βρέχω (brechō)
brechō
to rain down
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb brechō means to wet or moisten something with liquid. In the New Testament, it appears in only six verses, primarily in Luke, James, and Revelation. Its most common usage is literal, describing water soaking into a surface, as when a sinful woman washes Jesus’ feet with her tears and dries them with her hair (Luke 7:38). It also describes the physical act of wetting another’s feet during a greeting (Luke 7:44).
In later Greek, the word evolved to mean "to rain." This sense appears when Jesus speaks of God sending rain on both the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45). James uses it similarly to describe Elijah praying for rain to cease and then return (James 5:17). Revelation employs the term metaphorically, describing those who have power over the skies to shut them up so that rain does not fall (Revelation 11:6).
Its root meaning of wetting connects these diverse uses. Whether soaking feet or falling from the sky, brechō describes a substance penetrating a surface. Translators typically render it as "wet," "wash," or "rain," depending on whether the context involves human action or divine weather.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word brechō describes water soaking into a surface, whether through human action or divine weather. In Luke 7:38, it captures the intimate moment when a woman wets Jesus’ feet with her tears. This simple act of wetting reveals a heart full of repentance and love, showing how physical gestures can express deep spiritual realities.
Elsewhere, the term appears in contexts of God’s provision and judgment. Matthew 5:45 notes that God sends rain on both the just and the unjust, highlighting His common grace. James 5:17 recalls Elijah praying for rain to cease, demonstrating how prayer aligns with God’s sovereign control over nature.
Understanding brechō helps us see water not just as a physical element but as a symbol of God’s presence and power. Whether in the quiet intimacy of tears or the grandeur of rainfall, this word reminds us that God is involved in every detail of our lives. It invites us to trust in His care and to respond with humility and faith.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to wet1×
- to rain;1×
- she wet1×
- may fall1×
- it rained1×
- it did rain1×
- He sends rain1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἔβρεξεν2×
- ἔβρεξέν1×
- βρέχῃ1×
- βρέχειν1×
- βρέχει1×
- βρέξαι·1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 7:38
Standing behind at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
This verse uses brechō to describe the woman wetting Jesus’ feet with her tears, highlighting an act of humble repentance and devotion.
-
Matthew 5:45
that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.
Here, brechō refers to God sending rain on both the just and unjust, illustrating His impartial care for all people.
-
James 5:17
Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it didn’t rain on the earth for three years and six months.
The word appears in James’ account of Elijah praying for no rain, showing how prayer can influence natural events under God’s sovereignty.