ὀμίχλη (omichlē)
omichlē
fog
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek word omichlē refers to a mist or fog that is thinner and less dense than a solid cloud. In ancient literature, it describes both natural weather phenomena and a "cloud of dust" stirred up by movement. The term carries a sense of obscurity, creating a visual barrier that limits what can be seen clearly.
In the New Testament, this word appears only once, in 2 Peter 3:10. Here, it describes the sudden arrival of the day of the Lord, which comes like a thief in the night. The imagery suggests an overwhelming and unexpected obscuring of the current world order, rather than a gradual fading. Translators often render this as "fog" or "mist" to capture that specific quality of sudden, enveloping uncertainty.
The choice of this word highlights the abruptness of divine judgment. Unlike a slow-moving storm, a mist can appear instantly and cover everything in its path. This usage emphasizes that the end of the present age will be both surprising and all-encompassing, leaving no room for preparation or escape once it arrives.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word omichlē describes a thick fog that suddenly obscures everything in its path. It is not a gentle mist but a dense barrier that limits what can be seen clearly. This imagery helps us understand how the day of the Lord arrives with sudden and overwhelming force.
While this sounds frightening, it reminds us that God is always present even when we cannot see Him clearly. Life often feels like walking through fog, where the future is hidden and uncertainty reigns. Yet, this passage assures us that no darkness can hide us from His knowledge or love.
We can rest in the hope that one day all confusion will pass away. Until then, we walk by faith, trusting in God's promises even when the path ahead seems unclear. This promise of clarity and justice gives us peace in uncertain times.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- mists1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ὁμίχλαι1×
Key Verses
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II Peter 2:17
These are wells without water, clouds driven by a storm, for whom the blackness of darkness has been reserved forever.
This verse uses related imagery of darkness and clouds to describe the fate of false teachers, contrasting with the sudden obscuring fog of judgment mentioned in the broader context of chapter 3.