Word Studies¶
G4158 — ποδήρης (poderes) — "garment down to the foot"¶
Original: ποδήρης Transliteration: poderes Pronunciation: pod-ay'-race Part of Speech: Adjective Definition: From pous (foot) and another element; reaching to the feet; a foot-length garment BLB Count: 1 (NT HAPAX LEGOMENON)
NT Occurrences¶
- Rev 1:13 — "clothed with a garment down to the foot" (ONLY NT occurrence)
LXX/OT Usage (from lexicon outline)¶
- Exo 25:6 (priestly context)
- Exo 28:4 — Listed as garment for priestly service (LXX renders the priestly robe "me'il" as poderes)
- Exo 28:27 (priestly garment context)
- Exo 35:8
- Eze 9:3
LXX Mapping: H4598 me'il → G4158 poderes (CONFIRMED)¶
The Hebrew me'il (H4598, "robe" — the high priestly outer garment) is translated by poderes (G4158) in the LXX 3 times, with a PMI score of 8.18 (high specificity). The LXX mapping for H4598 shows: - G5509 chiton (tunic) — 5x, PMI 7.28 - G1746 endyo (to clothe) — 6x, PMI 5.89 - G4158 poderes — 3x, PMI 8.18 (HIGHEST specificity) - G4749 stole (robe) — 4x, PMI 5.84 - G2440 himation (garment) — 5x, PMI 4.62
The me'il appears in: Exo 28:4,31,34; 29:5; 39:22-26; Lev 8:7 (Aaron's investiture); 1Sa 2:19; 15:27; 18:4; 24:5,12; 28:14; 1Ch 15:27; Ezr 9:3,5; Job 1:20; 2:12; 29:14; Psa 109:29; Isa 59:17; 61:10; Eze 26:16
Significance¶
The poderes is a HAPAX in the NT — it appears ONLY in Rev 1:13 describing Christ. In the LXX, it translates the high priestly robe (me'il) with the HIGHEST specificity of any Greek rendering. The fact that John chose this specific word rather than a more common garment term (himation, stole, chiton) is a deliberate priestly signal. The LXX connection to Exo 28:4 is critical: the poderes IS the priestly robe. John could have used stole (used for saints' robes in Rev 6:11; 7:9) or himation (generic garment), but chose the most specifically priestly term available.
Greek Parsing (Rev 1:13)¶
- ἐνδεδυμένον ποδήρη — Perfect Middle Participle (endedymenon) + Accusative (podere)
- "having been clothed in a foot-length garment" — the perfect tense indicates a settled, completed state
G3087 — λυχνία (lychnia) — "lampstand/candlestick"¶
Original: λυχνία Transliteration: lychnia Pronunciation: lookh-nee'-ah Part of Speech: Feminine noun Definition: From lychnos; a lamp-stand BLB Count: 12
All NT Occurrences (12x)¶
| Verse | Translation | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Mat 5:15 | candlestick | "Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick" |
| Mar 4:21 | candlestick | "Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel... not to be set on a candlestick?" |
| Luk 8:16 | candlestick | "setteth it on a candlestick" |
| Luk 11:33 | candlestick | "putteth it... on a candlestick" |
| Heb 9:2 | the candlestick | "the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread" |
| Rev 1:12 | candlesticks | "I saw seven golden candlesticks" |
| Rev 1:13 | candlesticks | "in the midst of the seven candlesticks" (implied) |
| Rev 1:20 | candlesticks | "the seven candlesticks... are the seven churches" (2x) |
| Rev 2:1 | candlesticks | "walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks" |
| Rev 2:5 | candlestick | "will remove thy candlestick out of his place" |
| Rev 11:4 | candlesticks | "the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth" |
Translation Distribution¶
- "candlesticks" — 6x (50%)
- "candlestick" — 4x (33.3%)
- "a candlestick" — 1x (8.3%)
- "the candlestick" — 1x (8.3%)
Key Distinction: lychnia vs lychnos¶
- lychnia (G3087) = the STAND that holds the light (lampstand) — the church bears light
- lychnos (G3088) = the LAMP itself, the light source — Christ is the light
- Rev 1:20: churches = lychniai (lampstands); Rev 21:23: Lamb = lychnos (light)
- The church does not PRODUCE light; it BEARS the light that Christ provides
G3088 — λύχνος (lychnos) — "lamp/light"¶
Original: λύχνος Transliteration: lychnos Pronunciation: lookh'-nos Part of Speech: Masculine noun Definition: A portable lamp or other illuminator BLB Count: 14
Key NT Occurrences¶
| Verse | Translation | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Mat 5:15 | a candle | "Neither do men light a candle" |
| Mat 6:22 | light | "The light of the body is the eye" |
| Luk 12:35 | lights | "Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning" |
| Jhn 5:35 | light | "[John] was a burning and a shining light" |
| 2Pe 1:19 | unto a light | "a light that shineth in a dark place" |
