UBS Greek Dictionary Article

Notes: 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.

Form 1

Part of speech: noun, m.

Inflections: κόλπος; -ου

Sense 1: bosom, lap

Semantic entry: 8.39

Semantic domains: Body, Body Parts, and Body Products

Subdomains: Parts of the Body

Definition: the region of the body extending from the breast to the legs, especially when a person is in a seated position

Notes: The term κόλπος occurs in several idiomatic phrases in the NT. For example, the expression ‘who was in the bosom of the Father’ in OET JHN 1:18 denotes an association of intimacy and affection (see 34.18: εἰμί). In a context referring to the position of a person at a meal (as in OET JHN 13:23), κόλπος indicates an honored place (see 17.25: ἀνάκειμαι / 17.25: ἀναπίπτω). In OET LUK 16:22 κόλπος Ἀβραάμ signifies the heavenly abode (see 1.16: Ἀβραάμ / 1.16: κόλπος).

Show passage in OET: LUK 16:22

OET-RV LUK 16:22

22 and eventually he died and was carried away by God’s messengers to recline at the table next to Avraham. Then the rich man also died and was buried

OET-LV LUK 16:22

22 And it _became the poor man to _die _off, and him to _be _carried _away by the messengers into the bosom of _Abraʼam/(ʼAⱱrāhām).
And the rich man died _off also and was _buried.

Show passage in OET: LUK 16:23

OET-RV LUK 16:23

23 and was tormented in hell. However, when he looked up, he saw Avraham in the distance and Eleazar reclining next to him,

OET-LV LUK 16:23

23 And in the Haidaʸs having _lifted _up the eyes of _him, being in torments, he _is _seeing Abraʼam from afar, and Lazaros in the bosoms of _him.

Jump to OET LUK 16:22 section.

Jump to OET LUK 16:23 section.

All 4 recorded passages for this sense

LUK: OET LUK 16:22–23

JHN: OET JHN 1:18 · OET JHN 13:23

Sense 2: fold

Semantic entry: 6.181

Semantic domains: Artifacts

Subdomains: Cloth, Leather, and Objects Made of Such Materials

Definition: the fold of a garment forming a type of pocket or container

Show passage in OET: LUK 6:38

OET-RV LUK 6:38

38 Give to others, and then you’ll be given to generously. The returned amount will be really packed in to the container and even overflowing, because however you measure things out for others, that’s how things will be measured out for you.”

OET-LV LUK 6:38

38 Be _giving, and it _will _be _being _given to _you _all, good measure, having _been _pressed _down having _been _shaken being _overflowed, they _will _be _giving into the fold _of _garment of _you _all, because/for with _that measure you _all _are _measuring, it _will _be _being _measured _back to _you _all.

Jump to OET LUK 6:38 section.

Sense 3: bay, gulf

Semantic entry: 1.74

Semantic domains: Geographical Objects and Features

Subdomains: Bodies of Water

Definition: a part of the sea which is partially enclosed by land

Notes: A ‘bay’ may be described as ‘a protected area of the sea’ or ‘a part of the sea protected by land.’

Show passage in OET: ACT 27:39

OET-RV ACT 27:39

39 Once it became light, they saw that they were close to shore in a bay but didn’t recognise the place. After some discussion, they decided to try to save the ship

OET-LV ACT 27:39

39 And when day became, they _were_ not _recognizing the land, but were _observing a_certain bay having a_shore, on which they _were _counselling, if they _might _be _able to _preserve the ship.

Jump to OET ACT 27:39 section.

Sense 4: Abraham’s bosom, heaven

Semantic entry: 1.16

Semantic domains: Geographical Objects and Features

Subdomains: Regions Above the Earth

Definition: (an idiom, literally: Abraham’s bosom) the heavenly abode, with the implication of close interpersonal relations

Notes: 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,{N:001} one may be justified in rendering OET 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.’

Collocations: ὁ κόλπος Ἀβραάμ

Show passage in OET: LUK 16:22

OET-RV LUK 16:22