Lexical Summary chalaza: Hail Original Word: χαλάζα Strong's Exhaustive Concordance hail. Probably from chalao; hail -- hail. see GREEK chalao NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. word Definition hailstone NASB Translation hail (2), hailstones (1), hailstorm (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5464: χάλαζαχάλαζα, χαλάζης, ἡ (χαλάω, which see (so Etym. Magn. 805, 1; but Curtius (sec. 181) says certainly has nothing to do with it)), from Homer down, the Sept. for בָּרָד, hail: Revelation 8:7; Revelation 11:19; Revelation 16:21. Topical Lexicon Root imagery and biblical motif The word translated “hail” in Revelation evokes an immediate memory of Yahweh’s historic judgments: the seventh plague upon Egypt (Exodus 9:22-26), the hailstorm that routed the Amorites while Israel pursued them (Joshua 10:11), and the prophetic warnings of Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Haggai where hail is a symbol of divine disruption. In Scripture, hailstones descend from above, dramatizing that judgment is heaven-sent and unstoppable. Revelation therefore draws on an established pattern: when covenant partners harden their hearts, the God of creation marshals creation itself as His weapon. Occurrences in Revelation Revelation 8:7 – As the first trumpet sounds, “there came hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were hurled down upon the earth”. Agricultural destruction recalls the Exodus plague and functions as an opening salvo in the trumpet series, warning a rebellious world to repent. Revelation 11:19 – When the heavenly temple is opened at the seventh trumpet, “there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and a great hailstorm.” The vision links worship in heaven with judgment on earth: the Ark’s appearance affirms covenant faithfulness, while the hail underscores covenant enforcement. Revelation 16:21 – Under the seventh bowl “huge hailstones, each about a hundred pounds, fell upon men from heaven, and men blasphemed God because of the plague of hail, because its plague was so severe.” The escalation in weight (about a talent) marks the consummation of wrath; instead of repentance, hardened humanity utters blasphemy, vindicating divine justice. Old Testament matrix 1. Exodus 9: God differentiates between Egypt and Israel; hail spares Goshen, illustrating both judgment and preservation. Eschatological significance Revelation’s hail scenes are not isolated meteorological curiosities; they integrate with a holistic eschatology: Christological focus Though hail is an instrument of judgment, the larger context centers on the Lamb. The scroll-opening by Christ (Revelation 6) initiates the entire sequence; thus every hailstone ultimately serves the mediatorial reign of Jesus, vindicating His blood and avenging persecuted saints (Revelation 6:10). Practical applications for teaching and preaching 1. Urgency of repentance – God’s historical use of hail warns modern hearers that judgment is real, deserved, and avoidable only through the gospel. Conclusion Strong’s Greek 5464 underscores that in biblical theology hail is far more than frozen precipitation; it is a covenantal signpost, connecting Exodus to Apocalypse, warning the impenitent, encouraging the faithful, and magnifying the righteousness of God who, in Christ, both judges and saves. Forms and Transliterations χαλαζα χάλαζα χάλαζαν χαλάζη χαλαζης χαλάζης χαλαστά χαλαστών chalaza chálaza chalazes chalazēs chalázes chalázēsLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Revelation 8:7 N-NFSGRK: καὶ ἐγένετο χάλαζα καὶ πῦρ NAS: and there came hail and fire, KJV: and there followed hail and fire INT: and there was hail and fire Revelation 11:19 N-NFS Revelation 16:21 N-NFS Revelation 16:21 N-GFS Strong's Greek 5464 |
    |