from πυρά; fiery, i.e. (by implication) flaming:--of fire.
Transliteration:pýrinos
Pronunciation:poo'-ree-nos
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek adjective πύρινος (*pýrinos*), Strong's number `{{G4447}}`, is derived from the noun πῦρ (*pyr*), meaning "fire" (`{{G4442}}`). As such, its core meaning is "fiery," "made of fire," or "flaming." It describes something that possesses the nature, appearance, or quality of fire. This can imply a literal fiery color or composition, or metaphorically, an intense, burning, or destructive quality. The term conveys the visual and inherent characteristics associated with fire, such as brightness, heat, consuming power, and vivid redness.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term πύρινος (*pýrinos*) appears only once in the New Testament, specifically in the apocalyptic vision of [[Revelation 9:17]]. In this passage, John describes the horses and their riders unleashed as part of the fifth trumpet judgment: "And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and those who sat on them, having breastplates of fiery red and hyacinth blue and sulfur yellow..." (ESV).
Here, *pýrinos* (πυρίνους - accusative plural) modifies "breastplates" (θώρακας), describing them as "fiery red." This vivid description contributes to the terrifying and destructive imagery of the vision. The "fiery" color is not merely aesthetic but signifies the intrinsic nature of these forces. It immediately evokes destruction, judgment, and perhaps the very fires of hell or divine wrath, especially when coupled with the subsequent mention of "sulfur yellow," which points to the brimstone and fire associated with divine judgment (cf. [[Genesis 19:24]], [[Revelation 14:10]]). The breastplates, being a part of defensive/offensive armor, underscore the aggressive and consuming power of these horsemen.
### Related Words & Concepts
The most direct and significant related word is **πῦρ** (*pyr*, `{{G4442}}`), the noun for "fire," from which *pýrinos* is derived. The extensive biblical theology surrounding *pyr*—encompassing divine presence (e.g., the burning bush, the pillar of fire), purification, testing, and especially divine judgment and wrath—directly informs the semantic range of *pýrinos*.
Other related concepts include:
* **φλογός** (*phlogos*, `{{G5395}}`): "flame," often used in conjunction with fire to emphasize its visible, active manifestation.
* **καίω** (*kaiō*, `{{G2545}}`): "to burn," the verb describing the action of fire.
* **Θειώδης** (*theiōdēs*, `{{G2306}}`): "sulfurous," used in [[Revelation 9:17]] alongside *pýrinos* to describe the color of the breastplates, linking the fiery imagery to the traditional biblical depiction of divine judgment involving fire and brimstone.
* **Judgment and Wrath:** The concept of divine judgment is frequently portrayed with fire imagery throughout Scripture, making *pýrinos* a descriptor that immediately brings this theological theme to mind.
### Theological Significance
The singular occurrence of *pýrinos* in [[Revelation 9:17]] holds profound theological significance, primarily within the context of eschatological judgment. The description of the breastplates as "fiery red" is not simply a detail of color but a powerful symbol.
1. **Divine Judgment and Wrath:** In biblical thought, fire is a potent symbol of God's holy wrath and judgment. God is described as a "consuming fire" ([[Hebrews 12:29]], [[Deuteronomy 4:24]]). The "fiery" appearance of the apocalyptic forces in Revelation conveys their role as instruments of divine judgment, bringing destruction and punishment upon the unrighteous. The imagery aligns with other depictions of judgment in Revelation where fire plays a central role (e.g., the lake of fire).
2. **Destructive Power:** The adjective emphasizes the destructive and consuming nature of the forces unleashed. These are not merely human armies but supernatural entities or forces empowered to inflict severe devastation, mirroring the intensity and all-consuming nature of fire.
3. **Awe and Terror:** The "fiery" quality contributes to the terrifying and awe-inspiring nature of the vision, designed to evoke a sense of dread for those facing God's righteous indignation.
Thus, *pýrinos* in this context moves beyond a mere physical description to convey the terrifying and absolute nature of God's final judgments, executed through instruments imbued with the very essence of consuming fire.
### Summary
The Greek adjective πύρινος (*pýrinos*, `{{G4447}}`) signifies "fiery" or "flaming," derived from the noun for "fire" (πῦρ, `{{G4442}}`). Its sole New Testament occurrence in [[Revelation 9:17]] describes the "fiery" breastplates of the apocalyptic horsemen, intensifying the vision's imagery of divine judgment. This usage highlights the destructive, consuming, and terrifying nature of the forces unleashed in the eschatological judgments. Theologically, *pýrinos* connects directly to the pervasive biblical symbolism of fire as an agent of God's holy wrath, purification, and ultimate judgment, underscoring the severity and divine origin of the events depicted.
TRV