ῥῆγμα
a ruin
Definition
ῥῆγμα refers to something that has been violently broken or shattered, specifically a ruin or a collapse. It describes the catastrophic result of a structure giving way, as seen in its sole New Testament use in Luke 6:49, where it denotes the 'great ruin' of a house built without a foundation after a flood. The word emphasizes the total and disastrous failure of something that appeared solid but lacked proper support. It carries the sense of a complete and often sudden destruction.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Luke 6:49. It appears in the conclusion of Jesus's parable contrasting the wise and foolish builders. The context is the dramatic collapse of a house built on sand, describing its final state as a 'great ruin' (ῥῆγμα μέγα). Its usage is purely descriptive of physical destruction within a metaphorical teaching about spiritual foundations.
Etymology
Derived from the verb ῥήγνυμι (rhēgnymi, G4486), meaning 'to break' or 'to burst asunder.' ῥῆγμα is a noun form indicating the result of that action—'that which is broken.' It is related to other words for breaking or tearing, emphasizing a violent rupture or shattering.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, ῥῆγμα is theologically significant as the climactic image in Jesus's teaching on true discipleship (Luke 6:46-49). It vividly illustrates the ultimate consequence of hearing Jesus's words but not acting on them—a life that collapses under pressure. Understanding this Greek term, with its sense of violent, total ruin, deepens the parable's warning about the folly of a superficial faith that lacks the solid foundation of obedience.
In a 1st-century Palestinian context, building practices and the threat of seasonal flash floods were well-understood realities. A 'great ruin' (ῥῆγμα μέγα) would signify not just a minor repair job but a total, irrecoverable loss of property and security. This cultural understanding makes the parable's warning about foundational integrity immediately powerful and concrete for the original audience.
κατάλυμα (katalyma, G2646) — a guest room or lodging, not a ruin. πτῶμα (ptōma, G4430) — a fallen body or corpse; emphasizes a fall, not necessarily a shattered state. συντριβή (syntribē, G4938) — a breaking or crushing to pieces; more general process of breaking.
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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