φραγέλλιον (phragellion)
phragellion
whip
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun phragellion refers to a small whip or scourge, derived from the Latin word flagellum. In the New Testament, it appears only once, in John 2:15, where Jesus drives the merchants out of the temple. The image is specific and visceral: He fashioned this instrument from cords, using it to scatter the animals and overturn tables.
This single usage carries significant weight. By employing a whip, Jesus demonstrates a forceful, physical intervention against what he saw as corruption in the house of worship. The term distinguishes itself by its brevity and directness, focusing on the tool’s function rather than any broader metaphorical meaning found in other Greek words for punishment.
Translators consistently render phragellion as "whip" or "scourge," capturing the immediate physical reality of the scene. The word does not appear elsewhere in Scripture, making this event a unique instance where the term is applied to Jesus’ actions. It highlights the intensity of his zeal and the seriousness with which he viewed the temple’s purpose.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When Jesus entered the temple courts, He did not remain silent in the face of corruption. Instead, He crafted a whip from cords to drive out those who had turned a place of prayer into a marketplace. This single word, phragellion, appears only once in Scripture, capturing a moment of intense zeal and righteous anger. It reminds us that God cares deeply about how we treat His house and the integrity of our worship.
For your daily life, this passage invites reflection on what occupies your heart. Are there areas where distractions or selfishness have crept into your relationship with God? Jesus’ action was not random violence but a focused effort to restore purity. We can take comfort knowing that He desires clean hearts and sincere devotion, clearing away anything that hinders our connection with Him.
May this reminder encourage you to examine your own life with honesty and grace. Just as Jesus cleared the temple, He invites you to let Him remove what does not belong, making room for a deeper, more authentic faith.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a whip1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- φραγέλλιον1×
Key Verses
-
John 2:15
He made a whip of cords and drove all out of the temple, both the sheep and the oxen; and he poured out the changers’ money and overthrew their tables.
This verse uniquely identifies the specific tool Jesus fashioned from cords to physically restore order in the temple.