Θυάτειρα (Thuateira)
Thuateira
Thyatira
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
Thyatira was a significant city in the ancient region of Lydia, located along the river Lycus between Sardis and Pergamos. According to traditional etymology found in early lexicons, its name may mean "odour of affliction," though modern scholars often view this as a folk explanation rather than a linguistic fact. The city served as an important commercial hub where residents earned their living through trade and the specialized art of purple dyeing.
In the New Testament, Thyatira appears primarily in the book of Revelation and the Acts of the Apostles. In Acts 16:14, it is noted as the place where Lydia, a seller of purple goods, became one of the first recorded converts in Europe. This detail highlights the city’s economic focus on textiles and luxury fabrics.
The Apostle John addresses the church in Thyatira in Revelation 2:18-24, commending their love, faith, and service while also warning against tolerating false teaching. The mention of this specific city underscores the spread of early Christianity into major urban centers along trade routes, connecting spiritual communities across the Roman province of Asia.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Thyatira was a bustling trade center known for its purple dye industry, where people like Lydia found their livelihoods. When Paul arrived there, he did not just see customers and merchants; he saw a woman ready to hear the Gospel. This reminds us that God’s message reaches into our daily work and economic life, inviting us to bring our faith into our professions.
The church in Thyatira faced its own challenges, balancing their love and service with the need to reject harmful influences. Their story shows that being faithful does not mean avoiding difficulty, but standing firm in truth while remaining open to God’s guidance. It is a call to integrity in a complex world.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Thyatira2×
- of Thyatira1×
- Thyatira,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Θυάτειρα1×
- Θυατείρων1×
- Θυατείροις,1×
- Θυατείροις1×
Key Verses
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Acts 16:14
A certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, one who worshiped God, heard us. The Lord opened her heart to listen to the things which were spoken by Paul.
This verse highlights Lydia, a merchant from Thyatira, showing how the Gospel entered Europe through everyday business interactions.
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Revelation of John 2:18
“To the angel of the assembly in Thyatira write: “The Son of God, who has his eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet are like burnished brass, says these things:
Jesus addresses the church here with titles emphasizing His all-seeing nature, setting the stage for a critique of their tolerance.
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Revelation of John 2:24
But to you I say, to the rest who are in Thyatira—as many as don’t have this teaching, who don’t know what some call ‘the deep things of Satan’—to you I say, I am not putting any other burden on you.
This passage distinguishes between those burdened by false teaching and others who remain faithful, offering grace to the latter.