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πυρόω

pyróō

G4448 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

to set on fire, to cause to burn, to be made to glow or be fiery hot (literally, of metal or other substances subjected to intense heat); by extension, to be purified or refined through fire; in a figurative sense, to be inflamed or consumed with intense emotion such as anger or grief. The primary meaning pertains to the physical process of burning or becoming red-hot due to fire, with secondary metaphorical applications to intense inward experiences.

Semantic Range

to set on fire, to cause to burn, to make glow (of metal); to refine or purify by fire; to be fiery hot; to be inflamed or consumed with strong emotion (anger, grief, passion); to undergo a process of fiery trial or testing

Root / Etymology

Derived from the noun πῦρ (fire) and the denominative suffix -όω, forming a verb meaning 'to make fiery' or 'to cause to burn.' Cognate with various Greek verbs of heating or burning. No evidence for Semitic influence; purely Greek formation.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical and Hellenistic Greek, πυρόω is mainly used to describe the process of burning, smelting, or refining metals – e.g., making something glow with fire or purifying it by fire. In the Septuagint, it often translates Hebrew verbs for refining or purifying metals and, by extension, for the process of moral or spiritual testing. In the New Testament, the verb is rare and mostly appears in metaphorical contexts, such as being refined by suffering or trials (1 Peter 1:7; Revelation 1:15; 3:18). Modern translations sometimes capture only the figurative sense (e.g., 'tried,' 'refined'), but the underlying imagery is consistently that of intense heat, burning, or purification by fire. Unlike related verbs such as καίω ('to burn, consume'), πυρόω specifically often refers to making something glow or blazing, stressing the effect of the fire rather than its destructive aspect.

Translation Consistency

primary "burn" 1 occurrence

The primary sense of πυρόω is to set on fire or make hot/glow; 'burn' is the most natural, versatile English verb covering literal burning, becoming red‑hot, and the common figurative uses (being inflamed, consumed, or tested by fire). It provides a consistent, idiomatic base for all forms.

Alternatives (5 occurrences):
"having been made fiery-hot" (2x) "set ablaze" (1x) "set on fire" (1x) "having been refined by fire" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from πῦρ; to kindle, i.e. (passively) to be ignited, glow (literally), be refined (by implication), or (figuratively) to be inflamed (with anger, grief, lust):--burn, fiery, be on fire, try.

Root Family

πυρ- (pyrá) — to burn, fire, to ignite

Root πυρ- to set on fire, to heat, to make glow
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G4443 πυρά a constructed fire
G4445 πυρέσσω burning with fever
G4446 πυρετός with fever
G4447 πύρινος fiery ones
G4450 πυῤῥός fiery red

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G4448-01 πεπυρωμένα pepuromena V PRF PASS PTCP ACC N PL fiery/flaming having been made fiery-hot having been made fiery-hot 1
G4448-02 πεπυρωμένης pepuromenes V PRF PASS PTCP GEN F SG glowing having been made fiery-hot having been made fiery-hot 1
G4448-03 πεπυρωμένον pepuromenon V PRF PASS PTCP ACC N SG refined having been made fiery-hot having been refined by fire 1
G4448-04 πυροῦμαι puroumai V PRS PASS IND 1P SG burn I am being set ablaze I am being set ablaze 1
G4448-05 πυρούμενοι puroumenoi V PRS PASS PTCP NOM M PL will be set on fire being set on fire being set on fire 1
G4448-06 πυροῦσθαι purousthai V PRS PASS INF to burn with passion to be set on fire to burn with passion 1

Occurrences in Scripture

6 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G4448-06 1 Corinthians 7:9 πυροῦσθαι purousthai V PRS PASS INF to burn with passion to be set on fire to burn with passion
G4448-04 2 Corinthians 11:29 πυροῦμαι puroumai V PRS PASS IND 1P SG burn I am being set ablaze I am being set ablaze
G4448-01 Ephesians 6:16 πεπυρωμένα pepuromena V PRF PASS PTCP ACC N PL fiery/flaming having been made fiery-hot having been made fiery-hot
G4448-05 2 Peter 3:12 πυρούμενοι puroumenoi V PRS PASS PTCP NOM M PL will be set on fire being set on fire being set on fire
G4448-02 Revelation 1:15 πεπυρωμένης pepuromenes V PRF PASS PTCP GEN F SG glowing having been made fiery-hot having been made fiery-hot
G4448-03 Revelation 3:18 πεπυρωμένον pepuromenon V PRF PASS PTCP ACC N SG refined having been made fiery-hot having been refined by fire
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