"to be silent, keep silence, hold one’s peace, Mt. 20:31; 26:63; Mk. 3:4; 9:34; 10:48; 14:61; Lk. 19:40; Acts 18:9; σιωπῶν, silent, dumb, Lk. 1:20; met. to be silent, still, hushed, calm, as the sea, Mk. 4:39*"
Definition and meaning
to be silent, keep silence, hold one’s peace, Mt. 20:31; 26:63; Mk. 3:4; 9:34; 10:48; 14:61; Lk. 19:40; Acts 18:9; σιωπῶν, silent, dumb, Lk. 1:20; met. to be silent, still, hushed, calm, as the sea, Mk. 4:39*
In the original Greek the word is written: σιωπάω
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
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 siopao (G4623) across the King James Bible.
And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.
But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.
And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.
And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.
And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?
And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
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Common questions
Strong's G4623 (siopao) is a Greek word that means: to be silent, keep silence, hold one’s peace, Mt. 20:31; 26:63; Mk. 3:4; 9:34; 10:48; 14:61; Lk. 19:40; Acts 18:9; σιωπῶν, silent, dumb, Lk. 1:20; met. to be silent, still, hushed, calm, as the sea, M... It appears 11 times in the King James Bible.
The word siopao (G4623) appears 11 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4623 is siopao, a Greek word defined as: to be silent, keep silence, hold one’s peace, Mt. 20:31; 26:63; Mk. 3:4; 9:34; 10:48; 14:61; Lk. 19:40; Acts 18:9; σιωπῶν, silent, dumb, Lk. 1:20; met. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
siopao is a Greek word found in the New Testament.