Word Studies¶
Question¶
What does Revelation's literary architecture establish about the new creation (Rev 21:1-22:5)?
G2537 — kainos¶
Occurrences: 44
New in quality/character. 44 NT tokens, 38 unique verses, 14 books. 7 Revelation occurrences (2:17, 3:12, 5:9, 14:3, 21:1, 21:2, 21:5). Qualitative newness vs neos temporal newness. LXX bridge from H2319 chadash with 38 co-occurrences (PMI 32.00). Central to new creation vocabulary.
G3501 — neos¶
Occurrences: 24
New in time/age, young. 24 tokens, 20 unique verses, 11 books. ABSENT from Revelation entirely — negative evidence confirming kainos selection is deliberate. LXX renders H2319 chadash primarily as kainos (38x), only 3x as neos.
G3485 — naos¶
Occurrences: 46
Inner shrine/temple. 46 occurrences, concentrated in Revelation (16 uses, 37% of all). Exclusive term in Revelation — hieron (G2411) never used. 16 occurrences trace compartmental progression through chapters 3-16, then negation at 21:22 where God and the Lamb ARE the naos. LXX bridge from H1964 heykal (PMI 30.9).
G4633 — skene¶
Occurrences: 20
Tent/tabernacle. 20 occurrences. Hebrews (10), Rev (3), Acts (3). Rev 21:3 skene tou theou — God's eschatological dwelling. LXX bridge from H168 ohel (230x), H4908 mishkan (88x), H5521 sukkah (20x).
G4637 — skenoo¶
Occurrences: 5
To tabernacle/dwell. 5 occurrences, ALL Johannine. John 1:14 eskenosen (aorist — incarnation), Rev 7:15 skenosei (future — proleptic), Rev 12:12 skenountes (present — heavenly), Rev 13:6 skenountas (present — blasphemed), Rev 21:3 skenosei (future — permanent). Incarnation-to-consummation arc.
G4636 — skenos¶
Occurrences: 2
Tabernacle (body metaphor). 2 occurrences, both 2 Cor 5:1,4. Exclusively Pauline. Body as fragile tent. Not directly used in Revelation.
G3586 — xylon¶
Occurrences: 19
Tree/wood. 19 tokens, 17 verses, 8 books. Rev: 4 occurrences (2:7, 22:2, 22:14, 18:12). Tree of life (xylon tes zoes) = verbatim LXX Gen 2:9. Also cross-connection via Gal 3:13 and Acts crucifixion sermons. LXX bridge from H6086 ets (219 co-occurrences, PMI 33.69).
G2652 — katathema¶
Occurrences: 1
Curse. NT HAPAX at Rev 22:3. kata + anathema compound. Terminal reversal of Gen 3:17 epikataratos. Not found in LXX — exclusively NT. The event it describes is unique: pan katathema ouk estai eti.
G2671 — katara¶
Occurrences: 6
Curse/imprecation. 6 tokens, 5 verses, 4 books. Gal 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the katara. Intermediate stage between Gen 3:17 and Rev 22:3. LXX bridge from H7045 qelalah (26 co-occurrences, PMI 29.93).
G1096 — ginomai¶
Occurrences: 702
Become/come to be. 668 tokens, 631 verses. Ginomai arc in Revelation: egeneto (11:15 proleptic aorist) → gegonen (16:17 perfect singular) → gegonan (21:6 perfect plural). Tracks eschatological realization through progressive perfect grammar.
G2816 — kleronomeo¶
Occurrences: 22
Inherit. 22 tokens, 17 verses, 8 books. Rev 21:7 capstone: ho nikon kleronomeo tauta panta. Verb shift from doso (letters) to kleronomeo. Future indicative dominates (56%). LXX bridge from H3423 yarash (100 co-occurrences).
G3820 — palaios¶
Occurrences: 19
Old/antiquated. 19 tokens, 15 verses, 9 books. Antonym pair with kainos (6x collocations). The old passes away so the new can emerge. Absent from Revelation — the old is already gone.
