Word Studies¶

naos (G3485) — Inner Shrine/Temple¶

Original: ναός Transliteration: naos Definition: From naio (to dwell); a fane, shrine, temple — specifically the inner part of the temple where God dwells, as distinct from hieron (the entire temple complex including courts and porticoes).

NT Distribution¶

43 total NT occurrences; 35 translated "temple," 4 "the temple," 2 "temples," 1 "shrines"
16 in Revelation (highest concentration of any NT book)
Gospels: used for the inner sanctuary (Mat 23:17,35; 27:5,40,51; Mrk 14:58; 15:29,38; Luk 1:9,21,22; 23:45; Jhn 2:19,20,21)
Paul: 1 Cor 3:16,17; 6:19; 2 Cor 6:16; Eph 2:21; 2 Thes 2:4
Acts 17:24; 19:24

hieron (G2411) — Temple Complex¶

71 total NT occurrences in Gospels/Acts
0 in Revelation — COMPLETE ABSENCE
hieron refers to the entire temple complex including courts, porticoes, treasury
John uses hieron 11x in his Gospel (Jhn 2:14,15; 5:14; 7:14,28; 8:2,20,59; 10:23; 11:56; 18:20) — he KNOWS the word but does NOT use it in Revelation

Significance¶

The naos/hieron distinction means Revelation's viewpoint is FROM INSIDE the inner sanctuary, not from the courts. The reader is positioned within the sacred space where God dwells. When Rev 11:2 mentions the "court" (aule G833), it is explicitly EXCLUDED from measurement and given to the nations — the outer area is dismissed.

thysiastErion (G2379) — Altar¶

Original: θυσιαστήριον Transliteration: thysiastErion Definition: From a derivative of thusia (sacrifice); an altar, place of sacrifice.

NT Distribution¶

22 total occurrences; 20 "altar," 1 "altars," 1 "an altar"
8 in Revelation (highest after Hebrews)

Altar Identification in Revelation¶

Unqualified thysiastErion at Rev 6:9 — "under the altar" (sacrifice/burnt offering altar)
Qualified to chrysoun at Rev 8:3; 9:13 — "the golden altar" (incense altar)
Unqualified at Rev 8:5 — fire taken from "the altar"
Unqualified at Rev 11:1 — "measure the altar"
Unqualified at Rev 14:18 — angel came from "the altar" with power over fire
Unqualified at Rev 16:7 — "the altar" speaks

Two-Altar Question¶

The earthly tabernacle had two altars: (1) bronze altar of burnt offering in the outer court (Exo 27:1-8), and (2) golden altar of incense in the Holy Place (Exo 30:1-10). Rev 6:9 (souls "under" the altar) suggests the sacrifice altar; Rev 8:3 and 9:13 explicitly say "golden" (chrysoun), identifying the incense altar. Whether 8:5, 14:18, and 16:7 refer to one or the other is not grammatically resolved.

thymiama (G2368) — Incense¶

Original: θυμίαμα Transliteration: thymiama Definition: From thymiao (to fumigate/burn incense); incense, the act of burning incense, or the substance itself.

NT Distribution¶

6 total; 4 in Revelation (5:8; 8:3; 8:4; 18:13); also Luk 1:10,11

Usage in Revelation¶

Rev 5:8 — phialas chrysas gemousas thymiamaton, hai eisin hai proseuchai ton hagion. EXPLICIT identification: incense = prayers of the saints. The relative clause (hai eisin) leaves no ambiguity.
Rev 8:3 — edothe auto thymiamata polla — "much incense was given to him." Given with prayers, offered on the golden altar.
Rev 8:4 — ho kapnos ton thymiamaton tais proseuchais ton hagion — "the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints." Dative of association ties smoke to prayers.
Rev 18:13 — thymiama listed among Babylon's merchandise — the sacred substance DESACRALIZED as commercial goods.

thymiama/thymos Phonetic Parallel¶

thymiama (G2368) = incense/prayers → bowls of thymiama (5:8)
thymos (G2372) = wrath/fury → bowls of thymos (15:7)
Same vessel (phialas chrysas) with phonetically similar but theologically opposite contents

phiale (G5357) — Bowl/Vial¶

Original: φιάλη Transliteration: phiale Definition: A broad, flat, shallow vessel used for drinking or for offerings.

NT Distribution¶

12 total — ALL in Revelation
5:8; 15:7; 16:1,2,3,4,8,10,12,17; 17:1; 21:9

Transformation Arc¶

Rev 5:8 — phialas chrysas gemousas thymiamaton — "golden bowls full of incense" = prayers
Rev 15:7 — phialas chrysas gemousas tou thymou tou Theou — "golden bowls full of the wrath of God"
Rev 16:1-17 — the seven bowls poured out as judgment
Rev 17:1; 21:9 — bowl-angels introduce Babylon and the Bride

The same vessel type (phiale chryse) and the same grammatical construction (gemousas + genitive content) transition from prayer to wrath. The living creatures distribute the bowls in both scenes (5:8; 15:7).

libanotos (G3031) — Censer¶

Original: λιβανωτός Transliteration: libanotos Definition: From libanos (frankincense); a censer, vessel for burning incense.

