ἐρημόω

I destroy, strip, rob

Definition

The verb ἐρημόω (erēmoō) fundamentally means 'to make desolate' or 'to lay waste.' In the New Testament, it carries two primary senses. First, it describes the act of destroying or devastating something, such as a house or kingdom, as seen when Jesus says a divided kingdom is 'laid waste' (Matthew 12:25, Luke 11:17). Second, in a more specific commercial context, particularly in Revelation, it means to strip of wealth or plunder, referring to the utter ruin and robbery of Babylon's economic system (Revelation 17:16, 18:17, 19).

Biblical Usage

This word is used five times in the New Testament. It appears in the Gospels within Jesus' teaching on spiritual conflict, illustrating the self-destruction of a divided entity. Its most concentrated and vivid usage is in Revelation's judgment oracles against 'Babylon' (symbolizing corrupt worldly power), where it describes the comprehensive economic devastation and plunder of the great city by her former allies.

Etymology

Derived from the adjective ἔρημος (erēmos, G2048), meaning 'desolate,' 'lonely,' or 'wilderness.' The verb form ἐρημόω literally means 'to make like a wilderness'—to strip a place of its inhabitants and prosperity, rendering it empty and abandoned. This root connection emphasizes a transition from a state of fullness to one of utter emptiness.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it portrays divine judgment. In Jesus' teaching, it warns against internal spiritual collapse. In Revelation, it is a key term for God's decisive action in judging and overthrowing systems of worldly oppression and idolatrous commerce (Revelation 18). Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by highlighting the totality and desolating nature of God's judgment against evil, which includes both physical destruction and economic stripping.

In the Greco-Roman world, the concept of 'making desolate' would evoke images of cities sacked by armies—looted, burned, and left uninhabitable. The usage in Revelation 18 directly engages with the cultural reality of maritime trade and the profound fear of sudden, total economic collapse, which would have been a tangible nightmare for the commercial centers of the Roman Empire.

πόρθεω (portheō, G4199) — emphasizes violent destruction or ravaging, often with a sense of havoc. ἀπόλλυμι (apollymi, G622) — a broader term for destroy or perish, often with a sense of eternal loss. φθείρω (phtheirō, G5351) — to corrupt, ruin, or destroy, often morally or physically.

Word Details

Scripture References