G3565 — nymphe¶
Occurrences: 8
Bride/daughter-in-law. 8 tokens, 7 verses, 4 books. Rev: 4 occurrences (18:23, 21:2, 21:9, 22:17). City-bride dual identity. LXX bridge from H3618 kallah (28 co-occurrences).
G4160 — poieo¶
Occurrences: 597
Make/do. 597 tokens, broadest Greek action verb. Rev 21:5 kaina poio panta — PRESENT tense, ongoing creative act. 26 Revelation occurrences.
H2319 — chadash¶
Occurrences: 53
New/fresh. 53 tokens, 48 verses, 20 books. Isa 65:17 bara shamayim chadashim. LXX → kainos G2537 38/48 times (PMI 8.730). OT source vocabulary for new creation.
H1254 — bara¶
Occurrences: 59
Create (divine). 59 tokens, 46 verses. Isa 65:17 bara (divine creation verb). Connects original creation (Gen 1:1) to new creation (Isa 65:17). Qal dominates (38/54).
H779 — arar¶
Occurrences: 66
Execrate/curse. 66 tokens, 52 verses, 12 books. Gen 3:14,17 arur formulas. Qal participle arur dominates (~65%). LXX → epikataratos G1944 (35 co-occurrences, PMI 8.69). Root of curse chain reversed at Rev 22:3.
H6086 — ets¶
Occurrences: 365
Tree/wood. 365 tokens, 288 verses, 30 books. Gen 2:9 ets hayyim (tree of life). LXX → xylon G3586 (219 co-occurrences, PMI 6.25). Hebrew source bridging to xylon tes zoes in LXX and Rev 22:2.
H7931 — shakan¶
Occurrences: 150
Dwell/tabernacle. 150 tokens, 123 verses, 23 books. Source of Shekinah concept and mishkan (tabernacle). Phonetic pathway: shakan → Shekinah → skene/skenoo. LXX → kataskenoo G2681 (46 co-occurrences, PMI 7.37).
H5521 — sukkah¶
Occurrences: 34
Booth/tabernacle. 34 tokens, 29 verses, 14 books. Feast of Tabernacles vocabulary. LXX → skene G4633 (20 co-occurrences, PMI 5.58).
G565 — aperchomai¶
Occurrences: 122
To go off, depart, aside, or behind. From apo + erchomai.
Key verses: R, e, v, , 2, 1, :, 1, , (, f, i, r, s, t, , h, e, a, v, e, n, /, e, a, r, t, h, , a, p, e, l, t, h, a, n, , —, , p, a, s, s, e, d, , a, w, a, y, ), ,, , R, e, v, , 2, 1, :, 4, , (, t, a, , p, r, o, t, a, , a, p, e, l, t, h, a, n, , —, , f, o, r, m, e, r, , t, h, i, n, g, s, , p, a, s, s, e, d, , a, w, a, y, ), ., , S, a, m, e, , v, e, r, b, , g, o, v, e, r, n, s, , b, o, t, h, .
Relevance: Same verb for both passages suggests parallel nature of passing. Pain does not cease by being replaced with different pain but by being transformed into its absence — supports restoration reading.
G5068 — tetragonos¶
Occurrences: 1
Four-cornered, foursquare. From tetra + gonia.
Key verses: R, e, v, , 2, 1, :, 1, 6, , —, , N, T, , h, a, p, a, x, ., , C, i, t, y, , i, s, , f, o, u, r, s, q, u, a, r, e, , w, i, t, h, , e, q, u, a, l, , d, i, m, e, n, s, i, o, n, s, , =, , c, u, b, i, c, , p, r, o, p, o, r, t, i, o, n, s, , m, a, t, c, h, i, n, g, , S, o, l, o, m, o, n, ', s, , M, H, P, , (, 1, , K, g, s, , 6, :, 2, 0, ), .
