κρημνός (krēmnos)
krēmnos
cliff
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun krēmnos refers to a steep bank, cliff, or precipice. In the New Testament, it appears only three times, all in the Synoptic Gospels, where it describes the specific location of a dramatic event involving a herd of pigs. The word conveys a sense of vertical danger and rugged terrain.
Its etymology connects to the verb kremnynni, meaning "to hang," which underscores the precarious nature of such a place. This imagery is central to the accounts in Matthew 8:32, Mark 5:13, and Luke 8:33, where demons enter swine that then rush down the steep slope into the sea. The term highlights the physical reality of the landscape rather than offering metaphorical depth.
Translators consistently render krēmnos as "cliff" or "precipice," preserving the literal sense of a high, dangerous drop. Unlike words that might symbolize spiritual instability, this term serves a narrative function, grounding the miracle in a tangible, geographical setting. The sources confirm its use is strictly descriptive of the physical environment.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word krēmnos describes a sheer cliff or steep bank, a place where the ground drops away suddenly into danger. In the New Testament, this term appears only three times, all within the Synoptic Gospels. It grounds the narrative of Jesus casting demons out of a man in a very real, rugged landscape. The terrain is not just background scenery; it is the stage for a dramatic display of authority over spiritual forces.
When the unclean spirits enter the herd of pigs, they rush down this precipice into the water. This physical descent mirrors the defeat of the demonic power that had held the man captive. For believers, this scene offers comfort. It shows that no matter how steep or dangerous the obstacles seem, Jesus’ word carries ultimate weight. The chaotic forces are brought under control, and peace is restored to those who were once bound.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- steep bank3×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- κρημνοῦ3×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 8:32
He said to them, “Go!” They came out and went into the herd of pigs; and behold, the whole herd of pigs rushed down the cliff into the sea and died in the water.
This verse identifies the specific location where the demons leave the man and enter the pigs, using krēmnos to mark the point of their destructive departure.
-
Mark 5:13
At once Jesus gave them permission. The unclean spirits came out and entered into the pigs. The herd of about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and they were drowned in the sea.
Here the term emphasizes the magnitude of the event, as two thousand animals rush down the steep bank, demonstrating the sheer power of Jesus' command.
-
Luke 8:33
The demons came out of the man and entered into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.
Luke uses this word to describe the final exit of the demons from the man into the herd, highlighting the immediate and total nature of the deliverance.