βάτραχος

bátrachos

G944 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A frog; specifically, an amphibious creature known for leaping and croaking, typically inhabiting damp environments. In restricted contexts (such as Greek literature and the New Testament), refers to the animal itself, not metaphorical or symbolic senses unless contextually specified.

Semantic Range

frog (the animal), chorus of frogs (collectively), symbolic use (as unclean spirits in apocalyptic imagery)

Root / Etymology

Etymology uncertain; there is no clear derivation from attested Greek roots or Indo-European sources. The word appears as a loan or onomatopoeic formation possibly related to the sound made by frogs.

Historical & Contextual Notes

βάτραχος is attested in classical and Hellenistic Greek (e.g., in Aristophanes' comedy 'The Frogs', where it refers directly to frogs in a chorus) and continues in Koine, including the Septuagint and, notably, Revelation 16:13 in the New Testament. In the New Testament context, the term is used for its naturalistic and symbolic associations (as in the imagery of unclean spirits). English translations almost uniformly render the term as 'frog', but context may require noting any symbolic use. The word does not have alternative metaphorical senses in secular Koine outside of direct reference to the animal or its sound.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of uncertain derivation; a frog:--frog.

Root Family

βάτραχος (bátrachos) — frog, amphibian

Root βάτραχ- frog, amphibian

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G944-01 βάτραχοι batrachoi N NOM M PL frogs frogs frogs 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G944-01 Revelation 16:13 βάτραχοι batrachoi N NOM M PL frogs frogs frogs