ἐρυθρός
red
Definition
The adjective ἐρυθρός means 'red' and specifically refers to the color red. In the New Testament, it is used exclusively as a proper name in the phrase 'Red Sea' (ἡ ἐρυθρὰ θάλασσα). This refers to the body of water the Israelites crossed during the Exodus, as recounted in Acts 7:36 and Hebrews 11:29. The term does not carry additional symbolic meanings of blood or sacrifice in its biblical usage; it is a straightforward geographical identifier for that specific sea.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only twice in the New Testament, both times in the fixed phrase 'the Red Sea'. It is used in historical summaries of Israel's salvation during the Exodus. In Acts 7:36, Stephen recounts God's power in bringing the people out of Egypt. In Hebrews 11:29, it is cited as an example of faith, as the Israelites passed through it while the Egyptians were drowned. Its usage is consistent and limited to this specific historical reference.
Etymology
Derived from the ancient Greek adjective ἐρυθρός, meaning 'red' or 'ruddy'. It is related to the verb ἐρεύθω, meaning 'to redden' or 'to blush'. The name for the Red Sea is a direct calque from the Greek Septuagint (LXX), which translated the Hebrew 'Yam Suph' (Sea of Reeds) as 'Erythra Thalassa', a name already used in Greek geography.
Semantic Range
While the word itself simply means 'red', its biblical usage points to a major theological theme: God's saving power and judgment. The Red Sea crossing is a foundational act of deliverance in the Old Testament, a pattern of salvation through water. In the New Testament references (Acts 7:36, Hebrews 11:29), it serves as a key example of God's mighty works and the faith of His people. Understanding this specific reference enriches reading by connecting these NT passages directly to the Exodus narrative.
In the ancient Greco-Roman world, 'Erythra Thalassa' was the standard geographical name for the body of water we call the Red Sea, including its connected gulfs. The Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible (the Septuagint) used this term for the Hebrew 'Yam Suph' (Sea of Reeds), likely identifying the Reeds Sea with the known Red Sea. This reflects the cultural and geographical understanding of the translators.
πυρρός (pyrros, G4450) — denotes a fiery or flame-red color, used for red hair (Matthew 16:12, Revelation 6:4, 12:3) and a red horse.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
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