NT Distribution¶

2 total — BOTH in Revelation (8:3; 8:5)
Hapax-like distribution: the NT's only censer appears at this single scene

Dual Function in Three Verses¶

Rev 8:3 — libanoton chrysoun — "golden censer" carries incense WITH prayers
Rev 8:5 — ton libanoton — "the censer" filled with fire from altar, cast to earth
The SAME vessel performs intercession (v.3) then judgment (v.5) within THREE VERSES

kapnos (G2586) — Smoke¶

Original: καπνός Transliteration: kapnos Definition: Smoke; from kapto (to consume by fire).

NT Distribution¶

13 total; 12 in Revelation, 1 in Acts 2:19
Dual function in Revelation: sacred smoke (2 occurrences) and destructive smoke (10 occurrences)

Sacred Smoke¶

Rev 8:4 — smoke FROM incense, ascending with prayers before God (upward direction)
Rev 15:8 — smoke FROM God's glory and power, filling the temple (outward from God)

Destructive/Judgment Smoke¶

Rev 9:2 — smoke FROM the abyss (3x kapnos in this verse)
Rev 9:3 — locusts FROM the smoke
Rev 9:17,18 — fire and smoke and brimstone from horses' mouths
Rev 14:11 — smoke of torment ascending
Rev 18:9,18 — smoke of Babylon's burning
Rev 19:3 — her smoke rising forever

kibotos (G2787) — Ark¶

Original: κιβωτός Transliteration: kibotos Definition: Box, chest, ark; used for both Noah's ark and the ark of the covenant.

NT Distribution¶

6 total; 1 in Revelation (11:19); also Mat 24:38; Luk 17:27; Heb 9:4; 11:7; 1 Pet 3:20

Rev 11:19¶

kibotos tes diathekes autou — "the ark of his covenant/testament"
Appears at the 7th trumpet climax with maximum theophany (5 elements)
The ONLY appearance of the ark in Revelation
Significance: the ark contains the law (tablets of testimony) — its revelation signals judgment according to the covenant standard

skene (G4633) — Tabernacle/Tent¶

Original: σκηνή Transliteration: skene Definition: A tent, booth, tabernacle; the portable dwelling of God.

Revelation Occurrences¶

Rev 13:6 — "his tabernacle [skenen], and them that dwell [skenountas] in heaven" — the beast blasphemes God's dwelling
Rev 15:5 — "the temple of the tabernacle [skenes] of the testimony" — triple-genitive compound
Rev 21:3 — "the tabernacle [skene] of God is with men" — the telos of the sanctuary

Rev 15:5 Triple Genitive¶

ho naos tes skenes tou martyriou — "the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony" - naos (inner shrine) — identifies the SPACE - skenes (tabernacle) — identifies the TRADITION (Mosaic portable sanctuary) - martyriou (testimony) — identifies the CONTENT (the law/covenant) - OT parallel: "tabernacle of testimony" (ohel ha-edut) at Exo 38:21; Num 1:50; Num 10:11

arnion (G721) — Lamb¶

Original: ἀρνίον Transliteration: arnion Definition: A little lamb; diminutive of aren (lamb).

NT Distribution¶

30 total; 29 in Revelation, 1 in John 21:15
This is the dominant Christological title in Revelation (more frequent than "Jesus," "Christ," or "Lord")

Key Sanctuary Connections¶

Rev 5:6 — arnion hestekos hos esphagmenon — "Lamb standing as having been slain" — perfect passive participle indicates ongoing significance of past sacrifice
Rev 5:9 — "thou wast slain [esphages], and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood"
Rev 7:14 — "washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb"
Rev 13:8 — "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world"
Rev 21:22 — the Lamb IS the naos along with God
Rev 21:23 — the Lamb IS the lychnos (lamp) of the city

lychnia (G3087) — Lampstand¶

Original: λυχνία Transliteration: lychnia Definition: A lampstand, candlestick; the stand that holds a lamp.

Revelation Occurrences (7x)¶

Rev 1:12,13,20(x2); 2:1,5; 11:4
Confined to the church section (Rev 1-3) and the two witnesses (11:4)
Explicitly identified: lampstands = churches (1:20)

lampas (G2985) — Torch/Lamp¶

Original: λαμπάς Transliteration: lampas Definition: A torch, lamp; from lampo (to shine).

Revelation Occurrences¶

Rev 4:5 — hepta lampades pyros — seven torches of fire = seven Spirits of God
Rev 8:10 — burning hos lampas — simile for falling star

lychnos (G3088) — Lamp/Light¶

Original: λύχνος Transliteration: lychnos Definition: A portable lamp (as opposed to lampstand or torch).

Revelation Occurrences (3x)¶

Rev 18:23 — "the light of a candle [lychnou] shall shine no more at all in thee" — Babylon loses all light
Rev 21:23 — "the Lamb is the light [lychnos] thereof" — the Lamb replaces the lamp
Rev 22:5 — "they need no candle [lychnou]" — God Himself is the light source

The Light-Word Triad¶

lychnia (lampstand, Rev 1-3, 11:4) = the CHURCH'S witness (human)
lampas (torch, Rev 4:5) = the SPIRIT'S fire (divine)
lychnos (lamp, Rev 18:23; 21:23; 22:5) = GOD/LAMB as ultimate light (transcendent)

Progressive revelation of light source: human witness → divine Spirit → God Himself as light. The final state needs no created light bearer because the Creator IS the light.