ἀτμ-ίς G0822
vapor, mist, exhalation, steam
A noun denoting moist vapor, steam, or mist rising from heated liquid. Peter quotes Joel's prophecy of 'blood and fire and vapor of smoke' accompanying the day of the Lord (Acts 2:19). James compares human life to a vapor that appears briefly then vanishes (James 4:14). Classical usage distinguished moist vapor (atmis) from dry smoke (kapnos), though they could combine. The term emphasizes transience and insubstantiality.
Senses
1. sense 1 — The two occurrences illustrate different applications: eschatological signs (Acts 2:19) and wisdom teaching about life's brevity (James 4:14). In Acts, vapor of smoke is part of cosmic upheaval. In James, vapor serves as metaphor for life's fleeting nature - visible momentarily then gone. Both leverage the physical property of vapor as transient and insubstantial. All four languages use vapor/steam terminology, recognizing the physical phenomenon underlying both literal and metaphorical uses. 2×
AR["بُخارٌ", "بُخَارَ"]·ben["বাষ্প"]·DE["ἀτμίδα", "ἀτμὶς"]·EN["a-vapor", "vapor"]·FR["vapeur", "ἀτμὶς"]·heb["אֵד", "עַמּוּד"]·HI["भाप"]·ID["Uap", "uap"]·IT["atmis", "vapore"]·jav["kukus"]·KO["그-", "안개"]·PT["vapor"]·RU["пар"]·ES["vapor"]·SW["mvuke"]·TR["buhar", "buharı"]·urd["بخارات", "بھاپ"]
Related Senses
H4325 1. water, waters (582×)H6965b 1. Qal: to rise, arise, get up (432×)H2091 1. gold (the metal) (389×)H0068 1. stone, rock (material/object) (267×)H5178a 1. bronze/copper as metal (131×)H6083 1. dust, dry earth, soil (108×)H8313 1. burn, set fire to (94×)H2734 1. anger was kindled (82×)G5204 1. water (80×)H2822 1. darkness, absence of light (80×)G5457 1. light (illumination) (71×)G0450 1. rise, stand up (physical) (69×)H6965b 2. Qal: to stand firm, endure, be valid (50×)H6999a 2. burn sacrifice on altar (Hifil) (45×)H5553 1. rock, cliff (physical feature) (43×)H6965b 4. Hifil: to establish, confirm (covenant/kingdom/word) (40×)H1197a 1. burn, be on fire (39×)H4306 1. rain, showers (38×)H1653 1. rain, precipitation (34×)G4655 1. darkness (30×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἀτμ-ίς, ίδος (-ίτοςRefs 5th c.BC+: properly, moist vapour, steam, opposed to καπνός (but ἀτμὶς καπνοῦLXX+4th c.BC+ __II sublimate or deposit of colouring matter, Refs __III poultice, Refs 1st c.AD+ __IV ={σπινθήρ, ἀπαύγασμα}, Refs 5th c.AD+