Lexical Summary ios: Poison, venom, rust Original Word: ἰός Strong's Exhaustive Concordance poison, rust. Perhaps from eimi (to go) or hiemi (to send); rust (as if emitted by metals); also venom (as emitted by serpents) -- poison, rust. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. word Definition rust, poison NASB Translation poison (2), rust (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2447: ἰόςἰός, ἰοῦ, ὁ (on its very uncertain derivation see Kreussler in Passow, under the word; Curtius, § 591; (Vanicek, p. 969)); 1. poison (of animals): ἰός ἀσπίδων ὑπό τά χείλη αὐτῶν, the poison of asps is under their lips, spoken of men given to reviling and calumniating and thereby injuring others, Romans 3:13 (from Psalm 139:3 2. rust: James 5:3; (Ezekiel 24:6, 11f; Baruch 6:11, 23 (Epistle Jeremiah 12, 24); Theognis, Theocritus, Plato, Theophrastus, Polybius, Lucian, others). Strong’s Greek 2447 (ἰός, ios) gathers two seemingly disparate ideas—“poison” and “corrosion.” Whether describing the toxic secretion of serpents or the rust that eats away at metal, the term uniformly portrays an invisible but relentless agent of death and decay. Scripture employs this imagery to expose the devastating power of sin in speech, wealth, and the human heart. Biblical Occurrences 1. Romans 3:13 – “The venom of vipers is on their lips.” These three texts span two writers (Paul and James) and three topics—deceitful speech, untamed tongues, and hoarded wealth—yet converge on a single warning: unchecked sin works like ἰός, silently corrupting until ruin becomes manifest. Historical–Cultural Background In the Greco-Roman world, rust symbolized inevitable decay. Although precious metals do not oxidize like iron, they can tarnish or be reduced to worthlessness through confiscation or market collapse. Ancient people also feared serpent venom, often fatal without remedy. Both realities provided apt metaphors for moral corruption: wealth and words may appear harmless, yet under sin’s influence they become agents of destruction. Theological Significance • Radical Depravity: Romans 3:13 anchors Paul’s indictment of universal sinfulness (Romans 3:9-18). Venom on human lips pictures mankind’s fallen nature, confirming the need for the righteousness that comes “apart from the law” (Romans 3:21). Connections within Scripture Old Testament precursors mirror both senses of ἰός: Deuteronomy 32:33 laments “the venom of serpents,” while Ezekiel 24:6 depicts the “rust” (ḥel’â) of a boiling pot—imagery later echoed by James. Isaiah 1:22’s “dross” and Psalm 140:3’s “poison of vipers” converge to foreshadow the New Testament usage. In each context, God exposes internal impurity that only He can purge (Isaiah 1:25). Christological Implications The gospel addresses every facet of ἰός: Practical Applications 1. Speech: Guard the tongue through Scripture meditation and prayer; what fills the heart will flavor the lips (Luke 6:45). Pastoral Reflections Ἰός teaches that sin’s most potent work is often silent. Like rust beneath a polished surface or venom coursing unseen through veins, moral decay hides until calamity erupts. Yet the same Lord who exposes ἰός also provides the remedy: the cleansing word (John 15:3), the purifying blood (1 John 1:7), and the incorruptible hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). Englishman's Concordance Romans 3:13 N-NMSGRK: αὐτῶν ἐδολιοῦσαν ἰὸς ἀσπίδων ὑπὸ NAS: THEY KEEP DECEIVING, THE POISON OF ASPS KJV: they have used deceit; the poison of asps INT: of them they practice deceit poision of vipers [is] under James 3:8 N-GMS James 5:3 N-NMS |
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