Greek word · G3691

ὀξύς

oxys

sharp/swift

Two related senses: (1) sharp, keen, used of blades and sickles (Rev 1:16; 14:14–19), and in classical Greek of keen sight, a shrill sound, or a sharp temper; (2) quick, swift, prompt, the 'sharpness' of speed (BDAG sense 2). Romans 3:15 is the only New Testament use with sense 2.

Appears 8 times in 7 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ὄξύς, -εῖα, -ύ

[in LXX: Psalms 57:4, al. (חַד), Amos 2:15 (קַל), Isaiah 5:28 (שָׁנַן), etc. ;]

1. sharp: Revelation 1:16 2:12 14:14, 17-18 19:15.

2. Of motion, swift: Romans 3:15 (LXX ταχινός).†

(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 Romans 3:15

Range of meaning

Two related senses: (1) sharp, keen, used of blades and sickles (Rev 1:16; 14:14–19), and in classical Greek of keen sight, a shrill sound, or a sharp temper; (2) quick, swift, prompt, the 'sharpness' of speed (BDAG sense 2). Romans 3:15 is the only New Testament use with sense 2.

Against the English

English versions agree on 'swift'. 'Swift' slightly undersells the eager, darting quality of the Greek. YLT keeps the emphatic word order: 'Swift are their feet.'

Used elsewhere in the period

The Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament) uses ὀξύς for speed: Amos 2:15, 'the one swift of foot (ὁ ὀξὺς ἐν τοῖς ποσὶν αὐτοῦ) will not escape', and Habakkuk 1:8, Babylonian horses 'swifter than wolves'. Paul's source, Isaiah 59:7 in the Septuagint, has a different word, ταχινοί ('quick'). Paul either swaps in ὀξεῖς or quotes a Greek text that already had it.

From the study of Revelation 14:17

Range of meaning

Sharp, keen-edged. Also quick or swift (Rom 3:15, 'swift to shed blood'). Of sounds, shrill. Of taste, sour (compare oxos, sour wine).

Against the English

'Sharp' is accurate. The thing English readers may miss is the repetition: Revelation uses the word for Christ's sword from his mouth (1:16; 2:12; 19:15) and six times in 14:14–19 for the harvest blades.

Used elsewhere in the period

Common in Greek for blades. Revelation 1:16 and 19:15 use it for the 'sharp sword' coming from the mouth of the risen Christ, the word of judgment.

Where it appears

Romans · 1

  1. Romans 3:15 ὀξεῖς swift [are]

    “Their feet are swift to shed blood;

    Here: Placed first for emphasis: 'Swift!' Here it means quick or eager in motion, not 'sharp' like a blade. Because Greek can leave out 'are', the word works as the whole claim: speed and readiness are the point.

Revelation · 7

  1. Revelation 1:16 ὀξεῖα sharp

    He held in His right hand seven stars, and a sharp double-edged sword came from His mouth. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest.

    Here: Sharp, keen. It echoes Isaiah 49:2 (Greek), 'he made my mouth like a sharp sword'.

  2. Revelation 2:12 ὀξεῖαν· sharp;

    To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of the One who holds the sharp, double-edged sword.

    Here: 'Sharp', ready to cut. It echoes Isaiah 49:2, 'He made my mouth like a sharp sword'. That passage and Isaiah 11:4 are the background for a figure whose weapon is his speech.

  3. Revelation 14:14 ὀξύ.¶ sharp.

    And I looked and saw a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was One like the Son of Man, with a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand.

    Here: 'Sharp': the blade is ready, and reaping will be quick and decisive. Revelation also calls the sword from Christ's mouth 'sharp' (1:16; 19:15).

  4. Revelation 14:17 ὀξύ.¶ sharp.

    Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle.

    Here: 'Sharp', meaning ready to cut. The same words, 'sharp sickle', describe the cloud-rider's tool in v. 14 and are repeated twice in v. 18. The repetition stresses that the cutting is ready and will be decisive.

  5. Revelation 14:18 ὀξὺ ὀξὺ sharp

    Still another angel, with authority over the fire, came from the altar and called out in a loud voice to the angel with the sharp sickle, “Swing your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the vine of the earth, because its grapes are ripe.”

    Here: Sharp, so ready to cut cleanly and quickly. 'The sharp sickle' is repeated four times in 14:14–19, which drives home that the work is decisive.

  6. Revelation 19:15 ὀξεῖα, sharp,

    And from His mouth proceeds a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.

    Here: Sharp, keen-edged. It echoes Isaiah 49:2: 'he made my mouth like a sharp sword.'

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