2306. theiódés
Lexical Summary
theiódés: Divine, godlike

Original Word: θεοειδής
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: theiódés
Pronunciation: thay-oh-ee-DACE
Phonetic Spelling: (thi-o'-dace)
KJV: brimstone
NASB: brimstone
Word Origin: [from G2303 (θεῖον - brimstone) and G1491 (εἶδος - Form)]

1. sulphur-like, i.e. sulphurous

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
brimstone.

From theion and eidos; sulphur-like, i.e. Sulphurous -- brimstone.

see GREEK theion

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from theion and -ódés (suff. denoting similarity)
Definition
of brimstone
NASB Translation
brimstone (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 2306: θειώδης

θειώδης, θειωδες (from θεῖον brimstone (which see)), of brimstone, sulphurous: Revelation 9:17; a later Greek word; cf. Lob. ad Phryn., p. 228; (Sophocles' Lexicon, under the word).

Topical Lexicon
Root Imagery and Symbolism

Derived from the idea of burning sulfur or brimstone, the adjective conveys an atmosphere charged with acrid fire, choking fumes, and inescapable judgment. Throughout Scripture sulfur is not merely a noxious element; it is a divine instrument that exposes evil, consumes impurity, and leaves an unforgettable stench of finality. The term therefore carries connotations of both the fierceness of God’s wrath and the moral purity that His judgment secures.

Canonical Context

The single New Testament appearance occurs in Revelation 9:17, where John beholds, “The horses had breastplates that were fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow” (Berean Standard Bible). Sandwiched between trumpet blasts and the impending seventh trumpet, the vision amplifies the escalating severity of divine judgments unleashed upon an unrepentant world. The sulfur-like breastplates underscore that even the armor of the demonic cavalry reeks of condemnation; their very appearance forecasts the torment they are empowered to inflict.

The Eschatological Landscape of Revelation

Revelation repeatedly returns to sulfur imagery in connection with the lake of fire (Revelation 14:10, Revelation 19:20, Revelation 20:10, Revelation 21:8). Though these later verses employ the noun rather than the adjective, the single descriptive use in Revelation 9:17 sets the stage: the sulfurous scent pervades the Apocalypse, marking out every realm—earthly, demonic, and eternal—where sin meets holy retribution. The judgment motif climaxes when death and Hades are thrown into the lake of fire burning with sulfur, demonstrating that God’s justice is comprehensive and final.

Old Testament Parallels and Thematic Continuity

1. Genesis 19:24: “Then the LORD rained down sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah.”
2. Psalm 11:6: “He will rain burning coals and sulfur on the wicked.”
3. Isaiah 30:33: Topheth is “made ready... the breath of the LORD, like a stream of burning sulfur, sets it ablaze.”

These passages establish a canonical through-line that links the cataclysm of Sodom to the ultimate lake of fire, framing Revelation’s sulfurous scenes as the consummation of a pattern long embedded in redemptive history.

Historical Usage of Sulfur in the Ancient World

Greco-Roman societies recognized sulfur as a powerful disinfectant and purifying agent, used in fumigation, metallurgy, and religious ritual. Its penetrating odor and capacity to cleanse through burning made it an apt metaphor for expunging moral corruption. First-century readers would quickly associate sulfurous fire with both ceremonial purification and lethal judgment, heightening the impact of John’s vision.

Theology of Divine Judgment and Purification

1. Retributive Justice: Sulfur signals that God’s wrath is not capricious but righteous, targeted specifically at persistent rebellion (Romans 2:5-8).
2. Moral Purity: The consuming nature of burning sulfur illustrates Hebrews 12:29, “Our God is a consuming fire,” purging impurity and refining the redeemed community.
3. Final Separation: Revelation’s lake of fire “burning with sulfur” functions as the ultimate divide between those washed in the Lamb’s blood and those who refuse His mercy (Revelation 21:27).

Practical Ministry Implications

• Preaching: The sulfur motif serves as a sobering reminder of the eternal stakes of the gospel. It calls for urgent proclamation that salvation is found in Jesus Christ alone (Acts 4:12).
• Pastoral Care: While warning of judgment, the imagery also invites believers to pursue holiness, trusting that Christ bore the “sulfurous” wrath on the cross so that they might escape it.
• Discipleship: Teaching on divine wrath and purification guards against complacency, fostering reverent fear (Philippians 2:12-13) and motivating evangelism.

Further Study Suggestions

• Trace occurrences of the root noun “sulfur” (Strong’s Greek 2303) across Revelation to grasp the full eschatological tapestry.
• Compare Second Temple Jewish writings (e.g., 1 Enoch 67) for additional background on sulfur imagery.
• Explore Levitical purification rituals to enrich understanding of sulfur as both destructive and cleansing.

Forms and Transliterations
θειωδεις θειώδεις θεκέλ theiodeis theiōdeis theiṓdeis
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Revelation 9:17 Adj-AMP
GRK: ὑακινθίνους καὶ θειώδεις καὶ αἱ
NAS: and of hyacinth and of brimstone; and the heads
KJV: and brimstone: and
INT: hyacinthine and brimstone-like and the

Strong's Greek 2306
1 Occurrence


θειώδεις — 1 Occ.

2305
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