### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **chlōrós**, represented by `{{G5515}}`, carries a dual meaning of both "green" and "pale." Derived from a word meaning greenish or verdant, it can describe both living vegetation and a dun or pale color associated with sickness and death. It appears **4 times** across **4 unique verses** in the Bible.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{G5515}}` is used to describe the natural world. It denotes living vegetation, as when Jesus commands the multitude to sit on the **green** grass before the feeding of the five thousand [[Mark 6:39]]. This sense of verdant life is also seen in Revelation, where "all **green** grass was burnt up" as part of a divine judgment [[Revelation 8:7]] and where locusts from the abyss are commanded not to harm "any **green** thing" [[Revelation 9:4]]. In stark contrast, `{{G5515}}` is also translated as **pale**, describing the horse whose rider is Death [[Revelation 6:8]], linking the color to mortality and judgment.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words clarify the contexts in which `{{G5515}}` is used:
* `{{G5528}}` **chórtos** (herbage or vegetation): This word is directly modified by `{{G5515}}` in multiple instances, describing either its life-giving quality [[Mark 6:39]] or its destruction by judgment [[Revelation 8:7]].
* `{{G2288}}` **thánatos** (death): The rider on the **pale** `{{G5515}}` horse is named **Death**, directly linking the word's "pale" aspect to mortality [[Revelation 6:8]].
* `{{G4442}}` **pŷr** ("fire"): As an agent of judgment, **fire** is what consumes the "green grass" `{{G5515}}` [[Revelation 8:7]], highlighting the fragility of the life that `{{G5515}}` often represents.
* `{{G615}}` **apokteínō** (to kill outright): This action is explicitly given to the rider of the pale horse, who has the power **to kill** a fourth of the earth, reinforcing the deadly nature of this vision [[Revelation 6:8]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{G5515}}` lies in its contrasting symbolism of life and death.
* **Life and Divine Provision:** In the context of Jesus's ministry, `{{G5515}}` is associated with divine care. The "green grass" provides a place for the people to rest before being miraculously fed, symbolizing life and sustenance [[Mark 6:39]].
* **Divine Judgment and Protection:** In Revelation, things described as **green** are subject to eschatological events. The "green grass" is "burnt up" in one judgment [[Revelation 8:7]], while in another, the "grass of the earth" and "any green thing" are specifically protected from harm [[Revelation 9:4]], showing God's sovereign control over what is destroyed and what is preserved.
* **Embodiment of Death:** The most striking theological use of `{{G5515}}` is its translation as **pale**. The fourth horseman rides a **pale** horse, and his name is Death, who is given power to kill a fourth of the earth with sword, hunger, and death [[Revelation 6:8]]. Here, the word signifies the color of disease, decay, and mortality unleashed upon the world.
### Summary
In summary, `{{G5515}}` is a versatile word whose meaning is defined by its context. It can represent the vibrant, living world as "green," a symbol of both God's provision [[Mark 6:39]] and an object of his judgment [[Revelation 8:7]]. Simultaneously, it can describe the "pale" color of the horse of Death, a stark image of mortality and destruction [[Revelation 6:8]]. This single Greek term thus captures both the flourishing of life and the specter of death within the biblical narrative.
TRV