πύρινος (purinos)
purinos
fiery
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective purinos describes something that is fiery or resembles fire in its appearance and intensity. Derived from the root for fire (G4443), it conveys a sense of glowing heat or shining brilliance, rather than just the act of burning. In classical and biblical usage, it often characterizes objects or phenomena that possess the visual qualities of flame, such as being bright, red-hot, or glittering.
This word appears only once in the New Testament, in Revelation 9:17. John uses it to describe the breastplates of the horses in his apocalyptic vision. The image is not merely of animals breathing fire, but of riders protected by armor that shines with a terrifying, metallic heat. This specific usage highlights the destructive and awe-inspiring nature of divine judgment, where the equipment itself seems forged from the very element of destruction.
Translators typically render purinos as "fiery" or "like fire," capturing both the color and the temperature associated with the term. While it shares a root with words for actual flames, its application to armor suggests a metaphorical intensity—a hardness and brightness that commands fear. The choice of this word emphasizes the supernatural and terrifying reality of the vision, distinguishing it from ordinary warfare.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word purinos appears just once in Scripture, painting a vivid picture in Revelation 9:17. John describes horse breastplates that are fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow. This imagery conveys more than simple color; it suggests intense heat, hardness, and a terrifying brilliance that commands fear. The armor itself seems forged from the element of destruction, highlighting the awe-inspiring nature of divine judgment.
For your faith, this word reminds us that God’s justice is real and powerful. It is not an abstract concept but a tangible reality that shakes our understanding of safety. When we face uncertainty or fear in our own lives, remembering that God holds ultimate authority brings a strange comfort. His judgments are precise, and His power is absolute.
Even in visions of awe and terror, the Christian hope remains anchored in Christ’s victory. We can trust that the same God who displays such power also offers grace to those who seek Him. This word invites us to respect the seriousness of spiritual realities while resting in the security of His love.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- fiery1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- πυρίνους1×
Key Verses
-
Revelation of John 9:17
Thus I saw the horses in the vision and those who sat on them, having breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the horses’ heads resembled lions’ heads. Out of their mouths proceed fire, smoke, and sulfur.
The term purinos modifies 'breastplates' to emphasize their terrifying, glowing intensity and metallic hardness, distinguishing this supernatural warfare from ordinary human conflict.