4501. rhomphaia

Lexicon

rhomphaia: Sword

Original Word: ῥομφαία
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: rhomphaia
Pronunciation: hrom-FI-ah
Phonetic Spelling: (hrom-fah'-yah)
Definition: Sword
Meaning: a sword, scimitar; fig: war, piercing grief.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

sword.

Probably of foreign origin; a sabre, i.e. A long and broad cutlass (any weapon of the kind, literally or figuratively) -- sword.

HELPS Word-studies

4501 rhomphaía – a long Thracian sword; "a sword, scimitar" (Souter). 4501 (rhomphaía) is "a large, broad sword" that both cuts and pierces – an imposing sword, synonymous with finality (dominance).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 4501: ῤομφαία

ῤομφαία, ῤομφαίας, ἡ, a large sword; properly, a long Thracian javelin (cf. Rich, Dict. of Antiq. under the word Rhompaea); also a kind of long sword usually worn on the right shoulder (Hesychius ῤομφαία. Θρακιον ἀμυντηριον, μάχαιρα, ξίφος ἤ ἀκόντιον μακρόν; (Suidas 3223 c. (cf. ῥεμβω to revolve, vibrate)); cf. Plutarch, Aemil. 18); (A. V. sword): Revelation 1:16; Revelation 2:12, 16; Revelation 6:8; Revelation 19:15, 21; σου δέ αὐτῆς τήν ψυχήν διελεύσεται ῤομφαία, a figure for 'extreme anguish shall fill (pierce, as it were) thy soul', Luke 2:35, where cf. Kuinoel. (Josephus, Antiquities 6, 12, 4; 7, 12, 1; in Ev. Nicod. 26 the archangel Michael, keeper of Paradise, is called ἡ φλογινη ῤομφαία. Very often in the Sept. for חֶרֶב; often also in the O. T. Apocrypha.)

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: From a presumed derivative of the same as ῥάβδος (rhabdos), meaning "rod" or "staff."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for ῥομφαία, similar concepts of swords and divine judgment can be found in the Hebrew Scriptures. The Hebrew word חֶרֶב (chereb, Strong's H2719) is often used to denote a sword and is associated with warfare and judgment in various Old Testament passages. Another related term is מַאֲכֶלֶת (ma'akeleth, Strong's H3979), which also refers to a large knife or sword, used in sacrificial contexts. These terms collectively contribute to the biblical imagery of swords as instruments of divine will and judgment.

Usage: The term ῥομφαία appears in the New Testament primarily in apocalyptic and symbolic contexts, often associated with divine judgment or the power of God's word.

Context: The Greek term ῥομφαία (rhomphaía) is used in the New Testament to describe a large, broad sword, typically associated with warfare and judgment. This term appears in several key passages, most notably in the Book of Revelation, where it is used to symbolize the power and authority of Christ's word.

In Revelation 1:16, the apostle John describes a vision of the glorified Christ: "In His right hand He held seven stars, and a sharp double-edged sword came from His mouth. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest." Here, the ῥομφαία represents the penetrating and authoritative word of Christ, capable of discerning truth and executing judgment.

Similarly, in Revelation 2:12, the message to the church in Pergamum is delivered by "the One who has the sharp, double-edged sword." This imagery underscores the power of Christ's word to judge and purify the church, separating truth from falsehood.

The use of ῥομφαία in Revelation 19:15 further emphasizes its symbolic role in divine judgment: "From His mouth proceeds a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with an iron scepter." This passage portrays the ultimate triumph of Christ over evil, with the sword symbolizing His righteous judgment and sovereign rule.

The metaphorical use of ῥομφαία in these contexts highlights the theme of divine authority and the transformative power of God's word. It serves as a reminder of the ultimate accountability of all creation to the righteous judgment of God.

Forms and Transliterations

ρομφαια ρομφαία ρομφάια ῥομφαία ῥομφαίᾳ ρομφαίαι ρομφαίαις ρομφαιαν ρομφαίαν ῥομφαίαν ρομφαίας ρομφαιών ρόπαλον ροπή rhomphaia rhomphaía rhomphaíāi rhomphaian rhomphaían romphaia romphaian

Englishman's Concordance

Luke 2:35 N-NFS
GRK: ψυχὴν διελεύσεται ῥομφαία ὅπως ἂν
NAS: and a sword will pierce even
KJV: (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy
INT: soul will go through a sword so that anyhow

Revelation 1:16 N-NFS
GRK: στόματος αὐτοῦ ῥομφαία δίστομος ὀξεῖα
NAS: two-edged sword; and His face
KJV: a sharp twoedged sword: and his
INT: mouth of him a sword two-edged sharp

Revelation 2:12 N-AFS
GRK: ἔχων τὴν ῥομφαίαν τὴν δίστομον
NAS: the sharp two-edged sword says this:
KJV: the sharp sword with two edges;
INT: has the sword two-edged

Revelation 2:16 N-DFS
GRK: ἐν τῇ ῥομφαίᾳ τοῦ στόματός
NAS: against them with the sword of My mouth.
KJV: them with the sword of my mouth.
INT: with the sword the mouth

Revelation 6:8 N-DFS
GRK: ἀποκτεῖναι ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ καὶ ἐν
NAS: to kill with sword and with famine
KJV: to kill with sword, and with
INT: to kill with sword and with

Revelation 19:15 N-NFS
GRK: αὐτοῦ ἐκπορεύεται ῥομφαία ὀξεῖα ἵνα
NAS: a sharp sword, so
KJV: goeth a sharp sword, that with
INT: of him goes forth a sword sharp that

Revelation 19:21 N-DFS
GRK: ἐν τῇ ῥομφαίᾳ τοῦ καθημένου
NAS: were killed with the sword which came
KJV: with the sword of him that sat
INT: with the sword of him who sits

Strong's Greek 4501
7 Occurrences

ῥομφαία — 6 Occ.
ῥομφαίαν — 1 Occ.