| Rev 18:23 | of a candle | "the light of a candle shall shine no more" |
| Rev 21:23 | light | "the Lamb is the light (lychnos) thereof" |
| Rev 22:5 | candle | "they need no candle, neither light of the sun" |
Translation Distribution¶
- "a candle" — 4x (30.8%)
- "light" — 3x (23.1%)
- "candle" — 3x (23.1%)
- "lights" — 1x; "unto a light" — 1x; "of a candle" — 1x
G4501 — ῥομφαία (rhomphaia) — "sword"¶
Original: ῥομφαία Transliteration: rhomphaia Pronunciation: hrom-fah'-yah Part of Speech: Feminine noun Definition: Probably of foreign origin; a sabre, i.e. a long and broad cutlass BLB Count: 7
ALL NT Occurrences (7x — Revelation's preferred sword word)¶
| Verse | Translation | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Luk 2:35 | a sword | "a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also" |
| Rev 1:16 | sword | "out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword" |
| Rev 2:12 | sword | "he which hath the sharp sword with two edges" |
| Rev 2:16 | sword | "will fight against them with the sword of my mouth" |
| Rev 6:8 | sword | "power was given... to kill with sword" |
| Rev 19:15 | sword | "out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword" |
| Rev 19:21 | sword | "slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth" |
Note on machaira vs rhomphaia¶
- Heb 4:12 uses machaira (G3162, short sword/dagger) for "the word of God sharper than any twoedged sword"
- Revelation consistently uses rhomphaia (large sword/sabre) — 6 of 7 NT occurrences are in Revelation
- The rhomphaia is the larger, more imposing weapon — suitable for Revelation's apocalyptic imagery
G1366 — δίστομος (distomos) — "two-edged"¶
Original: δίστομος Transliteration: distomos Pronunciation: dis'-tom-os Part of Speech: Adjective Definition: From dis (twice) and stoma (mouth); double-edged BLB Count: 3 (NT)
All Occurrences¶
| Verse | Context |
|---|---|
| Heb 4:12 | "sharper than any twoedged sword (machairan distomon)" |
| Rev 1:16 | "a sharp twoedged sword (rhomphaia distomos oxeia)" |
| Rev 2:12 | "he which hath the sharp sword with two edges" |
LXX Usage¶
- Jdg 3:16; Psa 149:6; Pro 5:4 — used in OT contexts for double-edged weapons
G2807 — κλείς (kleis) — "key"¶
Original: κλείς Transliteration: kleis Pronunciation: klice Part of Speech: Feminine noun Definition: From kleio (to shut); a key (as shutting a lock), literally or figuratively BLB Count: 6
All NT Occurrences (6x)¶
| Verse | Translation | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Mat 16:19 | keys (2x) | "I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven" |
| Luk 11:52 | key (2x) | "ye have taken away the key of knowledge" |
| Rev 1:18 | keys (2x) | "have the keys of hell and of death" |
| Rev 3:7 | key (2x) | "he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth" |
| Rev 9:1 | key (2x) | "was given the key of the bottomless pit" |
| Rev 20:1 | key (2x) | "having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain" |
LXX Usage¶
- Isa 22:22 — "the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder"
Authority Chain¶
- Isa 22:22 → key of David on Eliakim's shoulder (typological prefigure)
- Mat 16:19 → keys of the kingdom given to Peter (delegated authority)
- Rev 1:18 → keys of hades and death (Christ's own authority over death)
- Rev 3:7 → key of David (Christ applies Isa 22:22 to Himself)
- Rev 9:1; 20:1 → key of bottomless pit (delegated authority to angels)
G5598 — Ω (Omega) — "last letter"¶
Original: Ω (Omega) Transliteration: O Part of Speech: Indeclinable noun Definition: The last letter of the Greek alphabet; figuratively the finality BLB Count: 4
All NT Occurrences (always paired with Alpha)¶
| Verse | Speaker | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Rev 1:8 | "the Lord... the Almighty" | "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending" |
| Rev 1:11 | The voice (Christ) | "I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last" |
| Rev 21:6 | "he that sat upon the throne" | "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end" |
| Rev 22:13 | Jesus | "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last" |
G1 — Α (Alpha) — "first letter"¶
Original: Α (Alpha) Transliteration: A Part of Speech: Indeclinable noun Definition: Of Hebrew origin; the first letter of the alphabet; figuratively the commencement BLB Count: 4
LXX Cross-Reference¶
