Lexical Summary sphagé: Slaughter, Slaying Original Word: σφαγή 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 Originfrom sphazó Definition slaughter NASB Translation slaughter (2), slaughtered (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4967: σφαγήσφαγή, σφαγῆς, ἡ (σφάζω), slaughter: Acts 8:32 (after Isaiah 53:7); πρόβατα σφαγῆς, sheep destined for slaughter (Zechariah 11:4; Psalm 43:23 Topical Lexicon Underlying Old Testament Background The noun appears frequently in the Septuagint to describe sacrificial slaughter and episodes of divine judgment. Most notable is Isaiah 53:7, “He was led like a sheep to slaughter,” a prophecy fulfilled in the passion of Jesus Christ. The sacrificial system of Leviticus and the Passover narrative (Exodus 12) provide the conceptual framework: innocent life offered so that others might live, anticipating the ultimate sacrifice of the Lamb of God. Usage in the New Testament Narrative 1. Acts 8:32 quotes Isaiah 53:7 as the Ethiopian official reads: “He was led like a sheep to slaughter…”. Philip expounds this text to proclaim Jesus, demonstrating that the early church’s evangelism was rooted in showing Christ as the fulfillment of Scripture. Theological Significance: Christ, the Suffering Servant and His People • Christ’s atoning death: The noun evokes the imagery of a sacrificial victim, emphasizing Jesus’ voluntary, substitutionary death. He is the Lamb who was “led” but not coerced, highlighting both His meekness and divine purpose. Historical Context within Early Church Persecution The earliest Christians lived under Roman authorities who could—and often did—inflict capital punishment. The vocabulary of slaughter resonated with a community that faced arenas, executions, and social ostracism. The term therefore carried both pastoral comfort (Romans 8) and missional urgency (Acts 8). Pastoral and Practical Implications 1. Endurance: Believers are called to face hostility with the confidence that their Shepherd has already gone through the worst slaughter and emerged victorious. Eschatological Overtones and Prophetic Fulfillment The phrase “day of slaughter” anticipates final judgment and the vindication of the righteous (cf. Revelation 6:9-11; although a different Greek term is used, the motif is consistent). The faithful may experience temporal loss, yet ultimate triumph is assured. Comparative Word Study: Related Sacrificial Imagery While other New Testament terms such as thysia (“sacrifice”) and sphazō (“to slay”) appear more frequently, this noun uniquely concentrates on the moment of slaughter itself. Its sparing use sharpens theological focus: when the word surfaces, God is drawing attention either to the climactic death of His Servant, the costly discipleship of His people, or the certainty of His judgment. Application for Contemporary Ministry • Preach Christ crucified, using predictive Scriptures as Philip did. Forms and Transliterations σφαγή σφαγην σφαγήν σφαγὴν σφαγης σφαγής σφαγῆς sphagen sphagēn sphagḕn sphages sphagês sphagēs sphagē̂sLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Acts 8:32 N-AFSGRK: 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 James 5:5 N-GFS Strong's Greek 4967 |
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