σβέννυμι (sbennumi)
sbennumi
to extinguish
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 8 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek verb sbennumi means to extinguish or quench, specifically describing the act of putting out a fire or stopping something from burning. In the New Testament, it appears in contexts where physical flames are involved, such as when Jesus describes a bruised reed that will not be quenched (Matthew 12:20) or in the warning about hellfire that cannot be extinguished (Mark 9:48). It also appears in the account of the wise virgins whose lamps ran out of oil and could not be lit because their flames had gone out (Matthew 25:8).
While its primary sense is literal, the word carries a metaphorical weight when applied to spiritual matters. In 1 Thessalonians 5:19, Paul urges believers not to quench the Spirit. Here, the image suggests that the Holy Spirit’s work can be suppressed or stifled by human actions or attitudes, much like smothering a flame. This usage highlights the active role humans play in either allowing spiritual vitality to burn or suppressing it.
The term is relatively rare, occurring only eight times across the New Testament, with significant presence in the Gospels and Paul’s letters. Its root relates to putting out fire, whether literal or metaphorical. Translators consistently render it as "quench" or "extinguish," preserving the vivid imagery of fire control. This word reminds readers that spiritual forces, like physical ones, require proper conditions to thrive and can be hindered by human interference.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word sbennumi describes the simple, physical act of putting out a fire. Yet its spiritual weight is heavy because it reminds us that our actions have real consequences for the life within us. When Paul writes to the Thessalonians, he does not say the Spirit might fail on its own; he warns that we can actively stifle it through cynicism, fear, or unbelief. This is not a passive process but an active choice that dims the light of God’s presence in our daily walk.
Consider the image of the lamp in Matthew 25:8. The lamps did not explode or vanish; they simply ran out of fuel and went dark. Similarly, spiritual vitality requires constant nourishment. We are invited to tend to that flame with care, ensuring it burns brightly rather than allowing the winds of distraction to blow it out. This word calls us to be attentive stewards of our own hearts.
There is hope in this understanding because it places agency in our hands. We are not helpless victims of spiritual darkness but participants in keeping the fire alive. By choosing faith and obedience, we protect that inner light against the forces that seek to extinguish it. May you find peace in knowing that God’s grace provides the oil, and your willing heart keeps the wick trimmed.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 8 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to quench;1×
- quenched1×
- is quenched.’1×
- is quenched.1×
- is quenched1×
- do quench;1×
- are going out.1×
- He will quench1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- σβέννυται.2×
- ἔσβεσαν1×
- σβέσει1×
- σβέσαι·1×
- σβέννυτε·1×
- σβέννυται1×
- σβέννυνται.¶1×
Key Verses
-
I Thessalonians 5:19
Don’t quench the Spirit.
This verse uses the word as a direct imperative command, highlighting the believer's responsibility to avoid actions that suppress the Holy Spirit's work.
-
Matthew 25:8
The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’
Here the term describes the physical state of lamps running out of oil, serving as a metaphor for spiritual unpreparedness and depletion.
-
Ephesians 6:16
above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one.
Paul reimagines the verb to describe using faith as a shield to put out hostile attacks, shifting the focus from internal suppression to external defense.