hail, hailstone, hailstorm

Definition

This term usually refers to lumps of frozen water that fall from the sky. Although spelled the same way in English, a different word, “hail” is used in greeting someone and can mean, “hello” or “greetings to you.”

• Hail that comes down from the sky is in the form of balls or chunks of ice called “hailstones.”
• Usually hailstones are small (only a few centimeters wide), but sometimes there are hailstones that are as big as 20 centimeters wide and that weigh over a kilogram.
• The book of Revelation in the New Testament describes enormous hailstones weighing 50 kilograms that God will cause to fall on earth when he judges people for their wickedness in the end times.
• The word “hail” that is a formal greeting in older English literally means “rejoice” and could be translated as “Greetings!” or “Hello!”

(Translation suggestions: Translate Names)

Bible References

• Matthew 27:29
• Matthew 28:8-10
• Psalms 78:48
• Psalms 148:8
• Revelation 8:7

Word Data

• Strong’s: H0068, H0417, H1258, H1259, G54630, G54640