The lexicon outline links Alpha to: Isa 41:4; 44:6; 48:12 — the OT "first and last" YHWH declarations
G5474 — χαλκολίβανον (chalkolibanon) — "fine brass"¶
Original: χαλκολίβανον Transliteration: chalkolibanon Pronunciation: khal-kol-ib'-an-on Part of Speech: Neuter noun Definition: Compound of chalkos (copper/bronze) and libanos (frankincense); perhaps a bronze-like alloy of exceptional brilliance BLB Count: 2 (EXCLUSIVE TO REVELATION)
ALL Occurrences (2x — both in Revelation)¶
| Verse | Context |
|---|---|
| Rev 1:15 | "his feet like unto fine brass (chalkolibano), as if they burned in a furnace" |
| Rev 2:18 | "who hath... his feet like fine brass (chalkolibano)" |
LXX Connections (from lexicon)¶
- Eze 1:4,7,27; 8:2 — Ezekiel's throne-chariot theophany (gleaming bronze imagery)
- Dan 10:6 — "his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass" (nechoshet qalal)
Significance¶
Chalkolibanon is exclusive Revelation vocabulary — it occurs ONLY in Rev 1:15 and 2:18. This unique word links the initial vision of Christ to the Thyatira letter exclusively. The word may describe an alloy surpassing ordinary bronze in brilliance, connoting judgment authority (burnished feet that tread down).
G2223 — ζώνη (zone) — "girdle/belt"¶
Original: ζώνη Transliteration: zone Pronunciation: dzo'-nay Part of Speech: Feminine noun Definition: Probably akin to the base of zugos; a belt; by implication a pocket (as attached to a girdle) BLB Count: 8
All NT Occurrences (8x)¶
| Verse | Translation | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Mat 3:4 | girdle | John the Baptist: "a leathern girdle about his loins" |
| Mat 10:9 | purses | "Provide neither gold... nor brass in your purses" |
| Mar 1:6 | girdle | John Baptist: "with a girdle of a skin about his loins" |
| Mar 6:8 | purse | "no bread, no money in their purse" |
| Act 21:11 | girdle | Agabus: "took Paul's girdle" |
| Rev 1:13 | girdle | "girt about the paps with a golden girdle" |
| Rev 15:6 | girdles | Seven angels: "having their breasts girded with golden girdles" |
Note on Girdle Position¶
- John the Baptist, Elijah: girdle about the LOINS (= working/active posture)
- Christ in Rev 1:13: girdle about the BREASTS/PAPS (= priestly/dignified posture)
- Seven angels in Rev 15:6: breasts girded with golden girdles (matching Christ's appearance)
- The high position of the girdle (paps not loins) signals dignity and priestly office rather than active labor
G4413 — πρῶτος (protos) — "first"¶
Original: πρῶτος Transliteration: protos Pronunciation: pro'-tos Part of Speech: Adjective (superlative) Definition: Foremost (in time, place, order, or importance) BLB Count: 104
Revelation Occurrences¶
- Rev 1:17 — "I am the first (protos) and the last (eschatos)"
- Rev 2:4 — "thou hast left thy first love"
- Rev 2:5 — "do the first works"
- Rev 2:8 — "the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive"
- Rev 4:1 — "the first voice which I heard"
- Rev 4:7 — "the first beast was like a lion"
- Rev 8:7 — "the first angel sounded"
- Rev 13:12 — "the power of the first beast"
- Rev 20:5-6 — "the first resurrection"
- Rev 21:1,4 — "the first heaven... the first earth"
- Rev 21:19 — "the first foundation"
- Rev 22:13 — "the first and the last"
G2078 — ἔσχατος (eschatos) — "last"¶
Original: ἔσχατος Transliteration: eschatos Pronunciation: es'-khat-os Part of Speech: Adjective (superlative) Definition: Farthest, final (of place or time) BLB Count: 54
Revelation Occurrences¶
- Rev 1:11 — "the first and the last"
- Rev 1:17 — "I am the first and the last"
- Rev 2:8 — "the first and the last"
- Rev 2:19 — "the last to be more than the first"
- Rev 15:1 — "seven last plagues"
- Rev 21:9 — "seven last plagues"
- Rev 22:13 — "the first and the last"
"First and Last" Chain (protos + eschatos together)¶
- Isa 41:4 — "I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he" (YHWH speaking)
- Isa 44:6 — "I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God" (YHWH)
- Isa 48:12 — "I am he; I am the first, I also am the last" (YHWH)
- Rev 1:11 — "I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last" (Christ)
- Rev 1:17 — "Fear not; I am the first and the last" (Christ)
- Rev 2:8 — "the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive" (Christ)
- Rev 22:13 — "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last" (Christ)
This constitutes a direct appropriation of YHWH's self-designation by Christ.
