Greek word · G1667

ἑλίσσω

helissō

to roll up

To roll, roll up, coil, or fold something flexible: a scroll, a cloak, a coil of rope. It can also mean to twist or whirl.

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἑλίσσω

[in LXX: Isaiah 34:4 (גָּלַל ni.), Psalms 102:26 (חָלַף hi.), etc. ;]

to roll, roll up: Hebrews 1:12 (LXX), Revelation 6:14.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Hebrews 1:12

Range of meaning

To roll, roll up, coil, or fold something flexible: a scroll, a cloak, a coil of rope. It can also mean to twist or whirl.

Against the English

'Roll up' (BSB, NIV, ESV, NASB, WEB) and 'fold up' (KJV) both fit. NLT adds 'discard', which states an implication the Greek leaves to the picture.

Used elsewhere in the period

Isaiah 34:4 LXX: 'the heaven will be rolled up (ἑλιγήσεται) like a scroll'. Revelation 6:14 has the same idea ('the sky vanished like a scroll being rolled up'). In the Greek Psalm (LXX Ps 101:27) most manuscripts read ἀλλάξεις 'you will change', but some, notably Codex Sinaiticus, read ἑλίξεις as Hebrews does.

From the study of Revelation 6:14

Range of meaning

To roll up, coil, wrap around. It is used for rolling up a scroll or folding up a cloak.

Against the English

English versions agree on 'rolled up' or 'rolled together'. The thing English readers may not notice is that this is the exact verb of the Greek Isaiah 34:4. John is quoting a well-known judgment prophecy. He is not inventing a new image.

Used elsewhere in the period

Isaiah 34:4 in the Greek Old Testament: 'the sky will be rolled up (heligēsetai) like a scroll, and all the stars will fall like leaves from a vine and as leaves fall from a fig tree.' Psalm 102:26 in the Greek (quoted in Hebrews 1:12): 'like a cloak you will roll them up (helixeis), and they will be changed.' Jewish Sibylline Oracles 3.82–83 also speak of God rolling up the sky 'as a scroll is rolled'.

Where it appears

Hebrews · 1

  1. Hebrews 1:12 ἑλίξεις You will roll up

    You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed; but You remain the same, and Your years will never end.”

    Here: Future tense: 'you will roll up.' Rolling up a cloak is what you do when you take it off and put it away. The heavens that look permanent will be bundled up like an old wrap.

Revelation · 1

  1. Revelation 6:14 ἑλισσόμενον, being rolled up,

    The sky receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place.

    Here: 'Being rolled up', in the present tense, so the picture is of the rolling while it happens. It is the same verb the Greek Old Testament uses in Isaiah 34:4 ('the sky will be rolled up like a scroll'), which John is plainly echoing. A rolled-up scroll is closed and put away. Its use is over.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.