Lexical Summary purrhos: Red, fiery red Original Word: πυρρός Strong's Exhaustive Concordance fiery redFrom pur; fire-like, i.e. (specially), flame- colored -- red. see GREEK pur Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4450: πυρρόςπυρρός, πυρρά, πυρρόν (from πῦρ), from Aeschylus and Herodotus down, having the color of fire, red: Revelation 6:4; Revelation 12:3. The Sept. several times for אָדֹם. STRONGS NT 4450: ΠύρροςΠύρρος ('fiery-red'; Fick, Griech. Personennamen, p. 75), Πύρρου, ὁ, Pyrrhus, the proper name of a man: Acts 20:4 G L T Tr WH. Strong’s Greek 4450, πυρρός, denotes a fiery-red color and, by extension, is used once as a proper name, Pyrrhus. The hue evokes the look of flame, blood, and burning heat, creating vivid imagery that underscores divine revelation concerning conflict, judgment, and spiritual warfare. Occurrences in the New Testament 1. Revelation 6:4 – fiery red horse. The Fiery Red Horse – Revelation 6:4 “And another horse went forth, fiery red, and its rider was granted to take peace from the earth, and to make men slay one another, and a great sword was given to him.” (Revelation 6:4) The second seal introduces a rider who personifies warfare. The color stresses the bloodshed that follows his mission. Throughout prophetic Scripture, red frequently signals violence (for example, Isaiah 63:2-3). In the unfolding judgment sequence of Revelation, this horseman affirms the righteous sovereignty of the Lamb: history moves at Christ’s command, even when human sin brings war. The Fiery Red Dragon – Revelation 12:3 “Then another sign appeared in heaven: a huge red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven royal crowns on his heads.” (Revelation 12:3) Here πυρρός shifts from earthly conflict to cosmic opposition. The dragon’s color recalls the murderous intent of Satan, who was “a murderer from the beginning” (John 8:44). The hue unites the dragon’s nature (fiery hostility) with his works (shedding the blood of saints). By portraying him in the same color that marks the horse of war, Revelation links satanic activity with the turmoil that erupts on earth, emphasizing Scripture’s consistent teaching that spiritual realities underlie human events. Pyrrhus, Father of Sopater – Acts 20:4 “He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea…” (Acts 20:4) The lone personal use of the root may appear incidental, yet it highlights the gospel’s advance into Hellenistic contexts. Berea’s believers were commended for examining the Scriptures daily (Acts 17:11). Sopater, a representative of that congregation, traveled with Paul during a season of heightened opposition (Acts 20:3). His father’s name, derived from the same fiery-red root, reminds readers that the kingdom gathers people of diverse backgrounds into one body. While Revelation’s uses warn of Satanic and military violence, Acts quietly testifies to redemption transcending cultural labels—even those bearing “fiery” connotations. Theological Themes Associated with Fiery Red • Judgment and Bloodshed: Both Old and New Testament passages employ red imagery to depict divine judgment or human violence (Numbers 19:2; Nahum 2:3; Revelation 6:4). Old Testament Background Hebrew color terms for scarlet and crimson (e.g., שָׁנִי, תּוֹלָע) prepare readers for the Greek πυρρός. In prophetic literature, red uniforms and weaponry signal invading armies (Nahum 2:3). The vision of a man on a red horse (Zechariah 1:8) prefigures Revelation’s horseman, tying together God’s patterned dealings with nations. Practical Ministry Applications 1. Teaching on Spiritual Warfare: The vividness of the red dragon can anchor lessons on resisting the devil through the blood of the Lamb and the word of testimony (Revelation 12:11). Summary Strong’s 4450 spans apocalyptic symbolism and everyday biography, uniting the cosmic and the personal. Fiery red points to judgment and conflict, yet in Acts it also stands beside faithful ministry. Together the occurrences declare that God both judges unrighteousness and preserves His people, guiding history toward the consummation foreseen in Revelation. Englishman's Concordance Acts 20:4 N-GMSGRK: αὐτῷ Σώπατρος Πύρρου Βεροιαῖος Θεσσαλονικέων NAS: of Berea, [the son] of Pyrrhus, and by Aristarchus INT: him Sopater Pyrrhus a Berean of thessalonians Revelation 6:4 Adj-NMS Revelation 12:3 Adj-NMS Strong's Greek 4450 |
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