Greek word · G2358

θριαμβεύω

thriambeuō

to triumph

From thriambos, an old hymn and procession title linked to Dionysus. In Roman-era Greek it is the standard equivalent of Latin triumphare. (1) Intransitive: to celebrate a triumph. Also, more rarely and later, (3) to make a public show of, to expose, to make known.

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

What it means

θριαμβεύω

(θρίαμβος, 1. a festal hymn to Bacchus. 2. The Roman triumphus),

1. to triumph (and rarely, with accusative, to triumph over; so perh. Colossians 2:15, but see infr.).

2. to lead in triumph: with accusative of person(s), 2 Corinthians 2:14; hence, generally, to make a spectacle or show of: Colossians 2:15 (but see supr.; cf. MM, Exp., xv; and esp. Field, Notes, 181).†

(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 2 Corinthians 2:14

Range of meaning

From thriambos, an old hymn and procession title linked to Dionysus. In Roman-era Greek it is the standard equivalent of Latin triumphare. (1) Intransitive: to celebrate a triumph. (2) Transitive, with a person as object: to lead someone in a triumph, almost always as a defeated captive put on display. Also, more rarely and later, (3) to make a public show of, to expose, to make known. The causative 'to make someone triumph' is not attested in ancient Greek.

Against the English

KJV 'causeth us to triumph' (following Tyndale's 'giveth us the victory') makes Paul a winner. Modern versions (BSB, WEB, NASB, ESV, NIV) have 'leads us in triumph(al procession)'. NIV and BSB add 'as captives'. 'Triumph' in modern English means personal success, which hides the parade picture altogether.

How it drifted

Early English translators (and some early Greek interpreters) found it unthinkable that Paul would cast himself as a conquered prisoner, so they read the verb causatively. 'Triumph' then drifted in English from a Roman parade to any victory or success. That made 'God always causes us to triumph' sound like a promise of winning.

Used elsewhere in the period

Plutarch uses it of generals leading kings in triumph (e.g. Romulus 33; Aemilius Paullus 34, where King Perseus of Macedon was led before Paullus's chariot). Paul's only other use is Colossians 2:15, where God 'disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public spectacle of them, leading them in triumph'. There the objects are clearly the defeated enemies. Appian, Strabo and Josephus all describe the triumph (Josephus, Jewish War 7.123–157, on Vespasian and Titus parading Judean captives in AD 71). BDAG gives 'lead in triumph' as the main sense and notes 'make known/display' as a possible secondary one.

From the study of Colossians 2:15

Range of meaning

Used without an object, it means to celebrate a triumph. Used with an object, it means to lead someone as a captive in a triumphal procession. It comes from thriambos, a hymn to Dionysus, and became the Greek word for the Roman triumphus.

Against the English

Every major version has 'triumphing over them'. That is accurate, but to modern ears 'triumph' just means 'win', and the concrete picture of the parade, with the defeated paraded in chains behind the general's chariot, gets lost.

How it drifted

In English 'triumph' has become an abstract word for victory. In the first century a triumph was a specific, highly visible Roman ceremony.

Used elsewhere in the period

Greek historians writing about Rome use it of generals and their processions: Plutarch, Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Appian. The passive is used of captives being 'led in triumph'. The only other New Testament use is 2 Corinthians 2:14, where Paul pictures himself in God's triumphal procession. Scholars debate whether he is there a captive or a participant, but the Roman picture is not in doubt. See Beard, The Roman Triumph.

Where it appears

2 Corinthians · 1

  1. 2 Corinthians 2:14 θριαμβεύοντι leading in triumph

    But thanks be to God, who always leads us triumphantly as captives in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.

    Here: Present tense: 'who keeps leading [us] in triumph'. The word names the Roman victory parade, where a victorious general led his conquered captives through the city. 'Us' is the direct object, so Paul and his co-workers are the ones being led, not the ones doing the triumphing.

Colossians · 1

  1. Colossians 2:15 θριαμβεύσας having triumphed

    And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

    Here: 'Having led them in triumph.' The word comes from the Roman triumph, the victory parade in which a conquering general paraded his defeated captives through the streets.

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