θεῖον
theion
sulfur
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Greek word "theion" (G2303) is defined as sulfur. This word appears 7 times in the Bible, indicating its significance in the ancient Greek context. As a chemical element, sulfur was likely familiar to the authors and readers of the biblical texts. The use of "theion" in the Bible suggests its importance in various contexts, such as purification, healing, and possibly even metallurgy. Its association with sulfur may also imply a connection to fire or burning, given the element's properties. The limited occurrences of this word in the Bible hint at its specialized or technical nature, possibly used by experts or in specific situations. The significance of "theion" lies in its representation of a tangible, physical substance in the biblical texts. Its use may have served to convey specific ideas or concepts related to purification, healing, or transformation, rather than purely abstract or spiritual notions.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
7 total occurrences across the text
but in the day that Lot went out from Sodom, it rained fire and sulfur from the sky and destroyed them all.
Revelation 9:17Thus I saw the horses in the vision, and those who sat on them, having breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the horses’ heads resembled lions’ heads. Out of their mouths proceed fire, smoke, and sulfur.
Revelation 9:18By these three plagues were one third of mankind killed: by the fire, the smoke, and the sulfur, which proceeded out of their mouths.
Revelation 14:10he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger. He will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb.
Revelation 19:20The beast was taken, and with him the false prophet who worked the signs in his sight, with which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.
Revelation 20:10The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet are also. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
Revelation 21:8But for the cowardly, unbelieving, sinners, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their part is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”