ἐμπρήθω

I burn, set on fire, suffer inflammation

Definition

The verb ἐμπρήθω means to set on fire, burn, or consume with fire. In its literal sense, it refers to the act of intentionally burning something, such as a city. It can also carry a figurative or medical sense of suffering inflammation or being inflamed with passion. In the New Testament, its only occurrence is in Matthew 22:7, where it is used literally to describe a king burning a city in a parable.

Biblical Usage

ἐμπρήθω is used only once in the New Testament, in Matthew 22:7. In this verse, it appears within Jesus's Parable of the Wedding Feast. The king, enraged by the murder of his servants, sends his armies to destroy the murderers and 'burn their city.' The usage is literal and dramatic, describing a complete act of punitive destruction by fire within the narrative framework of the parable.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition ἐν (en, 'in') and the verb πρήθω (prēthō, 'to blow, burn, or kindle'). The compound form intensifies the sense, meaning to 'burn up' or 'set ablaze.' It is related to other Greek words for fire, such as πῦρ (pyr).

Semantic Range

In its sole biblical use, the word underscores a theme of divine judgment and the consequences of rejecting God's invitation. In Matthew 22:7, the burning of the city symbolizes the severe judgment that falls upon those who violently oppose God's messengers and spurn His grace. This echoes Old Testament imagery of fire as an instrument of God's wrath (e.g., Genesis 19:24, Amos 1:4, 7, 10, 12, 14) and foreshadows the destruction of Jerusalem, a event well-known to Matthew's audience. Understanding this word highlights the seriousness with which the New Testament treats the rejection of Christ and the coming of God's kingdom.

In the first-century Roman world, burning a city was a recognized and brutal military tactic for total subjugation and punishment, often used to make a devastating example. For Jesus's original hearers and Matthew's readers, the image would have evoked recent historical trauma, such as the Roman destruction of cities during the Jewish Revolt. This cultural resonance makes the parable's warning about national judgment particularly potent and concrete.

κατακαίω (katakaiō, G2618) — to burn down completely, consume utterly; often used for sacrificial burning or complete destruction. πυρόω (pyroō, G4448) — to set on fire, ignite; can be literal or figurative (e.g., to inflame with passion).

Word Details

Scripture References