χλωρός (chlōros)
chlōros
green
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective chlōros describes a specific shade of pale green or yellowish-green. In the New Testament, it appears in only four verses, primarily within the Gospel of Mark and the book of Revelation. Its usage is quite limited but visually distinct, often translating the Hebrew concept of fresh vegetation or a sickly hue.
In Mark 6:39, the word characterizes the grass on which Jesus’ disciples sat during the feeding of the five thousand. This detail grounds the miracle in a tangible, pastoral setting, suggesting a lush, spring-like landscape that provides comfort and space for the crowd. It is not merely "green" in an abstract sense, but vividly alive.
Revelation employs the term differently to evoke unease. In Revelation 8:7, hail mixed with fire strikes the earth, turning a third of the trees green in a way that suggests burning or scorching rather than healthy growth. Similarly, the horse in Revelation 6:8 is described as chlōros, a pale, sickly color often associated with death or decay. Here, the word shifts from vitality to a ghostly, unnatural pallor.
The root connection to fresh growth (chlōra) highlights this contrast. In Mark, it signals life and provision; in Revelation, it marks judgment and desolation. Translators must carefully choose between "green" for freshness and "pale" or "sickly" for the apocalyptic context to preserve the original author’s intent.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word chlōros paints a vivid picture in Scripture, shifting from the freshness of life to the pallor of judgment. In Mark 6:39, it describes the green grass where Jesus fed the five thousand. This detail grounds the miracle in a tangible setting, showing that God’s provision often meets us in ordinary, peaceful moments. It reminds us that even in simple surroundings, divine care is present and sufficient.
Yet the same word appears in Revelation with a darker tone. There, it describes a pale horse or burned grass, signaling decay and judgment. This contrast teaches us that creation reflects both God’s goodness and the consequences of sin. We can trust that the same Creator who makes grass grow also holds all things in His hands, bringing order out of chaos.
When you read these passages, notice how color carries meaning. Green is not just a shade; it is a sign of life, provision, or loss depending on context. This invites us to look closer at Scripture’s details, finding comfort in God’s faithfulness even when the world around us feels uncertain.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- green2×
- pale1×
- green thing1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- χλωρὸς2×
- χλωρῷ1×
- χλωρὸν1×
Key Verses
-
Mark 6:39
He commanded them that everyone should sit down in groups on the green grass.
This occurrence grounds the feeding miracle in a specific, peaceful setting, showing Jesus’ care for physical comfort and natural beauty.
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Revelation of John 6:8
And behold, a pale horse, and the name of he who sat on it was Death. Hades followed with him. Authority over one fourth of the earth, to kill with the sword, with famine, with death, and by the wild animals of the earth was given to him.
Here chlōros describes the pale color of Death’s horse, linking the word to sickness and mortality rather than healthy growth.
-
Revelation of John 8:7
The first sounded, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. One third of the earth was burned up, and one third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.
The term highlights the destruction of green grass by hail and fire, emphasizing the severity of divine judgment on creation.