σφάζω (sphazō)
sphazō
to slaughter
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 9 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek verb sphazō means to slaughter or slay, typically referring to the violent killing of animals for sacrifice or the execution of people. In the New Testament, it appears nine times, with a heavy concentration in the Book of Revelation and once in First John. The word carries a stark, physical sense of death by violence, often evoking the imagery of an altar or battlefield.
Its most striking usage describes the Lamb in Revelation 5:6 as "having been slaughtered" (esphagmenon). This past participle form emphasizes that the sacrifice is a completed historical reality, not merely a future possibility. The same root appears in Revelation 13:8 and 18:24 to describe those who have been slain, linking violent death directly to divine judgment or witness.
Translators usually render sphazō as "slain" or "slaughtered" rather than generic terms like "killed." This choice preserves the specific connotation of ritual slaughter or mass violence found in the Greek. The word underscores the cost of redemption and the reality of suffering, presenting death not as an abstract concept but as a concrete, violent act that has theological significance.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word sphazō carries a heavy, physical weight. It does not speak of a quiet passing or an abstract end, but of violent slaughter and bloodshed. In the New Testament, this stark language appears primarily in Revelation, painting a picture of death that is raw and real. It reminds us that the cost of faith has often been paid in blood, whether by animals in ancient rituals or by believers facing persecution.
Yet, the most striking use of this word describes Jesus as the Lamb who was slain (Revelation 5:6). This is not a defeat, but a victory achieved through sacrifice. The image of the slaughtered Lamb standing strong before God offers profound comfort. It shows that suffering and death are not the final word; they are transformed into the means of redemption for all peoples.
When we read of those slain for their testimony, we see the reality of the Christian witness throughout history. This word grounds our hope in a historical event—the death of Christ—and connects it to the struggles of believers who have followed Him. It invites us to trust in the One who holds life and death in His hands.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 9 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- slain6×
- they will slay.1×
- he slew1×
- he slayed1×
- You were slain1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἔσφαξεν2×
- ἐσφαγμένων2×
- ἐσφαγμένον2×
- ἐσφάγης1×
- ἐσφαγμένου1×
- ἐσφαγμένην1×
- σφάξουσιν.1×
Key Verses
-
Revelation of John 5:6
I saw in the middle of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the middle of the elders, a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.
This verse uses the participle 'slain' to describe the resurrected Christ, emphasizing that His sacrificial death is the completed foundation of His eternal authority.
-
Revelation of John 5:9
They sang a new song, saying, “You are worthy to take the book and to open its seals, for you were killed, and bought us for God with your blood out of every tribe, language, people, and nation,
Here the word links the Lamb's violent death directly to the act of purchasing people from every nation, highlighting the universal scope of redemption.
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Revelation of John 6:9
When he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been killed for the Word of God, and for the testimony of the Lamb which they had.
The souls under the altar are described as those 'killed' for their testimony, connecting the word to the faithful witness of martyrs throughout history.
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Revelation of John 13:8
All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been killed.
The Lamb who was slain is named as the basis for worship, showing that even those whose names are written in the book of life look to this sacrificial act.