Luke 2:23
Footnote:
| 6 | The Greek διανοίγω (to open thoroughly/through) carries the sense of opening across or through, "1. Transitive: to open, especially to open by separating parts of the body, as in τὸ στόμα (the mouth), Hippocrates, Mul. 2.127." (cf. LSJ, DGE, Bailly) It implies the separation of two sides to create a passage or gap. This is reflected in its use in contexts like opening doors, the mouth, or eyes, as well as in more figurative uses, such as revealing or explaining knowledge. The idea centers around the concept of parting or separating something to allow access or understanding, whether physically (e.g., opening a door) or intellectually (e.g., revealing hidden meaning). This concept aligns with the Hebrew noun פטר (Strong's #6363), which refers to that which separates or first opens, and its verb root פטר (Strong's #6362)meaning to cleave or burst through. The Hebrew פתר is often used in the construct form פתר רחם "opening up the womb" or in apposition with בכור (firstborn), signifying the separation that occurs with the birth of the firstborn, the firstborn of both man or beast, emphasizing the "opening" of the womb as a literal and symbolic separation. See
Here also the Greek μήτρα "matrix, womb, origin, source" is used as opposed to "the Belly, Stomach" |