τροχός (trochos)
trochos
course/wheel
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun trochos refers to a wheel, or more broadly, the circular path or course that such a wheel traces. In the New Testament, it appears only once, in James 3:6, where it is used metaphorically to describe the destructive power of the tongue.
James calls the tongue a fire that defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course (trochos) of nature. The image suggests a wheel rolling through the world, leaving destruction in its path. This usage aligns with the word’s common meaning in the Septuagint, where it often translates the Hebrew term for wheel, sometimes evoking the complex wheels seen in prophetic visions.
While the word itself is simple, its application here carries significant weight. By linking the tongue to a rolling wheel, James emphasizes both the momentum and the widespread impact of careless speech. The metaphor highlights how something small can gain force and cause harm across an entire system, much like a wheel turning through a field.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word trochos describes a wheel or the circular path it traces. In James 3:6, this image helps us understand how speech can spread harm. A small spark can ignite a large fire, just as a rolling wheel leaves destruction in its path. This metaphor reminds us that our words have momentum and reach far beyond their origin.
When we speak carelessly, the impact grows as it moves through relationships and communities. James warns that the tongue can defile the whole body and set the course of nature ablaze. This is not a minor issue but a serious responsibility for every believer. We are called to guard our speech with wisdom and grace.
Reflecting on this passage invites us to consider how our words affect others. Instead of letting anger or gossip roll forward, we can choose words that build up. This practice brings peace to our interactions and honors God. May your speech reflect the love and truth found in Christ.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- course1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- τροχὸν1×
Key Verses
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James 3:6
And the tongue is a fire. The world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by Gehenna.
This verse uses trochos metaphorically to show how the tongue's destructive power spreads like a rolling wheel through human nature.