θεῖον G2303
Sulfur (brimstone); a combustible substance associated with divine judgment, purification, and apocalyptic fire.
Theion denotes sulfur or brimstone, the pungent yellow mineral long associated with volcanic activity and divine punishment. In Luke 17:29 it rains from heaven on Sodom, echoing Genesis 19. Revelation draws heavily on this imagery: sulfur accompanies the demonic cavalry's fire and smoke (Rev 9:17–18), torments the wicked alongside fire (Rev 14:10; 20:10), and fills the lake of final judgment (Rev 19:20; 21:8). Spanish azufre, French soufre, and German Schwefel all preserve the straightforward mineral identification.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Sulfur, brimstone—the combustible mineral substance used in purification rites and strongly associated with divine fiery judgment. Homer already links theion to lightning and fumigation; the NT concentrates it in contexts of catastrophic punishment. Jesus recalls Sodom's sulfur-rain (Luke 17:29). Revelation deploys it repeatedly: the demonic horses breathe fire, smoke, and sulfur (Rev 9:17–18); the unfaithful are tormented with fire and sulfur (Rev 14:10); and the beast is thrown into the lake of fire burning with sulfur (Rev 19:20). Spanish azufre and German Schwefel confirm the uniform mineral sense across all occurrences. 7×
AR["الكِبْريتِ", "الكِبْرِيتِ", "كِبريتًا", "كِبريتٍ", "كِبْريتٍ", "كِبْرِيتٌ"]·ben["গন্ধক", "গন্ধক।", "গন্ধকে", "গন্ধকের", "গন্ধকের,"]·DE["Schwefel", "θεῖον"]·EN["of-sulfur", "sulfur", "with-sulfur"]·FR["soufre"]·heb["גָּפְרִית"]·HI["गंधक", "गंधक-से", "गंधक।"]·ID["belerang", "belerang,", "belerang."]·IT["theion", "zolfo"]·jav["walirang"]·KO["유황", "유황으로", "유황의", "유황이"]·PT["enxofre"]·RU["сера", "сера.", "сере,", "серой", "серы", "серы,"]·ES["azufre", "azufre,", "azufre;"]·SW["kiberiti", "kiberiti,", "kiberiti.", "kiberiti;"]·TR["kükürt", "kükürtin", "kükürtle", "kükürtten"]·urd["گندھک", "گندھک-سے", "گندھک-کی"]
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
θεῖον, __AEpic dialect θέειον (in Refs 8th c.BC+ θήϊον), τό, brimstone, used to fumigate and purify, δέπας.. ἐκάθηρε θεείῳ Refs 8th c.BC+; δεινὴ δὲ θεείου γίγνεται ὀδμή, from a thunderbolt, Refs 8th c.BC+; ἐν δὲ θεείου πλῆτο, of a ship struck by lightning, Refs 8th c.BC+; ἐμβαλόντες πῦρ ξὺν θ. LXX+5th c.BC+; as a natural product, Refs 5th c.BC+; opposed to πεπυρωμένον, Refs 1st c.AD+; compare θεάφιον, θέαφος. (Perh. cognate with θύω, θυμιάω, Latin suffire.)