### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **emprḗthō**, represented by `{{G1714}}`, means to enkindle or set on fire. Its definition is specifically to **burn up**. This word is notably rare, as it appears only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** within the biblical text, making its single usage highly significant.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{G1714}}` is in a parable spoken by Jesus. In [[Matthew 22:7]], a king who had sent his servants to invite guests to a wedding feast becomes enraged when his servants are murdered. The verse states that the king "was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and **burned up** their city" [[Matthew 22:7]]. Here, the act of burning up the city is a direct and destructive consequence of the king’s anger.
### Related Words & Concepts
The context of `{{G1714}}` is clarified by the words used alongside it in its only appearance:
* `{{G3710}}` **orgízō**: This word means "to provoke or enrage" and is translated as "wroth" in [[Matthew 22:7]]. It establishes the emotional motivation for the king's destructive actions.
* `{{G622}}` **apóllymi**: Defined as "to destroy fully," this word is used to describe the fate of the murderers. The king first **destroyed** the people and then **burned up** their city, indicating a sequence of total annihilation.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{G1714}}` is concentrated in its single, powerful image of judgment.
* **Executing Judgment:** The word is used to describe the execution of fierce judgment. In the parable, the king's response to the rejection and murder of his servants is to **burn up** the city of the perpetrators, symbolizing a final and irreversible punishment [[Matthew 22:7]].
* **Wrath and Consequence:** The use of **emprḗthō** is directly linked to the king being "wroth" `{{G3710}}`. This shows that the act of burning is not arbitrary but a specific consequence of righteous anger against evil.
* **Total Annihilation:** Paired with the word **destroy** `{{G622}}`, **emprḗthō** conveys a sense of complete eradication. The destruction is twofold: the people are killed, and their city is utterly consumed by fire, leaving nothing remaining.
### Summary
In summary, `{{G1714}}` is a precise and potent term for destruction by fire. Its exclusive use in [[Matthew 22:7]] ties it inextricably to the theme of divine judgment in response to rebellion. Functioning alongside words for wrath and destruction, **emprḗthō** provides a vivid and sobering illustration of the ultimate consequence faced by those who violently reject authority.
TRV