βολίς (bolis)
bolis
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Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
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Word Overview
The noun bolis refers to a dart or javelin, specifically a missile thrown by hand rather than shot from a bow. It appears only once in the New Testament, in Hebrews 12:20, where it translates the Greek word used for the terrifying scene at Mount Sinai. The text describes how the people could not bear the command that even an animal touching the mountain must be stoned, using bolis to emphasize the lethal danger of approaching God’s presence.
This word carries a sense of immediate, physical threat. Unlike a bowstring’s projectile which flies from a distance, a dart is thrown with force and precision, suggesting a close-range danger that demands retreat. The author of Hebrews uses this image to highlight the stark contrast between the old covenant, marked by fear and exclusion, and the new covenant, which invites believers to draw near with confidence.
The term’s rarity in Scripture underscores its specific rhetorical purpose here. It serves as a vivid reminder of the holiness that separates God from humanity under the law, making the invitation to approach God through Jesus all the more significant. The word itself points to the gravity of divine presence, not merely as a concept, but as a reality that commands reverence and awe.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word bolis refers to a dart or javelin thrown by hand, creating a sense of immediate physical danger. In Hebrews 12:20, it describes the lethal threat surrounding Mount Sinai under the old covenant. This vivid image highlights how terrifying God’s presence was when approached without mediation.
Yet this stark contrast reveals the grace available to you today. Through Jesus, you are invited to draw near with confidence rather than fear. The law demanded distance for safety, but the gospel offers intimacy through faith. This shift from terror to trust is central to your hope in Christ.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
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Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- βολίδι1×
Key Verses
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Hebrews 12:20
for they could not stand that which was commanded, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned”.
The term bolis emphasizes the lethal danger of approaching God’s presence under the old covenant, contrasting with the confidence believers now have through Jesus.