4967. sphagé

Lexicon

sphagé: Slaughter, Slaying

Original Word: σφαγή
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: sphagé
Pronunciation: sfah-GAY
Phonetic Spelling: (sfag-ay')
Definition: Slaughter, Slaying
Meaning: slaughter, sacrifice.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

slaughter.

From sphazo; butchery (of animals for food or sacrifice, or (figuratively) of men (destruction)) -- slaughter.

see GREEK sphazo

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from sphazó
Definition
slaughter
NASB Translation
slaughter (2), slaughtered (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 4967: σφαγή

σφαγή, σφαγῆς, ἡ (σφάζω), slaughter: Acts 8:32 (after Isaiah 53:7); πρόβατα σφαγῆς, sheep destined for slaughter (Zechariah 11:4; Psalm 43:23 ()), Romans 8:36; ἡμέρα σφαγῆς (Jeremiah 12:3), equivalent to day of destruction, James 5:5. (Tragg., Aristophanes, Xenophon, Plato, and following; the Sept. for טֶבַח, הֲרֵגָה, etc.)

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek verb σφάζω (sphazō), meaning "to slay" or "to slaughter."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Greek word σφαγή corresponds to several Hebrew terms related to sacrifice and slaughter, including:

- H2026 (הָרַג, harag): Meaning "to kill" or "to slay," often used in contexts of violence or execution.
- H7819 (שָׁחַט, shachat): Meaning "to slaughter" or "to butcher," particularly in the context of sacrificial offerings.
- H2873 (טָבַח, tabach): Meaning "to slaughter" or "to butcher," used in both sacrificial and non-sacrificial contexts.

These Hebrew terms provide a rich background for understanding the concept of σφαγή in the New Testament, highlighting the continuity of the theme of sacrifice from the Old Testament to the New Testament revelation of Christ's atoning work.

Usage: The term σφαγή appears in the New Testament to describe acts of killing, particularly in contexts that involve sacrifice or martyrdom. It is used to convey the idea of a violent or sacrificial death.

Context: The Greek term σφαγή (sphagē) is a significant word in the New Testament, reflecting the concept of sacrificial death and martyrdom. It is used in contexts that emphasize the gravity and solemnity of such acts. In the Berean Standard Bible, σφαγή is found in passages that highlight the theme of sacrifice and the ultimate cost of following Christ.

For instance, in Romans 8:36, the Apostle Paul quotes Psalm 44:22, saying, "As it is written: 'For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.'" Here, σφαγή underscores the reality of persecution and the willingness of believers to endure suffering for the sake of their faith.

The term also appears in Revelation 13:3, where it describes the beast whose "fatal wound had been healed." The use of σφαγή in this apocalyptic context conveys the idea of a deadly wound, emphasizing the severity and miraculous nature of the beast's recovery.

In the broader biblical narrative, σφαγή is closely associated with the sacrificial system of the Old Testament, where animals were slaughtered as offerings to God. This connection underscores the New Testament's portrayal of Jesus Christ as the ultimate sacrificial Lamb, whose death brings redemption to humanity.

Forms and Transliterations

σφαγή σφαγην σφαγήν σφαγὴν σφαγης σφαγής σφαγῆς sphagen sphagēn sphagḕn sphages sphagês sphagēs sphagē̂s

Englishman's Concordance

Acts 8:32 N-AFS
GRK: πρόβατον ἐπὶ σφαγὴν ἤχθη καὶ
NAS: AS A SHEEP TO SLAUGHTER; AND AS A LAMB
KJV: a sheep to the slaughter; and like
INT: a sheep to slaughter he was led and

Romans 8:36 N-GFS
GRK: ὡς πρόβατα σφαγῆς
NAS: AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.
KJV: as sheep for the slaughter.
INT: as sheep of slaughter

James 5:5 N-GFS
GRK: ἐν ἡμέρᾳ σφαγῆς
NAS: your hearts in a day of slaughter.
KJV: in a day of slaughter.
INT: in a day of slaughter

Strong's Greek 4967
3 Occurrences

σφαγὴν — 1 Occ.
σφαγῆς — 2 Occ.