ῥομφαία G4501
A large, broad sword; a heavy weapon used both literally of military combat and figuratively of piercing anguish or divine judgment.
Unlike the more common 'machaira' (a short sword or dagger), rhomphaia denotes a large, heavy broadsword originally associated with Thracian warriors. In the New Testament it carries both literal and deeply symbolic weight. Simeon's prophecy that 'a sword will pierce your own soul' (Luke 2:35) uses it metaphorically for Mary's coming grief. In Revelation, it appears as the sharp two-edged sword proceeding from Christ's mouth (Rev 1:16; 2:12, 16), symbolizing divine judgment and the power of God's word. It also appears among the instruments of death in the apocalyptic vision of Revelation 6:8. Every major translation renders it simply as 'sword': Spanish 'espada,' French 'épée,' German 'Schwert.'
Senses
1. sense 1 — A large, broad sword — originally a Thracian heavy weapon — used in the NT both for the literal instrument of killing (Rev 6:8) and as a powerful symbol of piercing anguish or divine authority. Simeon's prophecy to Mary that 'a sword will pierce through your own soul' (Luke 2:35) employs it metaphorically for grief, while in Revelation it is the sharp double-edged sword from Christ's mouth representing judgment and sovereign power (Rev 1:16; 2:12, 16). The uniform rendering across languages — Spanish 'espada,' French 'épée,' German 'Schwert' — reflects its unambiguous core meaning, though the theological overtones in Revelation distinguish it from the more common 'machaira.' 7×
AR["السَّيفِ", "السَّيْفُ", "سَيْفٌ", "سَيْفِ"]·ben["খড়গে,", "তরবারি", "তরবারিতে"]·DE["Schwert", "ῥομφαία"]·EN["a-sword", "sword"]·FR["épée"]·heb["חֶרֶב"]·HI["तलवार", "तलवार,"]·ID["pedang", "pedang,"]·IT["romphaia", "spada"]·jav["pedhang", "pedhang;"]·KO["검-으로", "검-을", "검-이", "검으로", "검이"]·PT["espada"]·RU["меч", "мечом", "мечом,"]·ES["espada"]·SW["upanga", "upanga,"]·TR["ağzımın", "iki-ağızlı", "kılıcı", "kılıç", "kılıçla", "ve-"]·urd["تلوار", "تلوار-سے"]
Related Senses
H2719 1. sword, weapon of war (410×)H4196 1. altar (place of sacrifice) (403×)H7393 1. chariot, chariotry (117×)H7198 1. bow (weapon) (72×)H7979 1. table (71×)H7782 1. ram's horn trumpet (69×)H4294 2. staff, rod, scepter (63×)H4043 1. shield, defensive weapon (60×)H0646 1. ephod (priestly garment) (49×)H8504 1. blue (violet-blue yarn/fabric) (49×)H2595 1. spear, lance (48×)H2671 1. arrow, projectile weapon (46×)H4818 1. chariot, war-chariot (44×)H3658 1. lyre, harp (stringed instrument) (42×)H1537 1. Gilgal (place name) (41×)H0713 1. purple (fabric/dye) (38×)H0905 3. poles, staves (37×)H7392 1. Qal participle: rider, charioteer (37×)H4501 1. cultic lampstand (menorah) (36×)H0212 1. wheel (35×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ῥομφαία, ἡ, large, broad sword, used by the Thracians, ὀρθὰς ῥ. βαρυσιδήρους ἀπὸ τῶν δεξιῶν ὤμων ἐπισείοντες Refs 3rd c.BC+: generally, sword, LXX+NT+4th c.AD+; of the sword of Goliath, LXX+1st c.AD+ __II ={νυκτερίς}, Refs 1st c.AD+