### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **iós**, represented by `{{G2447}}`, carries a dual meaning of **rust** and **poison**. It appears 3 times in 3 unique verses in the Bible. The word is defined as "rust (as if emitted by metals); also venom (as emitted by serpents)." This dual definition allows it to be used metaphorically for both material decay and deadly, corrupting influences.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical occurrences, `{{G2447}}` illustrates two distinct forms of corruption. In James, it is used to describe the corrupting power of wealth, where the **rust** of hoarded gold and silver will act as a witness against the rich and "eat your flesh as it were fire" [[James 5:3]]. The word is also used to depict the destructive nature of speech. Paul describes the speech of the unrighteous as having the **poison** of asps under their lips [[Romans 3:13]], and James calls the untamable tongue an evil full of deadly **poison** [[James 3:8]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words clarify the context of `{{G2447}}` as both rust and poison:
* `{{G2728}}` **katióō** (to rust down, i.e. corrode): This word, translated as "cankered," appears alongside **iós** in [[James 5:3]] to describe the decay of wealth.
* `{{G1100}}` **glōssa** (the tongue): This is the source of the verbal **poison** in both [[Romans 3:13]] and [[James 3:8]], highlighting the connection between speech and spiritual harm.
* `{{G2287}}` **thanatḗphoros** (death-bearing, i.e. fatal): This adjective directly modifies **iós** in [[James 3:8]], emphasizing the lethal nature of the "deadly poison" that the tongue can dispense.
* `{{G785}}` **aspís** (asp): This term identifies the source of the venom in [[Romans 3:13]], where the **poison** of **asps** is a metaphor for deceitful words.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{G2447}}` is significant, symbolizing different facets of corruption.
* **Corruption of Materialism:** In [[James 5:3]], the **rust** is not merely a sign of decay but an active agent of judgment. It serves as a witness against the unrighteous and metaphorically consumes their **flesh** `{{G4561}}`, showing how attachment to worldly wealth leads to destruction.
* **The Destructive Power of the Tongue:** The use of **iós** as **poison** ([[Romans 3:13]], [[James 3:8]]) characterizes human speech as potentially lethal. The tongue is described as an **unruly** `{{G183}}` **evil** `{{G2556}}`, filled with a "deadly" substance, which frames sinful communication as a source of spiritual death.
* **An External Sign of Internal Wickedness:** The dual meaning connects the visible decay of metals (**rust**) with the invisible venom of the heart expressed through words (**poison**). It illustrates the principle that inner corruption will eventually manifest in outward, destructive ways.
### Summary
In summary, `{{G2447}}` is a potent word that signifies both physical corrosion and deadly venom. It serves as a stark biblical metaphor for the consequences of sin, whether through the accumulation of wealth that **rusts** and testifies against its owner, or through words that act as a fatal **poison**. The term powerfully links the decay of the material world to the moral and spiritual corruption that originates from within a person.
TRV