Relevance: NT hapax confirming the cosmic MHP argument. Only other perfect cube in Scripture: Solomon's MHP at 20x20x20 cubits.
G2322 — therapeia¶
Occurrences: 4
Attendance, medical cure, household. From therapeuo.
Key verses: R, e, v, , 2, 2, :, 2, , (, l, e, a, v, e, s, , f, o, r, , t, h, e, , t, h, e, r, a, p, e, i, a, , o, f, , t, h, e, , n, a, t, i, o, n, s, ), ,, , M, a, t, t, , 2, 4, :, 4, 5, ,, , L, u, k, e, , 9, :, 1, 1, ,, , L, u, k, e, , 1, 2, :, 4, 2, ., , L, X, X, , a, l, s, o, , a, p, p, e, a, r, s, , a, t, , G, e, n, , 4, 5, :, 1, 6, .
Relevance: Rev 22:2 is the only eschatological healing use. Connects to Ezek 47:12 terufah (H8644). Scope widens from Ezekiel's local healing to universal healing of nations.
G3528 — nikao¶
Occurrences: 29
To subdue, conquer, overcome. From nike.
Key verses: R, e, v, , 2, :, 7, ,, , 2, :, 1, 1, ,, , 2, :, 1, 7, ,, , 2, :, 2, 6, ,, , 3, :, 5, ,, , 3, :, 1, 2, ,, , 3, :, 2, 1, ,, , 5, :, 5, ,, , 2, 1, :, 7, , —, , t, h, e, , o, v, e, r, c, o, m, e, r, , a, r, c, ., , A, l, s, o, , 6, :, 2, ,, , 1, 1, :, 7, ,, , 1, 2, :, 1, 1, ,, , 1, 3, :, 7, ,, , 1, 5, :, 2, ,, , 1, 7, :, 1, 4, .
Relevance: Rev 21:7 ho nikon — the present active participle as substantive: 'the one who overcomes.' Seven overcomer promises in letters all fulfilled in Rev 21-22.
G667 — apophero¶
Occurrences: 7
To bear off, carry away. From apo + phero.
Key verses: R, e, v, , 1, 7, :, 3, , a, n, d, , 2, 1, :, 1, 0, , —, , t, h, e, , O, N, L, Y, , t, w, o, , N, T, , o, c, c, u, r, r, e, n, c, e, s, , w, i, t, h, , e, n, , P, n, e, u, m, a, t, i, ., , A, l, s, o, , M, a, r, k, , 1, 5, :, 1, ,, , L, u, k, e, , 1, 6, :, 2, 2, ,, , A, c, t, s, , 1, 9, :, 1, 2, ,, , 1, , C, o, r, , 1, 6, :, 3, .
Relevance: Binding formula for Babylon-bride mirror: apophero en Pneumati occurs only at 17:3 (Babylon) and 21:10 (New Jerusalem), connecting Visions 3 and 4 as the terminal pair.
G4383 — prosopon¶
Occurrences: 77
The front, face, countenance. From pros + ops (the visage).
Key verses: R, e, v, , 2, 2, :, 4, , (, t, h, e, y, , s, h, a, l, l, , s, e, e, , H, i, s, , p, r, o, s, o, p, o, n, ), ,, , R, e, v, , 2, 0, :, 1, 1, , (, f, r, o, m, , w, h, o, s, e, , p, r, o, s, o, p, o, n, , e, a, r, t, h, /, h, e, a, v, e, n, , f, l, e, d, ), ,, , G, e, n, , 3, :, 8, , L, X, X, , (, h, i, d, i, n, g, , f, r, o, m, , t, h, e, , p, r, o, s, o, p, o, n, , o, f, , G, o, d, ), .
Relevance: Face-of-God bookend: Gen 3:8 hiding from God's prosopon → Rev 22:4 seeing His prosopon directly. The reversal spans the entire canon.