The Greek word brýō, represented by G1032, is a primary verb meaning to swell out, or by implication, to gush or send forth. It is a rare term, appearing only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the entire Bible. Its meaning centers on the idea of a source actively producing or gushing out its contents.
The sole biblical appearance of G1032 is in a rhetorical question in James 3:11: "Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?" In this context, the word describes the action of a fountain gushing water from a single opening. The verse uses this natural impossibility to make a point about the inconsistency of different outcomes originating from the same source.
Several related words found in the same verse clarify the meaning of G1032:
- G4077 pēgḗ (fountain): Defined as a fount, source, or supply, this is the subject that performs the action of "sending forth" James 3:11.
- G3692 opḗ (place): This word means a hole, cavern, or spring. In its context, it refers to the single "place" or opening from which the water gushes James 3:11.
- G1099 glykýs (sweet): Meaning "sweet (i.e. not bitter nor salt)," this word describes one of the two potential outputs from the source James 3:11.
- G4089 pikrós (bitter): Meaning "sharp (pungent), i.e. acrid," this provides the direct contrast to sweet water, highlighting the impossibility of a source producing both James 3:11.
The theological weight of G1032 is tied entirely to its metaphorical use in its single appearance.
- The Integrity of the Source: The verb "to send forth" establishes a principle of consistency. A fountain G4077 cannot gush forth contradictory elements like sweet G1099 and bitter G4089 water from the same place G3692, as stated in James 3:11.
- A Metaphor for Human Nature: The fountain's action is a metaphor for the human heart. Just as a spring sends forth water, a person's nature produces certain outcomes. The verse questions how a source can produce two opposite things.
- The Contrast of Purity and Corruption: The action of G1032 forces a distinction. What is being "sent forth" reveals the nature of the source. The passage contrasts what is "sweet" with what is "bitter," which is linked in the same chapter to "bitter envying" James 3:14.
In summary, while G1032 is used only once, its function is critical. As the verb for "to gush" or "send forth", it provides the dynamic action in the metaphor of the fountain in James 3:11. It powerfully illustrates the biblical principle that a source is known by what it produces, making a profound statement about the need for integrity and consistency.
TRV