νεφέλη
nephélē
G3507 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A visible mass of condensed water vapor suspended in the atmosphere; primarily designates a 'cloud' in the sky, whether literal or, rarely, figurative. In literary or visionary contexts, often denotes a specific or prominent cloud, at times carrying connotations of covering, concealment, or divine manifestation. May represent a vessel or vehicle for heavenly beings or supernatural presence in apocalyptic or theophanic scenes.
Semantic Range
cloud, mass of clouds, covering of vapor, visible sign of divine presence, vehicle or vessel in apocalyptic vision, poetic or symbolic veil or covering
Root / Etymology
From the root νέφ- (as in νέφος, 'cloud, mass of clouds'); νεφέλη is a distinct but related noun form indicating a single cloud or collection of clouds. Both share an Indo-European ancestry relating to vapor or mist.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Appears from Homeric Greek onward, νεφέλη is the standard term for 'cloud' (contrasting with νέφος, which may denote a mass or general cloudiness rather than a single cloud). In classical and Hellenistic sources, used in literal meteorological descriptions, poetic imagery, and metaphorical language for concealment or divine presence. In Septuagint and New Testament, νεφέλη is notably used for the 'pillar of cloud' guiding the Israelites (Exod 13:21 LXX) and in apocalyptic visions to signify theophany or the descent/ascent of divine beings (e.g., Dan 7:13 LXX; Matt 17:5; Acts 1:9). English translations usually render as 'cloud,' but this may miss associations with divine encounter, glory, or supernatural concealment in Jewish and early Christian imagination. Distinguished from ἀτμίς ('vapor, mist') and ὁμίχλη ('fog').
Translation Consistency
The dominant and natural English rendering across occurrences is “cloud” (18 of 25; plural forms can be produced by regular inflection). It matches the primary literal sense (a mass of condensed vapor) while easily accommodating the figurative/theophanic senses (a covering, divine manifestation, or vessel) without awkwardness. Choosing “cloud” ensures consistent, idiomatic translation and allows normal plural/possessive inflections where needed.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from νέφος; properly, cloudiness, i.e. (concretely) a cloud:--cloud.
Root Family
νεφέλη (nephelē) — cloud, mist, vapor
Word Forms
6 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3507-03 |
νεφέλη | nephele | N NOM F SG |
a cloud | cloud | cloud | 8 |
G3507-05 |
νεφέλης | nepheles | N GEN F SG |
cloud | of a cloud | cloud | 5 |
G3507-04 |
νεφέλην | nephelen | N ACC F SG |
cloud | a cloud | a cloud | 5 |
G3507-06 |
νεφελῶν | nephelon | N GEN F PL |
clouds | of clouds | of clouds | 4 |
G3507-02 |
νεφέλαις | nephelais | N DAT F PL |
clouds | to clouds | clouds | 2 |
G3507-01 |
νεφέλαι | nephelai | N NOM F PL |
clouds | clouds | clouds | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
25 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3507-03 |
Matthew 17:5 | νεφέλη | nephele | N NOM F SG |
cloud | cloud | cloud |
G3507-05 |
Matthew 17:5 | νεφέλης | nepheles | N GEN F SG |
cloud | of a cloud | cloud |
G3507-06 |
Matthew 24:30 | νεφελῶν | nephelon | N GEN F PL |
clouds | of clouds | clouds |
G3507-06 |
Matthew 26:64 | νεφελῶν | nephelon | N GEN F PL |
clouds | of clouds | of clouds |
G3507-03 |
Mark 9:7 | νεφέλη | nephele | N NOM F SG |
cloud | cloud | cloud |
G3507-05 |
Mark 9:7 | νεφέλης | nepheles | N GEN F SG |
cloud | of a cloud | cloud |
G3507-02 |
Mark 13:26 | νεφέλαις | nephelais | N DAT F PL |
clouds | to clouds | clouds |
G3507-06 |
Mark 14:62 | νεφελῶν | nephelon | N GEN F PL |
clouds | of clouds | of clouds |
G3507-03 |
Luke 9:34 | νεφέλη | nephele | N NOM F SG |
a cloud | cloud | a cloud |
G3507-04 |
Luke 9:34 | νεφέλην | nephelen | N ACC F SG |
cloud | a cloud | a cloud |