βραχίων (brachiōn)
brachiōn
arm
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun brachiōn simply means "arm," but in Scripture it carries a heavy theological weight as a metaphor for divine power. It appears only three times in the New Testament, and in each instance, it is tied to the phrase "the arm of the Lord." This usage directly mirrors the Old Testament Hebrew idiom zroa YHWH, where physical strength represents God’s ability to act decisively in history.
Translators typically render this as "arm" or "might," emphasizing that God’s power is not abstract but active and forceful. Luke uses it to describe God scattering the proud through His mighty arm (Luke 1:51), while John quotes Isaiah to show that many did not believe because they had not seen the revelation of His power (John 12:38). Acts 13:17 also references this imagery when recounting how God brought Israel out of Egypt with a strong hand.
The word’s root suggests wielding strength, much like an arm extends force. It reminds readers that biblical power is often depicted in physical, tangible terms rather than abstract concepts. This concrete language helps convey the immediacy and impact of God’s interventions, whether in salvation or judgment.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word brachiōn translates simply to "arm," yet in Scripture it carries the weight of divine intervention. When the Bible speaks of God’s arm, it is not describing a physical limb but His active, decisive power. This concrete imagery reminds us that God does not remain distant; He reaches out to act in history and in our lives.
In Luke 1:51, Mary praises God for scattering the proud with the strength of His arm. This shows that divine power often overturns human expectations, lifting up the humble while bringing down the arrogant. It is a promise that God’s might is available to those who trust in Him.
Whether recalling the Exodus in Acts 13:17 or reflecting on Isaiah’s prophecy in John 12:38, this term anchors our faith in a God who reveals His power. We can rest in the assurance that the same strength that delivered Israel is at work today, offering hope and stability to all who believe.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- arm2×
- [the] arm1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- βραχίων1×
- βραχίονος1×
- βραχίονι1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 1:51
He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
This verse highlights the word's role in describing God's active judgment against pride, showing that His power reverses human status.
-
John 12:38
that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report? To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
Here the term connects unbelief to a failure to recognize the revealed power of God, emphasizing that divine strength is often hidden from those who do not believe.
-
Acts 13:17
The God of this people chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they stayed as aliens in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm, he led them out of it.
The phrase "with an uplifted arm" recalls the Exodus, grounding the word in the historical reality of God’s deliverance and leadership.