H4501 — מְנוֹרָה (menorah) — "candlestick/lampstand"¶
Original: מְנוֹרָה Transliteration: menorah Pronunciation: men-o-raw' Part of Speech: Feminine noun Definition: From the root "ner" (lamp); a chandelier, lampstand BLB Count: 40 (OT) / 44 total occurrences
Key OT Occurrences¶
| Verse | Context |
|---|---|
| Exo 25:31,32 | Construction of the tabernacle lampstand — beaten gold, six branches |
| Exo 37:17-24 | Actual making of the lampstand by Bezalel |
| Lev 24:4 | "He shall order the lamps upon the pure candlestick before the LORD" |
| Num 3:31 | Kohathites responsible for "the candlestick" |
| Num 4:9 | Covering the candlestick for transport |
| Num 8:2-4 | "When thou lightest the lamps... the candlestick was of beaten gold" |
| 1Ki 7:49 | Solomon's temple: "the candlesticks of pure gold, five on the right side, and five on the left" |
| 1Ch 28:15 | "for the candlesticks of gold... for every candlestick" |
| 2Ch 4:7,20 | "he made ten candlesticks of gold... the candlesticks with their lamps" |
| 2Ch 13:11 | "the candlestick of gold with the lamps thereof, to burn every evening" |
| 2Ki 4:10 | (a candlestick in the Shunammite's room — domestic use) |
| Jer 52:19 | "the candlesticks" — taken by Nebuchadnezzar to Babylon |
| Zec 4:2 | "behold a candlestick all of gold" — Zechariah's lampstand vision |
Translation Distribution (44 occurrences)¶
- "the candlestick" — 14x (31.8%)
- "of the candlestick" — 6x (13.6%)
- Various forms of "candlestick(s)" — 24 remaining
Additional Strong's Numbers¶
G4749 — στολή (stole) — "robe"¶
Definition: Equipment, specially a long-fitting gown (stole) BLB Count: 9 Occurrences: Mar 12:38; 16:5; Luk 15:22; 20:46; Rev 6:11; 7:9,13; 22:14 Note: NOT used for Christ's garment in Rev 1:13 (poderes is used instead). Stole appears in Revelation for the robes of saints/martyrs.
G86 — ᾅδης (hades) — "hades/hell"¶
Definition: From a (negative) + eido (to see); the unseen realm, the grave, the abode of the dead BLB Count: 11 Key occurrences: Mat 11:23; 16:18; Luk 10:15; 16:23; Act 2:27,31; 1Co 15:55; Rev 1:18; Rev 6:8; 20:13,14 Note in Rev 1:18: Christ has "the keys of hades and of death" — authority over the realm of the dead itself
G5395 — φλόξ (phlox) — "flame"¶
Definition: From phlego (to flash or flame); a blaze BLB Count: 7 Key occurrence: Rev 1:14 — "his eyes were as a flame (phlox) of fire (puros)" Compare: Dan 10:6 — "his eyes as lamps (lappidey) of fire (esh)" — same concept, different vocabulary