Lexical Summary empréthó: To set on fire, to burn Original Word: ἐμπρήθω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance burn up. From en and pretho (to blow a flame); to enkindle, i.e. Set on fire -- burn up. see GREEK en NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originsee empiprémi. Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1714: ἐμπρήθωἐμπρήθω: 1 aorist ἐνέπρησα; from Homer down; the Sept. for שָׂרַף and הִצִית; to burn; destroy by fire: τήν πόλιν, Matthew 22:7. Topical Lexicon Definition and Scope Strong’s Greek 1714 appears once in the New Testament, in Matthew 22:7, describing the king’s response in the Parable of the Wedding Banquet: “The king was enraged, and he sent his troops to destroy those murderers and burn their city” (Matthew 22:7). The verb communicates decisive judgment through consuming fire. Biblical Context Matthew places the parable in the final week of Jesus’ earthly ministry, aimed at religious leaders who rejected His messianic invitation. The destruction and burning of the city foreshadow the judgment that would fall on Jerusalem in AD 70, validating Christ’s prophetic authority (Matthew 24:2; Luke 19:41-44). Old Testament Background Fire as an instrument of divine judgment is woven throughout Scripture: ἐνέπρησεν thus echoes covenant warnings that disobedience invites fiery retribution (Deuteronomy 32:22). Thematic Significance 1. Covenant Accountability – The rejected invitation represents Israel’s covenant privilege; the burning city reveals that privilege does not exempt from accountability (Amos 3:2). Christological Implications The King in the parable mirrors the heavenly Father, while the Son is the Bridegroom. Rejecting the Son invites the Father’s judicial action (John 3:36). Jesus, by employing this imagery, affirms both His royal authority and His unity with the Father in executing judgment (John 5:22-23). Eschatological Insights Although historically fulfilled in Jerusalem’s fall, the imagery anticipates the ultimate day when “the earth and its works will be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10). The single occurrence of Strong’s 1714 becomes a window into the broader biblical pattern: temporary judgments preview final consummation. Pastoral and Missional Applications • Evangelistic Sobriety – Proclaimers of the gospel must couple the gracious invitation with clear warning (Acts 17:30-31). Historical Interpretation Early Church writers (e.g., Eusebius) viewed the burned city as prophetic of Titus’s siege. Reformers highlighted the parable to critique complacent Christendom. Modern scholarship confirms the AD 70 link while challenging the Church to self-examination. Practical Theology 1. Divine Judgment Is Real – Neglecting this theme emasculates gospel proclamation. Summary Strong’s Greek 1714, though rare, carries enduring weight. Its lone appearance encapsulates the certainty of divine judgment against prolonged resistance to God’s gracious call, urging every generation to heed the invitation, adorn the gospel, and proclaim both the kindness and severity of the King. Forms and Transliterations εμπρήσαι εμπρήσατε εμπρήσεις εμπρήσομεν εμπρήσουσι εμπρήσουσιν ενέπρησαν ενέπρησε ενεπρησεν ενέπρησεν ἐνέπρησεν ενεπρήσθη ενεπρήσθησαν enepresen eneprēsen enépresen enéprēsenLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 22:7 V-AIA-3SGRK: πόλιν αὐτῶν ἐνέπρησεν KJV: murderers, and burned up their city. INT: city of them he burnt |
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