term κόλπος occurs in several idiomatic phrases in the NT. For example, the expression ‘who was in the bosom of the Father’ in JHN 1:18 denotes an association of intimacy and affection (see 34.18). In a context referring to the position of a person at a meal (as in JHN 13:23), κόλπος indicates an honored place (see 17.25). In LUK 16:22 κόλπος Ἀβραάμ signifies the heavenly abode (see 1.16).
6.181 · Artifacts · Cloth, Leather, and Objects Made of Such Materials
fold the fold of a garment forming a type of pocket or container
1.74 · Geographical Objects and Features · Bodies of Water
bay, gulf a part of the sea which is partially enclosed by land A ‘bay’ may be described as ‘a protected area of the sea’ or ‘a part of the sea protected by land.’
1.16 · Geographical Objects and Features · Regions Above the Earth
Collocation: ὁ κόλπος Ἀβραάμ
Abraham’s bosom, heaven (an idiom, literally: Abraham’s bosom) the heavenly abode, with the implication of close interpersonal relations A literal rendering of κόλπος Ἀβραάμ as ‘the bosom of Abraham’ or ‘the lap of Abraham’ is often misleading. In some languages it may even suggest homosexuality, and in other cases it implies that Lazarus was either a baby or was changed into a baby in heaven. Since κόλπος Ἀβραάμ is generally interpreted as a reference to the eschatological heavenly feast, one may be justified in rendering LUK 16:22 as in TEV ‘the poor man died and was carried by the angels to sit beside Abraham at the feast in heaven.’ In some languages κόλπος Ἀβραάμ in this context is translated as ‘he was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side’ or ‘... to be with Abraham.’
1 According to ancient Jewish tradition, the end of the age would be characterized by a heavenly feast to be enjoyed by the righteous. This would be presided over by Abraham, and therefore to go to Abrahams bosom would be equivalent to being an honored guest at this celestial banquet.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
κόλπος, -ov, 6, (apparently akin to κοῖλος hollow, [yet ef. Vanitek p. 179; L. and 5. 8. v.]), Hebr. ΡΠ; the bosom (Lat. sinus), i.e. as in the Grk. writ. fr. Hom. down 1. the front of the body between the arms: hence ἀνακεῖσθαι ἐν τῷ κόλπῳ τινός, of the one who so reclines at table that his head covers the bosom as it were, the chest, of the one next him [cf. B. 1). 5. v. Meals], Jn. xiii. 23. Hence the figurative expressions, ἐν τοῖς κόλποις (on the plur., which occurs as early as Hom. Il. 9, 570, ef. W.§ 27, 3; [B. 24 (21)]) rod ᾿Αβραὰμ εἶναι, to obtain the seat next to Abraham, i. e. to be partaker of the same blessedness as Abraham in paradise, Lk. xvi. 23 ; ἀποφέρεσθαι εἰς τὸν x.’ABp. to be borne away to the enjoyment of the same felicity with Abraham, ibid. 22 (οὕτω yap παθόντας --- acc. to another reading θανόντας ---᾿Αβραὰμ kai ᾿Ισαὰκ καὶ ᾿Ιακὼβ ὑποδέξονται εἰς τοὺς κόλπους αὐτῶν, 4 Mace. xiii. 16; [see B. D. 85. v. Abraham’s bosom, and] on the rabbin. phrase o7728 Ow yp na, in Abraham's bosom, to designate bliss in paradise, ef. Lightfoot, Hor. Hebr. et Talmud. p. 851 sqq.); ὁ ὧν εἰς τὸν k. τοῦ πατρός, lying (turned) unto the bosom of his father (God), i. e. in the closest and most intimate relation to the Father, Jn. i. 18 [W. 415 (387)]; cf. Cic. ad div. 14, 4 iste vero sit in sinu semper et complexu meo. 2. the bosom of a garment, i. e. the hollow formed by the upper forepart of a rather loose garment bound by a girdle, used for keeping and carrying things [the fold or pocket; cf. B. Ὁ. 8. v. Dress], (Ex. iv. 6 sq.; Prov. vi. 27); so, figuratively, μέτρον καλὸν διδόναι eis τ. x. τινός, to repay one liberally, Lk. vi. 38 (ἀποδιδόναι εἰς τ. x. Is. xv. 6; Jer. xxxix. (xxxii.) 18). 3. a bay of the sea (cf. Ital. golfo [Eng. gulf, — which may be only the mod. representatives of the Grk. word]): Acts xxvii. 39.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
κόλπος kolpos 6x
the bosom, Lk. 16:22, 23; Jn. 1:18; 13:23; the bosom of a garment, Lk. 6:38; a bay, creek, inlet, Acts 27:39*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
κόλπος, -ου, ὁ,
[in LXX chiefly for חֵיק, חוֹק, חֵק;]
prop., the bosom: Jo 13:23; fig., of close association, ἐν (εἰς τὸν) τοῖς κ. Ἀβραάμ, Lk 16:22, 23 (cf. IV Mac 13:16); ὁ ὢν εἰς τὸν κ. τ. πατρός, Jo 1:18.
