Lexical Summary chlóros: Green, pale Original Word: χλωρός Strong's Exhaustive Concordance green, pale. From the same as Chloe; greenish, i.e. Verdant, dun-colored -- green, pale. see GREEK Chloe NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originakin to Chloé (in its ordinary usage) Definition pale green, pale NASB Translation ashen (1), green (2), green thing (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5515: χλωρόςχλωρός, χλωρά, χλωρόν, from χλόη, tender green grass or grain); 1. green: χόρτος, Mark 6:39 (Genesis 1:30); Revelation 8:7; πᾶν χλωρόν, 2. yellowish, pale: ἵππος, Revelation 6:8. (In both senses from Homer down.) The term evokes the fresh vitality of young vegetation and, by extension, that which flourishes under God’s sustaining care. In apocalyptic settings the same hue can appear sickly or pallid, signaling death or judgment. Scripture therefore employs the color both positively (life-giving provision) and ominously (divine retribution), underscoring the comprehensive reach of the Lord’s sovereignty over creation and history. Occurrences in the New Testament 1. Mark 6:39 – At the feeding of the five thousand, “Jesus directed them to have the people sit in groups on the green grass.” The detail grounds the miracle in a springtime landscape and subtly recalls the Shepherd imagery of Psalm 23:2. Old Testament and Septuagint Background In the Septuagint the word commonly renders Hebrew terms for fresh foliage (e.g., Genesis 1:30; Jeremiah 11:16). Prophets used green trees to depict both idolatry and flourishing righteousness, giving the color moral as well as botanical resonance. The continuity between the Testaments reinforces Scripture’s unified theology of creation blessing and covenant accountability. Christological Insight Mark’s solitary Gospel use places the Messiah in verdant pasture, feeding sheep who “were like sheep without a shepherd” (Mark 6:34). The Good Shepherd provides abundance in a setting that overtly recalls Israel’s wilderness manna and anticipates the Messianic banquet. The color amplifies the theme of divine hospitality incarnate in Jesus Christ. Eschatological Significance Revelation reverses the pastoral scene: the grass that once cushioned the crowd becomes the target of trumpet judgment. The pale horse rider proclaims the climax of human mortality. Together these visions warn of the frailty of earthly life while calling believers to the everlasting kingdom where “there will be no more death” (Revelation 21:4). Pastoral and Homiletical Applications • Assurance of Provision—The green grass of Mark 6 invites trust in Christ’s daily care. Historical Interpretation Early Church writers contrasted the lush grass of the Gospel with the pallor of the eschatological horse to highlight the two advents of Christ—first in grace, later in judgment. Reformers saw the same tension as a call to proclaim both the comforts and the warnings of the gospel. Modern expositors often note the term’s dual nuance to balance themes of ecological concern and eschatological hope. Related Biblical Motifs • Shepherd and pasture (Psalm 23; Ezekiel 34) Key Takeaways The word translated “green/pale” embodies a spectrum from luxuriant life to lethal decay, mirroring the gospel’s dual message of salvation and judgment. Its four New Testament occurrences knit together the pastoral ministry of Jesus and the prophetic warnings of Revelation, urging readers to rest in the Shepherd now and to live in readiness for His return. Englishman's Concordance Mark 6:39 Adj-DMSGRK: ἐπὶ τῷ χλωρῷ χόρτῳ NAS: by groups on the green grass. KJV: by companies upon the green grass. INT: on the green grass Revelation 6:8 Adj-NMS Revelation 8:7 Adj-NMS Revelation 9:4 Adj-ANS Strong's Greek 5515 |
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