ὀλοθρ-εύω G3645
Destroying or bringing destruction; one who destroys, particularly an agent of divine judgment
This participle describes someone or something that destroys or brings destruction. In Hebrews 11:28, it refers to the destroying angel of the Passover: 'By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.' The reference is to Exodus 12, where the final plague struck Egypt's firstborn but passed over Israelite homes marked with lamb's blood. The participle personalizes the destroying force as an active agent executing divine judgment.
Senses
1. sense 1 — The one who destroys, specifically the destroying angel of the Passover who killed Egypt's firstborn. Hebrews 11:28 recounts Moses' faith-filled obedience in keeping the Passover: the blood on doorposts protected Israel 'so that the Destroyer might not touch them.' This agent of judgment is personal and active, yet restrained by the covenant sign—blood marking those under God's protection. 1×
AR["مُهْلِك"]·ben["ধ্বংসকারী"]·DE["Verderber"]·EN["destroying"]·FR["Verderber"]·heb["מַשְׁחִית"]·HI["नाश-करने-वाला"]·ID["membinasakan"]·IT["olothreuōn"]·jav["ingkang-mejàhi"]·KO["멸하는-이가"]·PT["que-destruía"]·RU["губитель"]·ES["destructor"]·SW["anayeangamiza"]·TR["yok-edici"]·urd["ہلاک-کرنے-والا"]
Related Senses
H4421 1. war, battle, armed conflict (319×)H0341 1. enemy, adversary, foe (284×)H3898a 1. Nifal: to fight, wage war (167×)H2026 1. kill, slay (active) (146×)H2451 1. wisdom, discernment (146×)H5483b 1. horse (the animal) (138×)H0006 1. to perish, be destroyed (105×)H7843 1. Hifil: destroy, annihilate (83×)H2491a 1. slain, fatally pierced (74×)H6862c 1. adversary, enemy, foe (69×)H8045 1. destroy, exterminate (69×)G0615 1. kill, put to death (60×)H6571b 1. horseman, cavalryman (52×)H8077a 1. desolation, waste (abstract state) (52×)G4678 1. of wisdom (51×)G4717 1. crucify, fasten to a cross (46×)H2763a 1. utterly destroy (Hifil active) (44×)G0622 1. perish, be destroyed (intransitive) (41×)H0006 2. to destroy, annihilate (Piel) (38×)H8074 1. be desolate, lie waste (36×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ὀλοθρ-εύω, destroy, variant for{ὀλεθρεύω} in LXX+1st c.AD+; compare ἐξολοθρεύω:—hence ὀλοθρ-ευτής, οῦ, ὁ, destroyer, NT:—feminine ὀλοθρ-εύτρια, gloss on{λοιγίστρια}, Refs 5th c.AD+