Greek word · G2382

θώραξ

thōrax

breastplate

The chest or trunk of the body, and so the armor covering it: a breastplate or cuirass. This might be a bronze plate, linen or leather armor, or a shirt of chain mail. ἐνδύω (G1746) is the ordinary verb for putting on clothes, used figuratively for taking on a character or identity.

Appears 5 times in 4 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

θώραξ, -ακσς, ὁ

[in LXX chiefly for שִׁרְיוֹן and cogn. forms ;]

a breastplate: Revelation 9:9, 17; θ. τ. δικαιοσύνης, Ephesians 6:14 (cf. Isaiah 59:17, Wisdom of Solomon 5:18-19); θ. πίστεως, 1 Thessalonians 5:8.†

(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 Ephesians 6:14

Range of meaning

The chest or trunk of the body, and so the armor covering it: a breastplate or cuirass. This might be a bronze plate, linen or leather armor, or a shirt of chain mail. ἐνδύω (G1746) is the ordinary verb for putting on clothes, used figuratively for taking on a character or identity.

Against the English

'Breastplate' is accurate, though it can suggest a small plate. Body armor covering the whole torso is closer to what a reader in Paul's day would have pictured (NLT 'body armor').

Used elsewhere in the period

Polybius (Histories 6.23) lists the Roman legionary's full armor (πανοπλία, the word used in Eph 6:11, 13). Most men wore a bronze plate over the chest called a 'heart-guard'; the wealthier wore mail θώρακες. LXX Isa 59:17: God 'put on (ἐνεδύσατο) righteousness as a breastplate (θώρακα)'. Wisdom of Solomon 5:18: the Lord 'will put on righteousness as a breastplate'. 1 Thess 5:8: 'putting on the breastplate of faith and love'.

From the study of Revelation 9:17

Range of meaning

The chest, or the armour that covers it: a breastplate or cuirass.

Against the English

'Breastplate' is accurate. NLT's 'armor' is broader but fine.

Used elsewhere in the period

Used for soldiers' body armour throughout Greek literature. In Isa 59:17 (Septuagint) God puts on righteousness 'as a breastplate', and Paul echoes this (Eph 6:14; 1 Thess 5:8). In Rev 9:9 the locusts have 'breastplates like breastplates of iron'.

From the study of 1 Thessalonians 5:8

Range of meaning

A cuirass, the body armor of the trunk. It might be bronze plate, mail or scale, or linen and leather. The word could also mean the chest itself.

Against the English

'Breastplate' is accurate, though a thōrax often covered the back too. Its job was to guard the vital organs.

Used elsewhere in the period

Isaiah 59:17 in the Greek Old Testament (LXX) says God 'put on righteousness as a breastplate (thōraka) and placed the helmet of salvation (perikephalaian sōtēriou) on his head'. Wisdom of Solomon 5:18 says God 'will put on righteousness as a breastplate'. Ephesians 6:14 later gives believers 'the breastplate of righteousness'.

Where it appears

Ephesians · 1

  1. Ephesians 6:14 θώρακα breastplate

    Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed,

    Here: Armor for the torso, guarding the heart and other vital organs. In Paul's day this was a bronze chest plate or a shirt of mail. It is the main protection for the body.

1 Thessalonians · 1

  1. 1 Thessalonians 5:8 θώρακα [the] breastplate

    But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet of our hope of salvation.

    Here: Body armor that guarded the chest and vital organs, often the back as well. It is a single piece made of faith and love together.

Revelation · 3

  1. Revelation 9:9 θώρακας θώρακας breastplates

    They also had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the roar of many horses and chariots rushing into battle.

  2. Revelation 9:17 θώρακας breastplates

    Now the horses and riders in my vision looked like this: The riders had breastplates the colors of fire, sapphire, and sulfur. The heads of the horses were like the heads of lions, and out of their mouths proceeded fire, smoke, and sulfur.

    Here: Body armour for the chest. It echoes the locusts' 'breastplates like iron breastplates' in 9:9 and pictures a host that cannot be wounded.

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