2586. kapnos
Lexical Summary
kapnos: Smoke

Original Word: καπνός
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: kapnos
Pronunciation: kap-nos'
Phonetic Spelling: (kap-nos')
KJV: smoke
NASB: smoke
Word Origin: [of uncertain affinity]

1. smoke

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
smoke.

Of uncertain affinity; smoke -- smoke.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
a prim. word
Definition
smoke
NASB Translation
smoke (13).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 2586: καπνός

καπνός; καπνοῦ, (fr Homer down), smoke: Revelation 8:4; Revelation 9:2f, 17, 18; Revelation 14:11; Revelation 15:8; Revelation 18:9, 18; Revelation 19:3; ἀτμίς καπνοῦ, A. V. vapor of smoke, Acts 2:19 after Joel 2:30 ().

Topical Lexicon
Smoke in Biblical Imagery

From Genesis forward, smoke is a vivid theological marker of either God’s nearness or His judgment. In the New Testament the term appears thirteen times, each occurrence loaded with echoes of Sinai, the wilderness tabernacle, and the prophetic visions of Isaiah and Ezekiel. Smoke can thus denote either a holy theophany or the consuming wrath that accompanies final judgment.

Occurrences in the New Testament

Revelation dominates the usage (twelve of thirteen instances), with one appearance in Peter’s Pentecost sermon (Acts 2:19, citing Joel 2:30). John’s Apocalypse employs the image to portray three principal themes: divine wrath poured out on a rebellious world, the anguish of those under judgment, and the majesty of God’s glory filling His heavenly sanctuary.

Acts 2:19 – “I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and clouds of smoke.”
Revelation 8:4 – “The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, rose up before God from the hand of the angel.”
Revelation 9:2 – “The sun and the air were darkened by the smoke from the shaft.”
Revelation 14:11 – “And the smoke of their torment rises forever and ever. Day and night there is no rest for those who worship the beast and its image…”
Revelation 15:8 – “The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.”

Symbol of Judgment

Revelation 9 vividly ties smoke to the demonic locust plague released from the abyss. The thick column obscures light—an apocalyptic reversal of the guiding pillar of cloud in Exodus. In Revelation 14:11 and 19:3 the unending upward movement of smoke pictures an eternal testimony to God’s righteous vengeance. Such imagery stands in conscious contrast to temporary Old Testament judgments (e.g., Genesis 19:28) and underscores the irrevocable nature of the final sentence on Babylon and all idolaters.

Symbol of Divine Presence and Worship

Revelation 8:4 and 15:8 recall tabernacle worship where fragrant smoke signified acceptable intercession (Exodus 30:7–8; Isaiah 6:4). Here the smoke does not repel but reveals: the sanctuary is filled so completely that angelic beings themselves must pause, emphasizing the holiness of God and the weight of His forthcoming acts.

Eschatological Significance

The dual function of smoke—concealing glory and proclaiming judgment—reaches its climax in Revelation 18–19. Babylon’s merchants view the “smoke of her burning” (Revelation 18:9, 18) from afar, reinforcing both the finality of her destruction and the warning to remain separate from systems opposed to Christ.

Old Testament Foundations

The Greek usage draws heavily on Hebrew antecedents: the cloud on Sinai (Exodus 19:18), Isaiah’s vision (Isaiah 6:4), and prophetic oracles against Gentile powers (Isaiah 34:10). The continuity validates John’s visions as the natural consummation of earlier revelation.

Practical Ministry Implications

1. Preaching: Smoke confronts congregations with the reality of eternal consequences. Revelation 14:11 demands clear proclamation about the destiny of the unrepentant.
2. Worship: The imagery encourages reverence. If heavenly worship involves a temple filled with smoke, earthly liturgy should likewise honor God’s holiness.
3. Prayer: Revelation 8:4 emboldens intercessors; the prayers of the saints ascend through the incense smoke before the throne.
4. Pastoral Care: Suffering believers find assurance that present trials will culminate in the vindication symbolized by the smoke rising “forever and ever” (Revelation 19:3).

Christological Considerations

The same apocalypse that depicts endless smoke of torment also shows the Lamb receiving worship amid a smoke-filled sanctuary. Thus, judgment and redemption converge at the cross: the righteous wrath symbolized by smoke has already fallen on Christ for believers, guaranteeing freedom from the fate of Babylon.

