Lexical Summary broché: Rain Original Word: βροχή Strong's Exhaustive Concordance rain. From brecho; rain -- rain. see GREEK brecho NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom brechó Definition a wetting NASB Translation rain (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1028: βροχήβροχή, βροχης, ἡ (βρέχω, which see), a later Greek word (cf. Lob. ad Phryn., p. 291), a besprinkling, watering, rain: used of a heavy shower or violent rainstorm, Matthew 7:25, 27; Psalm 67:10 Topical Lexicon Occurrences in Scripture βροχή appears twice, both in the climactic illustration of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:25; Matthew 7:27). In each verse it functions as the opening element in a triad of natural forces (“rain … floods … winds”) that tests the integrity of two houses. Symbolism and Imagery 1. Testing and Judgment Geographical and Historical Setting First-century Galileans were well acquainted with sudden winter cloudbursts that turned dry wadis into raging torrents. Unwary builders who chose sandy ravines for convenience could see their work swept away overnight. Jesus uses a familiar meteorological reality to anchor a timeless spiritual lesson. Connection to Wisdom Literature The wise/foolish contrast evokes Proverbs (for example, Proverbs 10:25: “When the storm has passed, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever”). βροχή thus links Jesus’ teaching with Israel’s sapiential tradition, positioning Him as the authoritative sage who perfects that tradition. Christological and Eschatological Dimensions Matthew presents the Sermon on the Mount as the messianic equivalent of Sinai. βροχή contributes to an eschatological warning: life choices now will be unmasked when the final storm comes. The imagery anticipates sayings like Matthew 24:30 where cosmic upheaval accompanies the Son of Man’s return. Pastoral and Teaching Applications • Discipleship: βροχή encourages believers to examine whether their obedience is merely auditory (“everyone who hears”) or responsive (“and does”). Related References Deuteronomy 11:14; 1 Kings 8:35–36; Job 37:6; Isaiah 55:10–11; Ezekiel 13:13; James 5:7–8 all employ rain imagery that balances blessing, waiting, and judgment, enriching the interpretive background of βροχή in Matthew’s Gospel. Forms and Transliterations βροχάς βροχη βροχή βροχὴ βροχήν broche brochē brochḕLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 7:25 N-NFSGRK: κατέβη ἡ βροχὴ καὶ ἦλθον NAS: And the rain fell, and the floods KJV: And the rain descended, and INT: came down the rain and came Matthew 7:27 N-NFS |
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