### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb G3396 (μίγνυμι, mígnymi) is a primary verb carrying the fundamental meaning "to mix" or "to mingle." Its semantic range encompasses the bringing together of two or more distinct elements to form a composite, or the interspersing of substances. This can refer to physical blending, such as the mixing of liquids or solids, or more abstract forms of combination. The outcome of such a mixture can vary from a homogeneous blend to a simple interspersing, and the connotations range from defilement and destruction to purification and glorification, depending on the context of the elements being mixed.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term mígnymi appears three times in the New Testament, each instance offering a distinct and potent theological insight:
* **[[Luke 13:1]]**: "There were present at that season some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had *mingled* with their sacrifices." Here, the word describes a horrific act of violence and desecration. Pilate's brutal slaughter of Galileans while they were engaged in religious sacrifice resulted in their blood being "mixed" with the sacrificial offerings. This is a profound image of defilement, where the sacred is violated by human cruelty, transforming an act of worship into a scene of unholy commingling. Jesus uses this event not to condemn the victims, but to underscore the universal need for repentance.
* **[[Revelation 8:7]]**: "The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire *mingled* with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up." In this apocalyptic vision, mígnymi portrays a catastrophic mixture of destructive elements unleashed as part of divine judgment. The "hail and fire" are combined with "blood," symbolizing death and devastation. This mixture amplifies the intensity and comprehensiveness of the judgment, demonstrating the terrifying power of God's wrath upon a rebellious world.
* **[[Revelation 15:2]]**: "And I saw as it were a sea of glass *mingled* with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God." This occurrence presents a strikingly different and glorious application of mígnymi. The "sea of glass," often associated with the divine throne room ([[Revelation 4:6]]), is here seen "mingled with fire." In this context, the fire is not destructive in a negative sense but symbolizes divine holiness, purity, and perhaps the refining process endured by the victorious saints. This "mixing" is one of profound beauty and awe, signifying God's majestic presence and the triumphant purity of the redeemed who have overcome the forces of evil.
### Related Words & Concepts
The concept of "mixing" in the biblical context often interacts with themes of purity, defilement, transformation, and composition.
* **Related Greek Terms:**
* `{{G4870}}` (συμμίγνυμι, symmígnymi): A compound of mígnymi with syn- (together), meaning "to mix together" or "to associate with."
* `{{G2767}}` (κεράννυμι, keránnymi): Often used specifically for the mixing of liquids, particularly wine with water, to temper or dilute.
* `{{G4908}}` (συνίστημι, synístēmi): A broader term meaning "to stand together," "to combine," or "to constitute."
* **Thematic Connections:**
* **Purity and Defilement:** The mixing of blood with sacrifices in [[Luke 13:1]] starkly contrasts with the Old Testament emphasis on ritual purity and the sanctity of sacrificial blood (`{{H1818}}`, dam).
* **Divine Judgment:** The "mingling" of destructive elements in [[Revelation 8:7]] resonates with Old Testament accounts of God's judgments often involving natural phenomena (e.g., hail, fire, blood, cf. `{{H1259}}` barad - hail, `{{H784}}` esh - fire).
* **Holiness and Glory:** The "sea of glass mingled with fire" in [[Revelation 15:2]] evokes the fiery presence of God (`{{H3519}}` kavod - glory, often associated with fire) and the refining fire that purifies (`{{H6884}}` tsaraph - to refine).
* **Leaven:** The concept of "leaven" (`{{G2219}}`, zymē) in parables often illustrates how a small element, when "mixed" into a larger mass, can permeate and transform it, symbolizing the pervasive nature of sin or, conversely, the kingdom of God.
### Theological Significance
The rare but poignant appearances of mígnymi in the New Testament carry profound theological weight, illustrating the multifaceted nature of "mixing" in God's interaction with humanity and creation.
* **The Horror of Desecration:** In [[Luke 13:1]], the word underscores the ultimate desecration of the sacred by human violence. The mingling of innocent blood with sacrificial offerings represents a profound violation of both human life and divine ritual, serving as a stark reminder of the pervasive brokenness and sin that necessitate repentance. It highlights the unholy mixtures that arise from human depravity.
* **The Severity of Divine Judgment:** [[Revelation 8:7]] employs mígnymi to vividly portray the terrifying reality of divine judgment. The supernatural combination of destructive elements – hail, fire, and blood – signifies a comprehensive and inescapable outpouring of God's righteous wrath. This "mixing" intensifies the severity and scope of the judgment, demonstrating that God's justice is both precise and overwhelming.
* **The Glory of Divine Presence and Triumph:** Most significantly, [[Revelation 15:2]] transforms the concept of "mixing" from one of defilement or destruction into one of sublime glory and triumphant purity. The "sea of glass mingled with fire" speaks to the awesome holiness of God, where fire symbolizes not destruction but purifying presence and radiant majesty. This image, set against the backdrop of the victorious saints, suggests that even through the fiery trials of the age, God's holiness remains untainted, and His people emerge refined and glorified, sharing in His triumphant presence. The mixture here is one of perfect harmony and divine splendor.
### Summary
The Greek verb G3396 (μίγνυμι, mígnymi), meaning "to mix" or "to mingle," though infrequent in the New Testament, is employed with powerful theological import. Its occurrences trace a striking trajectory from the unholy commingling of human violence and sacred ritual in [[Luke 13:1]], symbolizing desecration, to the destructive yet just "mixing" of elements in divine judgment in [[Revelation 8:7]]. Most profoundly, [[Revelation 15:2]] presents a "sea of glass mingled with fire," an image of majestic divine holiness and the triumphant purity of the redeemed. Thus, mígnymi illustrates how "mixing" can represent the depths of human sin and the severity of God's judgment, but ultimately culminates in a vision of God's glorious presence and the sanctified state of those who overcome, demonstrating the multifaceted nature of divine interaction with creation and humanity.
TRV