"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*"
Definition and meaning
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*
In the original Greek the word is written: κόλπος
Historical context
Luke wrote as a historian addressing a Greek audience. He carefully interviewed eyewitnesses and arranged events in order. The social and economic realities he describes — Roman taxation, Jewish religious hierarchy, the marginalization of women and the poor — are consistent with first-century Judea under Roman administration.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of kolpos (G2859) across the King James Bible.
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.
And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship.
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Common questions
Strong's G2859 (kolpos) is a Greek word that means: 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* It appears 6 times in the King James Bible.
The word kolpos (G2859) appears 6 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2859 is kolpos, a Greek word defined as: 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*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
kolpos is a Greek word found in the New Testament.