Lexical Summary potamos: River Original Word: ποταμός Strong's Exhaustive Concordance flood, river, stream, water. Probably from a derivative of the alternate of pino (compare potos); a current, brook or freshet (as drinkable), i.e. Running water -- flood, river, stream, water. see GREEK pino see GREEK potos NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom pinó Definition a river NASB Translation floods (2), River (2), river (6), rivers (4), riverside* (1), torrent (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4215: ποταμόςποταμός, ποταμοῦ, ὁ, from Homer down, the Sept. for נָהָר and יְאֹר, a stream, a river: Matthew 3:6 L T Tr WH; Mark 1:5; Acts 16:13; 2 Corinthians 11:26 (Winer's Grammar, § 30, 2 a.); Revelation 8:10; Revelation 9:14; Revelation 12:15; Revelation 16:4, 12; Revelation 22:1f; equivalent to a torrent, Matthew 7:25, 27; Luke 6:48; Revelation 12:15f; plural figuratively equivalent to the greatest abundance (cf. colloquial English streams, floods), John 7:38. Topical Lexicon Definition and biblical imagery Scripture treats a river as more than a geographic feature. It functions as life-giver, boundary, path, obstacle, weapon, symbol of the Holy Spirit, and foretaste of the new creation. The word appears seventeen times in the Greek New Testament, and its usage gathers up a rich Old Testament backdrop that begins with “a river flowed out of Eden” (Genesis 2:10) and runs to Ezekiel’s temple river (Ezekiel 47:1-12), culminating in the river of life in the Apocalypse. Old Testament background carried forward 1. Means of blessing: Egypt’s Nile (Genesis 41) or the Jordan valley (Deuteronomy 8:7) illustrate divine provision. Every New Testament occurrence assumes these categories—life, judgment, and transition. Rivers in the ministry of John the Baptist Matthew 3:6 and Mark 1:5 set the inauguration of the gospel beside “the Jordan River,” where repentance and baptism proclaim the coming kingdom. The Jordan, once a barrier into the Promised Land, now becomes the threshold of the Messianic age. By entering those waters, multitudes confess sin and anticipate the greater baptism “with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” Instructional parables of Jesus When Jesus contrasts wise and foolish builders, He chooses the threatening surge of a river to picture coming testing: “The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house” (Matthew 7:25; Luke 6:48). The solid foundation is obedience to His words; the torrent exposes empty profession. Promise of the Spirit—Johannine theology John 7:38 employs river imagery to describe the indwelling Spirit: “Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’ ” The plural “streams/rivers” links the personal work of the Spirit with the Edenic river divided into four heads (Genesis 2:10-14), suggesting worldwide missionary outflow. Rivers in apostolic mission and hardship Acts 16:13 shows the riverside at Philippi as a strategic meeting place where Lydia’s heart is opened. In 2 Corinthians 11:26 Paul lists “danger from rivers,” referencing swollen wadis and bandit-infested crossings—physical perils that accompany gospel advance. Rivers are both venue for ministry and threat to the messenger. Apocalyptic rivers—judgment and restoration Revelation gathers river imagery into climactic scenes: Theological themes 1. Life from God: Rivers water Eden, the land of promise, and the eternal city. Pastoral and missional applications • Baptismal ministry should recall not only forgiveness but entry into covenant promise, echoing Jordan’s role. Thus the New Testament’s employment of 4215 weaves together redemptive history—from Eden lost to Eden restored—assuring the people of God that the One who charts every riverbed also channels grace, protection, judgment, and ultimate renewal. Forms and Transliterations ποταμοι ποταμοί ποταμοὶ ποταμοίς ποταμον ποταμόν ποταμὸν ποταμος ποταμός ποταμὸς ποταμου ποταμού ποταμοῦ ποταμους ποταμούς ποταμοὺς ποταμω ποταμώ ποταμῷ ποταμων ποταμών ποταμῶν potamo potamō potamoi potamoì potamôi potamō̂i potamon potamón potamòn potamôn potamōn potamō̂n potamos potamós potamòs potamou potamoû potamous potamoùsLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 3:6 N-DMSGRK: τῷ Ἰορδάνῃ ποταμῷ ὑπ' αὐτοῦ NAS: by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed INT: the Jordan River by him Matthew 7:25 N-NMP Matthew 7:27 N-NMP Mark 1:5 N-DMS Luke 6:48 N-NMS Luke 6:49 N-NMS John 7:38 N-NMP Acts 16:13 N-AMS 2 Corinthians 11:26 N-GMP Revelation 8:10 N-GMP Revelation 9:14 N-DMS Revelation 12:15 N-AMS Revelation 12:16 N-AMS Revelation 16:4 N-AMP Revelation 16:12 N-AMS Revelation 22:1 N-AMS Revelation 22:2 N-GMS Strong's Greek 4215 |
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