The bosom or fold of a loose garment falling over a girdle, used as a pocket, hence fig., εἰς τὸν κ. (Is 65:6, Je 39 (32):18): Lk 6:38.
A bosom-like hollow, as a bay or gulf: Ac 27:39.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
κόλπος. With the figurative use of κόλπος in the NT (Lk 1633. a/.) | We may compare its occurrence in sepulchral epitaphs, e.g. Preisigke 2034" ἀνάπαυσον τὴν ψυχὴν τοῖς δούλοις σου πιστὰ ἐν κόλποις ᾿Αβρὰμ καὶ Ισὰκ καὶ ᾿Ιακώβ, and Caibel 202. Té)pBos μὲν κρύ[πτ]ει με τὸν ἐν κόλπίοισι τραφέντα, where the editor draws attention to the “‘ frigidum acumen ’’ with which τύμβος and κόλποι are contrasted. On the other hand κόλπος is used of a sepulchre in 20. 11352, and in 7, 237% (ii/i B.c.) we have—A(Sew νυχίοιο μέλας κόλπος : cf. 75. 561 Σῶμα σὸν ἐν κόλποις, Καλλιστοῖ, γαῖα καλύπτει, with reference to the ‘‘bosom” of mother Earth. See also Herondas vi. 101 f. οὐ γὰρ ἀλλὰ πορθεῦ[σι] ὡρν[ι]θο[κ]λέζπ]ται, κὴν τρέφῃ τις ἐν κόλπῳ, ‘for the birdstealers will plunder out of one’s very lap” (Nairn). For the meaning ‘‘ bay,” ‘‘ gulf,” as in Ac 273®, cf. OG/S 441718 (B.c. 81) Σελεύκεια [ἡ π]ρὸς τῶι Ισσικῶ[ι κ]όλπωι.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
κόλπος (kolpos) — bosom. κόλπος, ὁ, bosom, lap, παῖδ᾽ ἐπὶ κόλπῳ ἔχουσα [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἱμάντα τέῳ ἐγκάτθεο κ. put the girdle in thy bosom,[NT+6th c.BC+]; frequently of pet birds or animals, τρέφειν ἐν κ. [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; κυνίδιον ἐν κόλπῳ τιθηνούμενον lap-dog, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; also τὰ ὑπὸ κόλπου, ={τὰ ἀφροδίσια}, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
2. = {αἰδοῖον γυναικεῖον}, especially vagina, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
2. b κόλποι τῆς ὑστέρας supposed sinuses in the womb, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
2. c in poets more vaguely of the whole sinus genitalis, womb, in plural, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: metaphorically, of the grave, σῶμα σὸν ἐν κόλποις.. γαῖα καλύπτει [Refs]; κ. ἡμερῶν, of the womb of time, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]
2. d of other cavities, οἱ κ. τῆς κοιλίας, in the ἐχῖνος, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; of the ventricles of the heart, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
II. fold of a garment, especially as it fell over the girdle, frequently in plural, δεύοντο δὲ δάκρυσι κ. [Refs 8th c.BC+], etc.: also in singular, κ. βαθὺν καταλιπόμενος τοῦ κιθῶνος [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κόλπον ἀνιεμένη letting down the bosom of her robe, i.e. baring her breast, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; κρύψε δὲ παρθενίαν ὠδῖνα κόλποις, i.e. she concealed her pregnancy by the loose folds of her robe, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ὑπὸ κόλπου (variant -ῳ) χεῖρας ἔχειν 'keep one's hand in one's pocket', of a stingy person, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; ὑπὸ κόλπον [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
III. any bosom-like hollow:
III.1. of the sea, first in a half-literal sense, of a sea-goddess, Θέτις δ᾽ ὑπεδέξατο κόλπῳ received him in her bosom, [Refs 8th c.BC+]
III.2. bay, gulf, Ἑρμιόνην Ἀσίνην τε, βαθὺν κατὰ κ. ἐχούσας, i.e. βαθὺν κατεχούσας κόλπον, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; κ. Ῥέας, i.e. the Adriatic, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
III.3. vale, κ. Ἀργεῖος [Refs 5th c.BC+]
III.4. of a fortified site, salient, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]
III.5. ὁ κ. τοῦ ἅρματος bottom of the chariot, [LXX]
III.6. fistulous ulcer which spreads under the skin, [Refs 1st c.AD+]
IV. in Tactics, enveloping force, [Refs 1st c.AD+]