ὁρμή

a rush, violent assault

Definition

The Greek word ὁρμή (ormē) fundamentally means a strong impulse, a sudden movement, or a violent rush. In its two New Testament occurrences, it carries the sense of a hostile, collective surge of people, specifically describing a violent assault by both Gentiles and Jews in Acts 14:5. It also appears in James 3:4 in a more neutral, metaphorical sense, describing the powerful impulse or force of a ship's rudder that directs its course, even when driven by strong winds.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only twice in the New Testament, in two distinct contexts. In Acts 14:5, it describes a literal, violent mob action—a coordinated assault against Paul and Barnabas. In James 3:4, it is used metaphorically within the author's argument about controlling the tongue, illustrating how a small object (the tongue/rudder) can exert a powerful impulse to direct something much larger (the body/ship).

Etymology

Derived from the verb ὁρμάω (hormaō), meaning 'to set in motion,' 'to rush,' or 'to urge on.' The noun ὁρμή captures the resulting motion or impulse itself. It is related to concepts of impetus, onset, and forceful movement.

Semantic Range

Though used rarely, ὁρμή is theologically significant in its two contexts. In Acts 14:5, it highlights the intense, unified opposition faced by the early church, underscoring the cost of discipleship. In James 3:4, it becomes a powerful image for the moral responsibility of speech; just as a small rudder's 'impulse' controls a great ship, the tongue's impulses must be mastered by wisdom to direct one's whole life rightly. Understanding this Greek term enriches the reading of James by connecting the physical force of a ship's rudder to the spiritual force of our words.

In the Greco-Roman world, the concept of ὁρμή was used in various contexts, from military assaults to natural philosophical descriptions of motion and force. The usage in James 3:4 would resonate with a culture familiar with maritime travel, where the power of a small rudder against wind and wave was a common and impressive observation of controlled force.

προσβολή (prosbolē, G4370) — an attack or assault, but with a stronger connotation of striking against; ὁρμή is more about the initial rush or impulse. θυμός (thymos, G2372) — passion or fierce desire, often inward anger; ὁρμή is the outward motion or action resulting from such an impulse.

Word Details

Scripture References