### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **theiṓdēs**, represented by `{{G2306}}`, is an adjective meaning **sulphur-like** or sulphurous, and is translated as **brimstone**. Based on the root word θεῖον (theîon), it is a very specific term, appearing only **1 time** in the Bible, within a single verse.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole use of `{{G2306}}` occurs in the apocalyptic vision of [[Revelation 9:17]]. In this passage, John describes seeing horses and their riders, "having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and **brimstone** `{{G2306}}`". The imagery of judgment is intensified as the verse continues, noting that "out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone `{{G2303}}`", connecting the sulphurous nature of the riders' armor to the destructive plague they unleash.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide a fuller context for the concept of brimstone as an element of judgment:
* `{{G2303}}` **theîon** (sulphur:--brimstone): This is the root noun from which `{{G2306}}` is derived. It is a key element in descriptions of divine punishment, such as the "lake which burneth with fire and **brimstone**" [[Revelation 21:8]] and the torment of the wicked [[Revelation 14:10]].
* `{{G4447}}` **pýrinos** (fiery, i.e. (by implication) flaming:--of fire): This adjective is used alongside `{{G2306}}` in [[Revelation 9:17]] to describe the breastplates of the apocalyptic riders, linking the sulphurous quality directly with a fiery one.
* `{{G4442}}` **pŷr** ("fire"): This word is almost always found in proximity to brimstone, forming a pair that signifies judgment and destruction, as seen in the plagues of Revelation [[Revelation 9:18]] and the rain that "destroyed them all" in Sodom [[Luke 17:29]].
* `{{G2586}}` **kapnós** (smoke:--smoke): This word completes the trio of plagues that issue from the horses' mouths, appearing with fire and brimstone as a weapon of destruction [[Revelation 9:17]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{G2306}}` is understood entirely through its apocalyptic context and its relationship with its root word.
* **Symbol of Divine Judgment:** The adjective "sulphurous" is used to describe the armor of beings who execute God's judgment. This is reinforced by the related noun `{{G2303}}`, which is a primary component of the final punishment in the lake of fire ([[Revelation 20:10]], [[Revelation 21:8]]).
* **Element of Apocalyptic Warfare:** In its only appearance, `{{G2306}}` is part of a description of supernatural warfare. The breastplates of fire, jacinth, and brimstone characterize the riders as agents of a terrifying, otherworldly plague [[Revelation 9:17]].
* **Destructive Power:** The related elements of fire `{{G4442}}`, smoke `{{G2586}}`, and brimstone `{{G2303}}` are explicitly identified as the cause of death for a "third part of men," highlighting the lethal nature associated with these terms [[Revelation 9:18]].
### Summary
In summary, **theiṓdēs** `{{G2306}}` is a highly specific adjective whose significance is derived from its single, dramatic use in the Book of Revelation. While rare, its meaning of "sulphur-like" connects it directly to the broader biblical theme of **theîon** `{{G2303}}` as a substance of divine wrath and final judgment, contributing to the fearsome imagery of apocalyptic punishment.
TRV