πυῤῥάζω (G4449) — Greek Lexicon

πυῤῥάζω

pyrrházō

G4449 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To become red in color; to take on a reddish hue. Primarily refers to the process or state of reddening, especially when used of natural objects such as the sky. The main sense is intransitive: to turn or appear red.

Semantic Range

to become red, to appear red, to be red in color (intransitive), to redden (especially of the sky, atmosphere, or natural objects)

Root / Etymology

From the adjective πυῤῥός (pyrrhós, 'red, fiery') plus the verb-forming suffix -άζω, indicating a process or transformation. πυῤῥός itself is of uncertain Indo-European origin but is used in classical and Koine Greek to denote a reddish or fiery color.

Historical & Contextual Notes

πυῤῥάζω is a rare verb, attested primarily in later Greek and in Koine, with its main biblical occurrence in Matthew 16:2-3, where it describes the reddening of the morning sky. In Classical Greek, the related adjective πυῤῥός commonly described reddish or fiery tones (such as hair, horses, or fire), but the verb is virtually unattested outside post-Classical contexts. In the Koine period, especially in the New Testament, πυῤῥάζω appears as an intransitive verb indicating the process of turning red, specifically in reference to atmospheric phenomena. Standard English translations often render it 'to be red,' 'to be overcast,' or similar, but do not always convey the specific sense of a shift or process of reddening. The semantic field is distinct from verbs denoting blushing (such as αἰσχύνομαι, 'to be ashamed') or other color changes; πυῤῥάζω refers narrowly to reddening, not necessarily implying emotion or shame. There is no attestation in the Septuagint.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from πυῤῥός; to redden (intransitively):--be red.

Root Family

πυῤῥ- (pyrrházō) — to be red, to become red, to redden

Root πυῤῥ- to be red, to become red, to redden

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G4449-01`	πυρράζει	purrazei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	is red	is becoming red	is becoming red	2

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G4449-01`	Matthew 16:2	πυρράζει	purrazei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	is red	is becoming red	is red
`G4449-01`	Matthew 16:3	πυρράζει	purrazei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	is red	is becoming red	is becoming red

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