χιών (chiōn)
chiōn
snow
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun chiōn simply means snow. It appears in only three verses in the New Testament, yet each instance uses the image to convey striking visual clarity. In Matthew 28:3, an angel at the tomb is described as having a body like lightning and clothes white as snow, emphasizing divine purity and power through a natural phenomenon known for its brightness.
Similarly, Revelation 1:14 describes Jesus with hair white like wool, as white as snow. Here, the word underscores age, wisdom, and holiness, drawing on the ancient association of snow with unblemished whiteness. The term does not carry complex theological jargon; instead, it relies on the immediate sensory experience of cold, clean, bright snow to communicate spiritual reality.
This straightforward usage shows how biblical writers often used familiar natural elements to make abstract truths tangible. Snow is not just weather in these texts; it is a symbol of purity and glory that readers could instantly recognize. The simplicity of the word allows the imagery to stand on its own, inviting reflection on the nature of divine presence without needing further explanation.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word for snow in the New Testament is simple and direct, yet it carries a powerful visual weight. When biblical writers use this term, they are not merely describing weather; they are pointing to a quality of purity that human effort cannot achieve. In Matthew 28:3, the angel’s clothing is white as snow, signaling a divine presence that breaks into our ordinary world with startling clarity and power.
This imagery invites us to see holiness not as a complex set of rules, but as a state of being clean and bright. Just as fresh snow covers everything in pure white, this word suggests a spiritual reality where impurity is washed away by God’s action alone. It reminds us that true righteousness comes from above, not from our own striving.
When we encounter these scenes, we are invited to rest in the assurance that God sees us clearly and knows us fully. The brightness of snow reflects the glory of Christ, offering a glimpse of the purity He brings to our lives. This hope is simple, accessible, and deeply comforting for anyone seeking peace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- snow2×
- snow.1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- χιών.1×
- χιών,1×
- χιὼν1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 28:3
His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.
This occurrence uses snow to highlight the supernatural radiance and purity of the angel at the empty tomb, emphasizing divine power over death.
-
Revelation of John 1:14
His head and his hair were white as white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire.
Here, snow describes the hair of the Son of Man, linking His appearance to ancient wisdom, eternal holiness, and unblemished purity.