Lexical Summary lailaps: Storm, tempest, whirlwind Original Word: λαῖλαψ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance storm, tempest. Of uncertain derivation; a whirlwind (squall) -- storm, tempest. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originprobably from intens. prefix lai- and a prim. root lap- Definition a hurricane NASB Translation fierce gale (1), gale (1), storm (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2978: λαῖλαψλαῖλαψ ((L T Tr WH) not λαῖλαψ (Griesbach), cf. Winers Grammar, § 6, 1 e.; Lipsius, Grammat. Untersuch., p. 37f; (Chandler § 620; Tdf. Proleg., p. 101)), λαίλαπος, ἡ (masculine in א* Mark 4:37; cf. Thomas Magister, Ritschl edition, p. 226, 4), a whirlwind, tempestuous wind: 2 Peter 2:17; λαῖλαψ ἀνέμου (cf. German Sturmwind; ἄνεμος σύν λαίλαπι πολλή, Homer, Iliad 17, 57), a violent attack of wind (A. V. a storm of wind), a squall ((see below)), Mark 4:37; Luke 8:23. (The Sept., Job 21:18; Job 38:1; Wis. 5:15, 24; Sir. 48:9.) (According to Schmidt (chapter 55 § 13), λαῖλαψ is never a single gust, nor a steadily blowing wind, however violent; but a storm breaking forth from black thunder-clouds in furious gusts, with floods of rain, and throwing everything topsy-turvy; according to Aristotle, de mund. 4, p. 395{a}, 7 it is 'a whirlwind revolving from below upward.') Topical Lexicon Overview of Biblical Usage Strong’s Greek 2978 denotes a violent, swirling tempest that stirs both sea and sky. It appears three times in the New Testament: twice in the Synoptic accounts of Jesus calming the storm (Mark 4:37; Luke 8:23) and once in Peter’s denunciation of false teachers (2 Peter 2:17). In each setting the word frames a moment of extreme danger or moral crisis, heightening the revelation of Christ’s authority or the gravity of apostasy. Historical and Cultural Background First-century Galilean fishermen feared sudden squalls on the lake. Mount Hermon’s cold downdrafts could collide with warm valley air, producing windstorms that could swamp boats within minutes. Such storms became vivid metaphors in Jewish and Greco-Roman literature for chaos, divine judgment, or spiritual turmoil. Occurrences in the New Testament Mark 4:37 records, “A furious windstorm came up, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was being swamped.” Luke 8:23 parallels the scene. In 2 Peter 2:17 the word is transferred from meteorology to morality: “These men are springs without water and mists driven by a violent storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them.” Here the image exposes the destructive force that false teachers unleash upon unsuspecting souls. Theological Themes 1. Christ’s Sovereignty: The disciples cry, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38). By rebuking the winds and waves, Jesus reveals His divine prerogative over creation (cf. Job 38:8-11; Psalm 107:23-30). Intertextual Echoes with the Old Testament • Job meets the Lord “out of the whirlwind” (Job 38:1), underscoring divine transcendence. Ministry Implications 1. Pastoral Care: Believers facing sudden crises can draw comfort from the Savior who remains unshaken by chaos. Pastoral Reflections The violent tempest symbolized by Strong’s 2978 is more than a meteorological event; it embodies every moment when human frailty collides with forces beyond control. Scripture points not to self-reliance but to the One who commands, “Peace! Be still!” (Mark 4:39). Whether confronting doctrinal deception or personal trial, believers find safety only in the sovereign Lord who tames every lailaps and exposes every storm-driven lie. Summary Strong’s 2978 threads through Scripture as a signpost of peril that magnifies divine authority. In the Gospels it yields a doxology: “Who is this? Even the wind and the sea obey Him!” In the Epistles it sounds a warning: unanchored souls may be swept away unless moored to the truth. Thus the whirlwind becomes a canvas upon which God paints both deliverance for the faithful and doom for the ungodly. Forms and Transliterations λαιλαπος λαίλαπος λαιλαψ λαίλαψ λαῖλαψ λάκκοις λάκκον λάκκος λάκκου λάκκους λάκκω λάκκων lailapos laílapos lailaps laîlapsLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Mark 4:37 N-NFSGRK: καὶ γίνεται λαῖλαψ μεγάλη ἀνέμου NAS: a fierce gale of wind, KJV: there arose a great storm of wind, and INT: And comes a storm violent of wind Luke 8:23 N-NFS 2 Peter 2:17 N-GFS Strong's Greek 2978 |
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