Quick Definition
ὀσφύς, ύος, ἡ n.f. the loins
Strong's Definition
of uncertain affinity; the loin (externally), i.e. the hip; internally (by extension) procreative power
KJV Usage: loin
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun, f. | -ύος
8.42 · Body, Body Parts, and Body Products · Parts of the Body
waist the part of the human body above the hips and below the ribs, the customary place for tying a belt In a number of languages the equivalent of ‘waist’ is a term meaning literally ‘the middle.’
8.43 · Body, Body Parts, and Body Products · Parts of the Body
genitals, loins the male genital organs (‘loins’ in traditional English translations) A literal rendering of ‘he was still in the genitals of his father’ (HEB 7:10) might be regarded in a number of languages as being excessively specific and even vulgar. It is possible to render this passage as simply ‘he was not as yet born’ or ‘his father had not yet caused him to be conceived.’ In ACT 2:30 (καρποῦ τῆς ὀσφύος αὐτοῦ ‘the fruit of his loins’) it may be best to translate ‘one of his descendants’ (see 10.34).
77.5 · Ready, Prepared
Collocation: περιζώννυμαι τὴν ὀσφύν
to get ready, to prepare oneself (an idiom, literally: to gird up the loins) to cause oneself to be in a state of readiness In the context of EPH 6:14, however, it may be useful to preserve the extended figure of readiness for warfare beginning with EPH 6:13 and extending through verse 17.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ὀσφύς [or -φῦς, so R Tr in Eph. vi. 14; Gin Mt. iii. 4; cf. Chandler 88 658, 659; Tdf. Proleg. p. 101], -vos, ἡ, fr. Aeschyl. and Hdt. down ; 1. the hip (loin), as that part of the body where the ζώνη was worn (Sept. for pm): Mt. iii. 4; Mk. i. 6; hence περιζώννυσθαι τὰς ὀσφύας, to gird, gird about, the loins, Lk. xii. 395; Eph. vi. 14; and ἀναζώνν. ras ὀσφ. [to gird up the loins], 1 Pet. i. 13; on the meaning of these metaph. phrases see dvaζώννυμι. 2. a loin, Sept. several times for oon,
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
ὀσφῦς osphys 8x
the loins, Mt. 3:4; Mk. 1:6. On the accent see BDF, 13.
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
ὀσφύς, -ύος, ἡ,
[in LXX chiefly for מָתְנַיִם, also for חָלָץ, etc.;]
the loin: Mt 3:4, Mk 1:6; metaph., περιζώννυσθαι (ἀναζ-) τ. ὀσφύας, Lk 12:35, Eph 6:14, I Pe 1:13; regarded, as by the Hebrews, as the seat of generative power, He 7:5, 10; metaph., καρπὸς τ. ὀσφύος, Ac 2:30.
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
ὀσφύς, “loin” (cognate with ὀστέον), is found in the fragment or a i/B.C. treatise on physiology, P Ryl I. 21 Fr. 3%" εἰ[ς] τόπον τῆς ὀσφύος, and in the mantic 76. 281: (iv/A.D.) ὀσφύος δεξιὸν μέρος ἐὰν ἅλληται μεγάλως εὐπορήσει Kall] δοῦλος καὶ πένης ἐκ κόπων, ““1{ the right part of the loin quiver, a slave or poor man will prosper greatly after distress” (Edd.): cf. also the astronomical 26. II. 63° (iii/A.D. ) ΠΠαρθένου σιαγὼν ὀσφύες, ‘the cheek and loins to Virgo.”’
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
ὀσφῦς (osphus) — loins. ὀσφῦς, ἡ, genitive ὀσφύος: accusative ὀσφῦν, also ὀσφύα [Refs 2nd c.AD+]: —lion or loins, lower part of the back, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; opposed to κῶλα, ὦμοι, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; loin of a victim, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of wasps, ἔχουσι κέντρον ἐκ τῆς ὀ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of a horse, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of a fish, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
2. Hellenist., metaphorically, ὁ καρπὸς τῆς ὀ., of a son, [LXX+NT]
3. περιζώννυσθαι or ἀναζώννυσθαι τὴν ὀσφύν gird up one's loins,[LXX]; βυσσίνῳ[LXX+NT]; ὀσφύς, -ύν frequently in codices, and this may be admitted for late writers: compare ὀφρῦς.]