### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb pyrrházō (`{{G4449}}`) is derived from the adjective pyrros (`{{G4447}}`), which means "fiery red" or "flame-colored." At its core, pyrrházō signifies "to redden" or "to become red," specifically in an intransitive sense. This indicates a state or appearance of redness, rather than an action of making something else red. The base definition "to redden (intransitively):--be red" accurately captures this nuance. The word evokes a vivid, intense color, often associated with fire or blood, and is primarily used to describe natural phenomena.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
Pyrrházō (`{{G4449}}`) appears only once in the New Testament, found in the Gospel of Matthew. In [[Matthew 16:2-3]], Jesus is confronted by the Pharisees and Sadducees who demand a sign from heaven. Jesus responds by critiquing their ability to interpret natural signs while failing to discern the spiritual "signs of the times":
> "He answered and said to them, 'When it is evening, you say, "It will be fair weather, for the sky is red" (πυῤῥάζει). And in the morning, "It will be stormy today, for the sky is red (πυῤῥάζει) and threatening." You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.'"
Here, pyrrházō is used twice to describe the sky's color at evening and morning. A red sky in the evening (often due to dust and moisture in the atmosphere scattering blue light) was commonly associated with fair weather, while a red and threatening sky in the morning (indicating a low-pressure system and moisture) signaled an approaching storm. The usage is purely descriptive, highlighting a common meteorological observation that the religious leaders understood. Jesus uses this familiar example to draw a stark contrast between their natural discernment and their spiritual blindness to God's redemptive work unfolding before their very eyes.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary related word is pyrros (`{{G4447}}`), the adjective from which pyrrházō is derived. Pyrros itself appears several times in Revelation, describing the "red horse" of war ([[Revelation 6:4]]) and the "red dragon" ([[Revelation 12:3]]; [[Revelation 12:4]]). This connection reinforces the intense, fiery quality of the color. The ultimate root is pyr (`{{G4442}}`), meaning "fire," which further emphasizes the vibrancy and potential symbolic weight of the color red, often associated with judgment, passion, or sacrifice in biblical contexts.
While pyrrházō itself is descriptive, its appearance within [[Matthew 16:2-3]] links it to the broader concept of "discernment." Jesus's point is not about the color red per se, but about the *ability to interpret signs*. The Pharisees and Sadducees possessed a natural discernment (reading the sky's pyrrházō) but lacked spiritual discernment regarding the messianic era.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of pyrrházō (`{{G4449}}`) is not inherent in the word's meaning of "to redden," but rather in the profound theological context in which Jesus employs it. Its sole New Testament occurrence serves as a pivotal element in Jesus's rebuke of the religious leaders.
1. **Spiritual Blindness:** The passage underscores the spiritual blindness of those who are outwardly religious but inwardly resistant to God's truth. They were capable of interpreting common natural signs (the reddening sky indicating weather patterns) but utterly failed to recognize the far more momentous "signs of the times" – the presence and ministry of the Messiah, the fulfillment of prophecy, and the dawning of the Kingdom of God.
2. **Call for Discernment:** Jesus's words are a timeless call for spiritual discernment. Believers are not merely to observe external phenomena but to understand God's active presence and purpose in history and in their own lives. The natural world, with its observable signs like the pyrrházō of the sky, can serve as a metaphor for the clearer, more significant signs God provides in His Word and through His Spirit.
3. **Accountability:** The passage implies an accountability for those who witness God's work but refuse to acknowledge it. Their inability to discern the "signs of the times" was not due to a lack of evidence, but a lack of willingness to believe and respond. The very obviousness of the "reddening sky" analogy makes their spiritual obtuseness all the more culpable.
### Summary
Pyrrházō (`{{G4449}}`) is a Greek verb meaning "to redden" or "to become red," derived from the adjective pyrros (`{{G4447}}`), "fiery red." Its single New Testament occurrence in [[Matthew 16:2-3]] descriptively refers to the sky's appearance at dawn and dusk. While a simple word describing a natural phenomenon, its theological weight comes from its context. Jesus uses the common observation of the pyrrházō sky to highlight the spiritual blindness of the Pharisees and Sadducees. They could easily interpret these natural signs to predict weather but were tragically unable to discern the profound "signs of the times" – the advent of the Messiah and the unfolding of God's kingdom. Thus, pyrrházō serves as a poignant element in Jesus's indictment of their lack of spiritual discernment, underscoring the critical need for an open heart to recognize and respond to God's active presence in the world.
TRV