κολλούρ-ιον G2854
eye salve, medicinal ointment for eyes
In Revelation 3:18, Christ counsels the Laodicean church to obtain eye salve so they might truly see—a striking metaphor given Laodicea's fame for its medical school and eye treatments. The Greek diminutive form refers to a small roll or cake of medicinal compound, shaped like a bread roll. Ancient eye salves were precious commodities, mixed from various minerals and herbs. The irony is sharp: a church surrounded by physical eye medicine needs spiritual sight.
Senses
1. sense 1 — John's apocalyptic vision employs this medical term metaphorically for spiritual insight. The historical context matters: Laodicea was renowned for its Phrygian eye powder. Spanish 'colirio' and German 'Augensalbe' both preserve the specific medical application. The Risen Christ's prescription calls the spiritually blind church to seek healing beyond what their famous physicians could provide. 1×
AR["كُحْلاً"]·ben["মলম"]·DE["Augensalbe"]·EN["eye-salve"]·FR["Augensalbe"]·heb["קוֹלוּרִיוֹן"]·HI["अंजन"]·ID["obat-mata"]·IT["kollourion"]·jav["obat-mripat"]·KO["안약-을"]·PT["colírio"]·RU["глазную-мазь"]·ES["colirio"]·SW["dawa-ya-macho"]·TR["sürmek-için"]·urd["سرمہ"]
Related Senses
H7200 1. Qal: to see, perceive (1257×)G4771 2. you (singular address) (1077×)H8085 1. Qal: hear, perceive aurally (921×)H0859a 1. you (2nd person masculine singular pronoun) (743×)H0398 1. eat (consume food) (697×)H4191 1. die (Qal: natural/general death) (645×)G3708 1. see, perceive visually (419×)G0191 1. hear, perceive sound (360×)H???? 3. (352×)G3708 2. behold, look (exclamatory) (256×)H7272 1. foot (body part) (236×)H8354 1. drink, consume liquid (209×)H3205 1. Qal active: bear/give birth (female subject) (204×)H3205 2. Qal active: beget/father (male subject) (198×)H2421 1. Qal: live, be alive (177×)H8085 2. Qal: listen, heed, pay attention (172×)H2416a 1. alive, living (state/attribute) (146×)H2416e 1. life, lifespan, lifetime (145×)G2198 1. be alive, have life (133×)H8193 1. lip, lips (body part) (123×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
κολλούρ-ιον, τό, diminutive of {κολλούρα}, Refs 3rd c.AD+. __II κολλύριον, see: κολλούριον. κολλούριον (TTr., κολλύ-, the more usual form), -ου, τό (dimin. of κολλύρα = κόλλιξ, a coarse bread roll), [in LXX: 3Ki.12:24 hil B* ;] __1. a small bread roll (LXX, lines with). __2. (Usually in plural, LS, see word) an eye salve shaped like a roll: Rev.3:18.†