ἐμέω

I vomit forth

Definition

ἐμέω means 'to vomit' or 'to spew out,' describing the physical act of ejecting stomach contents. In the New Testament, it appears only in Revelation 3:16, where it is used metaphorically: Jesus declares that because the church in Laodicea is lukewarm, he will 'vomit' them out of his mouth. This vivid imagery conveys strong rejection and disgust toward spiritual apathy. The word carries no other distinct biblical senses beyond this literal and metaphorical usage.

Biblical Usage

This verb is used only once in the New Testament, in Revelation 3:16. It is employed in a prophetic, metaphorical context within Jesus' message to the Laodicean church. The usage is not about physical illness but serves as a stark warning against half-hearted faith. The pattern is singular and highly symbolic, emphasizing divine displeasure with lukewarm commitment.

Etymology

Derived from the ancient Greek verb ἐμέω (emeō), meaning 'to vomit.' It is a primary verb with a straightforward, onomatopoeic quality, imitating the sound or action. Cognates appear in other Greek literature with the same core meaning. Its semantic range remained consistent, denoting literal ejection and, by extension, metaphorical rejection.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it illustrates God's intense aversion to spiritual mediocrity. In Revelation 3:16, the metaphor underscores that lukewarm faith—being neither hot (zealous) nor cold (refreshingly honest in rejection)—is more repulsive to Christ than outright coldness. It enriches reading by highlighting that God desires wholehearted commitment and that apathy can provoke a response of decisive rejection, a key concept in teachings about church discipline and repentance.

In the ancient Greco-Roman world, vomiting was universally understood as a visceral sign of disgust and the body's rejection of something harmful or unpalatable. The Laodiceans, familiar with the tepid, mineral-laden water from their aqueducts (which was nauseating to drink), would have immediately grasped Jesus' metaphor. This cultural reference made the warning powerfully concrete, contrasting with the desirable 'hot' therapeutic waters of Hierapolis or the 'cold' refreshing waters of Colossae.

ἐκβάλλω (ekballō, G1544) — a more general term meaning 'to cast out' or 'drive out,' used for exorcism or expulsion, without the specific connotation of disgust inherent in ἐμέω.

Word Details

Scripture References