Bible Dictionary
Gnash
To gnash the teeth is to grind them in rage, grief, pain, or frustrated disappointment. In the Gospels, gnashing of teeth describes the misery of those facing judgment and lost hope.
Definition
To gnash is to grind or strike the teeth together. It may express rage, hatred, grief, pain, contempt, anger, or the misery of disappointed expectation.
Biblical Usage
In the Old Testament, gnashing commonly represents rage, hatred, grief, or derision. In Acts it accompanies anger against Stephen. In the Gospels, “weeping and gnashing of teeth” vividly portrays misery and disappointed expectations under judgment.
Historical Background
The biblical terms include words for grinding the teeth, giving a grating sound, and undergoing a paroxysm. Their precise force varies according to the passage.
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Heb. harak, meaning “to grate the teeth”, (Job 16:9; Ps. 112:10; Lam. 2:16), denotes rage or sorrow. (See also Acts 7:54; Mark 9:18.)
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>nash (charaq; brugmos): "Gnash" is used of grinding or striking together the teeth in rage, pain or misery of disappointment. In the Old Testament it is the translation of charak, a mimetic word, and represents for the most part rage, anger, hatred (Job 16:9, "He gnasheth upon me with his teeth," the Revised Version (British and American) "hath gnashed upon me"; Ps 35:16; 37:12; 112:10, grief; La 2:16, contempt or derision); brucho, "to gnash the teeth in rage," indicates anger, rage, Septuagint for charaq (Ac 7:54, of Stephen, "They gnashed on him with their teeth"). The several instances of brugmos, "gnashing," in the Gospels seem to express disappointment rather than anger (Mt 8:12,"There shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth," the Revised Version (British and American) "the weeping and the gnashing of teeth"; Mt 13:42,50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30; Lu 13:28--a vivid representation of the misery of disappointed expectations; compare Ecclesiasticus 30:10, "lest thou shalt gnash thy teeth in the end," gomphiazo, "to have the teeth set on edge"); trizo (Mr 9:18), which means "to give out a creaking, grating sound," "to screak," is used in the New Testament (in the above instance only) to mean "to grate or gnash with the teeth," indicating the effect of a paroxysm, the Revised Version (British and American) "grindeth his teeth."</p><p>W. L. Walker</p>