Evangelistic Application

Acts 2:19 frames smoke as a last-days sign meant to awaken repentance. The church can employ this imagery to urge unbelievers toward the Savior before the abyss is opened and the sun is darkened by smoke no gospel ray can pierce.

Summary

In Scripture smoke never stands alone; it always points to a greater reality—the presence of God either in blazing holiness or in consuming wrath. The term gathers up the entire biblical story, from the smoking furnace of Abraham’s covenant to the eternal rising smoke of Babylon’s fall, and calls every reader to choose refuge in the Lamb whose sacrifice turns judgment’s smoke into the aroma of worship.

Forms and Transliterations
καπνον καπνόν καπνὸν καπνος καπνός καπνὸς καπνου καπνού καπνοῦ καπνώ kapnon kapnòn kapnos kapnòs kapnou kapnoû
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Englishman's Concordance
Acts 2:19 N-GMS
GRK: καὶ ἀτμίδα καπνοῦ
NAS: AND FIRE, AND VAPOR OF SMOKE.
KJV: and vapour of smoke:
INT: and vapor of smoke

Revelation 8:4 N-NMS
GRK: ἀνέβη ὁ καπνὸς τῶν θυμιαμάτων
NAS: And the smoke of the incense,
KJV: And the smoke of the incense,
INT: went up the smoke of the incense

Revelation 9:2 N-NMS
GRK: καὶ ἀνέβη καπνὸς ἐκ τοῦ
NAS: pit, and smoke went
KJV: there arose a smoke out of
INT: and there went up smoke out of of the

Revelation 9:2 N-NMS
GRK: φρέατος ὡς καπνὸς καμίνου μεγάλης
NAS: like the smoke of a great
KJV: as the smoke of a great
INT: pit as [the] smoke of a furnace great

Revelation 9:2 N-GMS
GRK: ἐκ τοῦ καπνοῦ τοῦ φρέατος
NAS: were darkened by the smoke of the pit.
KJV: by reason of the smoke of the pit.
INT: by the smoke of the pit

Revelation 9:3 N-GMS
GRK: ἐκ τοῦ καπνοῦ ἐξῆλθον ἀκρίδες
NAS: Then out of the smoke came locusts
KJV: out of the smoke locusts
INT: out of the smoke came forth locusts

Revelation 9:17 N-NMS
GRK: πῦρ καὶ καπνὸς καὶ θεῖον
NAS: proceed fire and smoke and brimstone.
KJV: fire and smoke and brimstone.
INT: fire and smoke and brimstone

Revelation 9:18 N-GMS
GRK: καὶ τοῦ καπνοῦ καὶ τοῦ
NAS: by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone
KJV: and by the smoke, and by
INT: and the smoke and the

Revelation 14:11 N-NMS
GRK: καὶ ὁ καπνὸς τοῦ βασανισμοῦ
NAS: And the smoke of their torment goes
KJV: And the smoke of their torment
INT: And the smoke of the torment

Revelation 15:8 N-GMS
GRK: ὁ ναὸς καπνοῦ ἐκ τῆς
NAS: was filled with smoke from the glory
KJV: was filled with smoke from
INT: the temple with smoke from the

Revelation 18:9 N-AMS
GRK: βλέπωσιν τὸν καπνὸν τῆς πυρώσεως
NAS: they see the smoke of her burning,
KJV: they shall see the smoke of her
INT: they see the smoke of the burning

Revelation 18:18 N-AMS
GRK: βλέποντες τὸν καπνὸν τῆς πυρώσεως
NAS: out as they saw the smoke of her burning,
KJV: when they saw the smoke of her
INT: seeing the smoke of the burning

Revelation 19:3 N-NMS
GRK: καὶ ὁ καπνὸς αὐτῆς ἀναβαίνει
NAS: Hallelujah! HER SMOKE RISES
KJV: And her smoke rose up for
INT: And the smoke of her goes up

Strong's Greek 2586
13 Occurrences


καπνὸν — 2 Occ.
καπνὸς — 6 Occ.
καπνοῦ — 5 Occ.

2585
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