Strong G4969σφάζω

to slaughter

Transliteration: sphazō
Pronunciation: sfad'-zo
Morphology: Greek Verb

Definition

A primary verb; to butcher (especially an animal for food or in sacrifice) or (generally) to slaughter or (specifically) to maim (violently): - kill slay wound.

Detailed definition

σφάζω
[in LXX chiefly for שָׁחַט;]
to slay, slaughter (esp. of victims for sacrifice): ἀρνίον, Rev.5:6, 12 13:8; of persons, 1Jn.3:12, Rev.5:9 6:4, 9 18:24; ἐσφαγμένη εἰς θάνατον (RV, smitten unto death), Rev.13:3 (cf. κατα-σφάζω).†
(AS)

In the Bible

Strong G4969 appears in 9 verses of the KJV.

Translated in the KJV by

slain6
slew2
kill1
wound1

First verses

1 John 3:12
Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
Revelation 5:6
And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
Revelation 5:9
And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
Revelation 5:12
Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
Revelation 6:4
And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
Revelation 6:9
And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
Revelation 13:3
And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
Revelation 13:8
And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Revelation 18:24
And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

See every occurrence

Occurrences by book

Related words

Word family

Detailed Greek dictionary

σφάζω,
[Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 4.320, 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 2.39, 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Troades” 134 (Lyric poetry); in Comedy texts (5th c.BC: Cratinus Comicus 361) and Prose, from 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus (“Grg.” 468c))] downwards, σφάττω, compare Σφαττόμενος title of play by [Refs 4th c.BC+ (4th-3rd c.BC: Diphilus Comicus, “IG” 22.2363.34, and ς[φά]ττετ[αι] “SIG” 1024.36 (Myconus, 3rd-2nd c.BC))]; Boeotian dialect σφάδδω [Refs (“Anecdota Graeca - MSS. Bibl. Oxon.” 4.325)]: future σφάξω [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Heraclidae” 493)]: aorist ἔσφαξα [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 2.422:)]perfect ἔσφᾰκα, known from pluperfect ἐσφάκειν [Refs 2nd c.AD+ (2nd-3rd c.AD: Dio Cassius Historicus 73.6, (ἀπο-) 78.7)]:—passive, future σφᾰγήσομαι [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Andromache” 315, “Heracl.” 583, (ἀπο-) 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Historia Graeca (Hellenica)” 3.1.27:)]aorist ἐσφάγην [ᾰ] Trag. [Refs 4th c.BC+ ((4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Eumenides” 305, etc.) and late Prose, 1st-2nd c.AD: Plutarchus Biographus et Philosophus “Publicola” 4, etc.)]; less frequently ἐσφάχθην, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Pindarus Lyricus “P.” 11.23, 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 5.5, 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Iphigenia Taurica” 177 (Lyric poetry, nowhere else in Trag.))]: perfect ἔσφαγμαι [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 10.532, 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 23.68)]:—slay, slaughter, properly by cutting the throat (see. σφαγή 11)[Refs 8th c.BC+ (, in 8th c.BC: Homerus Epicus)] always of cattle, μῆλ᾽ ἁδινὰ σφάζουσι καὶ εἰλίποδας ἕλικας βοῦς [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 1.92, compare 9.46, 23.305, 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 9.467.)]
II especially slaughter victims for sacrifice, [Refs (1.459)], etc.; ἔσφαζ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ὤμων μόσχον cut its throat, as it hung from the servant's shoulders, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Electra” 813; σ. παρθένου δέρην [prev. author] “Or.” 1199)]:—passive, [NT+8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 10.532; ἀρνίον ἐσφαγμένον NT.Rev.5.6.)]
II.2 generally, slay, kill, of human victims, as Iphigeneia, Menoeceus, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Pindarus Lyricus “P.” 11.23, 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Phoenissae” 913, compare 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Agamemnon” 1433, “Ch.” 904)]; σ. τινὰ ἐς τὸν κρητῆρα so that the blood ran into the bowl, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 3.11)]:— passive, σφάζεται ἐς τὸν τάφον [Refs 4th c.BC+ ([prev. author] 5.5; πρὸς βωμῷ σφαγείς 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Eumenides” 305.)]
II.3 of any slaughter by knife or sword, [NT+5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 5.25, 7.107; σ. ἑαυτόν 5th c.BC: Thucydides Historicus 2.92; σ. καὶ ἐκδέρειν 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Euthydemus” 301c; τὸν ἴδιον ἀδελφόν “PMag.Osl.” 1.5, cf. NT.1John.3.12.)]
II.4 of animals, tear by the throat, σ. ὥσπερ οἱ λύκοι τὰ πρόβατα [Refs 4th c.BC+ (4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “Historia Animalium” 612b2.)]
II.5 of any killing, [Refs 2nd c.AD+ (“BGU” 388 ii 21 (2nd c.AD), “OGI” 697 (from Egypt), “Sammelb.” 7436.7 (6th c.AD), “Corpus Glossariorum Latinorum”)]
II.6 metaphorically, torment, τινα [Refs 1st c.AD+ (“POxy.” 259.33 (1st c.AD).)]