Gnashing of Teeth
/NASH-ing of TEETH/
Summary
A gesture expressing fury, baffled rage, or extreme anguish, used by Jesus to describe the condition of the condemned.
☩Biblical Usage
Gnashing of teeth appears repeatedly in Jesus's descriptions of final judgment, characterizing the state of those cast into outer darkness. The phrase expresses mainly fury or baffled rage, as seen in Old Testament parallels where enemies gnash their teeth at the righteous. Stephen's accusers gnashed on him with their teeth before stoning him.
Key verses:Matthew 8:12Matthew 13:42Matthew 22:13Acts 7:54
