ἐρυθρός (eruthros)
eruthros
Red (Sea)
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective eruthros simply means "red," but in Scripture it appears exclusively as part of the proper name for the body of water known today as the Red Sea. The Greek phrase eruthra thalassa translates the Hebrew Yam Suph, which literally refers to the "Sea of Reeds." This linguistic shift from "reeds" to "red" likely reflects a descriptive association with the color of the water or the surrounding landscape, rather than a literal translation of the Hebrew term.
Although the word occurs only twice in the New Testament, its theological weight is significant. It marks the location where God delivered Israel from Egyptian bondage, as recorded in Acts 7:36 and Hebrews 11:29. These passages highlight the sea not merely as a geographical feature, but as the stage for divine intervention, where the path through the waters became an act of faith for those who crossed it.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word eruthros appears in Scripture only as part of the name for the Red Sea. This specific location holds a central place in the biblical narrative as the site where God delivered Israel from Egyptian bondage. It is not just a geographical marker but a powerful symbol of divine rescue and intervention.
When we read about this event, we see that crossing these waters required trust. The people moved forward by faith, seeing a path where there seemed to be none. This history reminds us that God is able to make a way even when obstacles appear insurmountable, turning fear into hope through His power.
For your own life, this memory offers encouragement during difficult seasons. Just as the Israelites trusted God to lead them through the sea, you can rely on His presence in your own challenges. His past faithfulness serves as a foundation for trusting Him today and tomorrow.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] Red1×
- Red1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐρυθρᾷ1×
- ἐρυθρὰν1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 7:36
This man led them out, having worked wonders and signs in Egypt, in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness for forty years.
Stephen uses this reference to highlight the Red Sea as a primary site where God performed wonders, linking it directly to the broader context of deliverance from Egypt.
-
Hebrews 11:29
By faith they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do so, they were swallowed up.
The author identifies the crossing of the Red Sea as a definitive act of faith, contrasting the believers' trust with the destruction that befell the pursuing Egyptians.