Bible Word Study
πυρά
pyra · a fire
πυρά
a fire
Definition
The Greek noun πυρά (pyra) refers specifically to a fire that is built or kindled, often implying a pile of burning material like wood. In its two New Testament occurrences, it describes a practical, outdoor fire built for warmth and utility. In Acts 28:2, the Maltese islanders kindle a 'πυρά' to welcome and warm the shipwrecked survivors from the cold rain. In the very next verse, Acts 28:3, Paul gathers sticks and adds them to this same 'πυρά', from which a viper emerges. The word consistently denotes a tangible, controlled fire, distinct from a destructive conflagration.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only in Acts 28:2-3, within the narrative of Paul's shipwreck on Malta. Its usage is entirely practical and descriptive, referring to the specific fire built by the locals for warmth. There is no symbolic or theological usage; it serves to set the scene for the miraculous event where Paul is unharmed by the viper, highlighting God's protection in a mundane setting.
Etymology
πυρά (pyra) is derived from the Greek root πῦρ (pyr, G4442), meaning 'fire'. It is a feminine noun that specifically denotes a 'fire-place', 'pile for burning', or 'funeral pyre'. This root is prolific, giving us many English words like 'pyre', 'pyrotechnics', and 'pyromania'. The word emphasizes the fire as an assembled object or structure, not just the abstract element.
Semantic Range
In the 1st-century Mediterranean world, a πυρά was a common, essential source of heat, light, and community. The fire in Acts 28 was a vital act of hospitality, providing immediate physical relief to strangers. This contrasts with modern, instantly available central heating. The scene also subtly contrasts the 'barbarians'' compassionate, practical response with the peril of the sea and the snake, grounding the miraculous in everyday human kindness. πῦρ (pyr, G4442) — The general, more abstract term for 'fire' in any form (e.g., the fire of judgment or the Holy Spirit). φλόξ (phlox, G5395) — Often denotes a flame or blazing fire, used for the flames of Pentecost (Acts 2:3) or the fiery sword of the cherubim.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). Concordance and morphology data are derived from the interlinear Bible.
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]