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.
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.
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.
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.
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