φόβητρον
phobētron
fearful thing
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredBased on the lexicon data provided, the Greek word "φόβητρον" (phobētron) is a noun with the definition of a "fearful thing." This word appears only once in the Bible, suggesting it is used in a specific context to convey a particular idea or emotion. Given its definition and single occurrence in the Bible, it is difficult to establish the range of usage without further information. However, as a concept, a "fearful thing" is often used to describe something evoking apprehension or dread. In this sense, the word might be associated with fear, anxiety, or apprehension, but the limited usage prevents us from drawing broader conclusions about its semantic range. The significance of this word lies in its singular appearance in the Bible, implying it was chosen for a specific purpose. The author likely used "φόβητρον" to create a particular effect or convey a precise idea that other words could not. While we can only speculate about the author's intentions, the use of this unique term adds a nuance to the biblical text that warrants closer examination.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence across the text