Greek word · G4501

ῥομφαία

romphaia

sword

Originally a large Thracian blade, long and heavy. By the biblical period it was a general word for a big sword. The Greek Old Testament uses it for ḥereb, especially for God's sword of judgment and the angel's drawn sword (BDAG s.v.).

Appears 7 times in 7 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated October 31, 2026

What it means

ῥομφαία, -ας, ἡ

[in LXX chiefly for חֶרֶב ;]

a large broad sword, used by the Thracians (see DB, iv, 634); then generally (in LXX used interchangeably with μάχαιρα, which see), a sword: Revelation 1:16 2:12, 16 6:8 19:15, 21; metaphorically, Luke 2:35.†

(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 Revelation 2:16

Range of meaning: Originally a large Thracian blade, long and heavy. By the biblical period it was a general word for a big sword. The Greek Old Testament uses it for ḥereb, especially for God's sword of judgment and the angel's drawn sword (BDAG s.v.).
Against the English: English just says 'sword', which loses the sense of a heavy battlefield blade (as opposed to μάχαιρα, a shorter sword or knife, though the two can overlap).
Used elsewhere in the period: Num 22:23, 31: the angel of the LORD stands in Balaam's path 'with his ῥομφαία drawn'. Num 31:8: Balaam is killed 'with the ῥομφαία'. Wisdom 18:15–16 pictures God's all-powerful word leaping from heaven as a warrior carrying a sharp sword. Revelation 1:16 and 2:12 describe 'a sharp two-edged ῥομφαία' coming out of Christ's mouth, and 19:15, 21 the sword by which the nations are struck down.

From the study of Revelation 1:16

Range of meaning: Originally a long, broad blade associated with Thracians and other non-Greek peoples. In Koine Greek, and especially in the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament), it is a general word for a large sword used in war and execution. It is often almost interchangeable with μάχαιρα (machaira).
Against the English: 'Sword' is accurate. What English loses is that in biblical Greek the word is closely tied to the sword of divine judgment and war: the sword God draws against the nations or against his own disobedient people.
Used elsewhere in the period: Very common in the Septuagint for Hebrew ḥerev, e.g. Genesis 3:24 (the flaming sword guarding Eden) and repeatedly in Ezekiel 21, 'the sword' of the LORD's judgment. In the NT it appears only in Luke 2:35 and six times in Revelation (1:16; 2:12, 16; 6:8; 19:15, 21). Compare Wisdom of Solomon 18:15–16, where God's all-powerful word leaps from heaven 'as a stern warrior carrying the sharp sword of your command'.

From the study of Revelation 19:15

Range of meaning: Originally a long Thracian blade. In Koine Greek it became a general word for a large sword, especially a battle sword. In the Greek Old Testament it is one of the main words for Hebrew ḥereb ('sword') and is common in oracles where God's sword judges (e.g. Ezek 21; Isa 66:16).
Against the English: English 'sword' is accurate. What English cannot show is that the New Testament has two sword words. Machaira is the ordinary short sword or knife (Peter's sword, Rom 13:4, Eph 6:17). Rhomphaia is the great sword, and outside Luke 2:35 it appears only in Revelation (1:16; 2:12, 16; 6:8; 19:15, 21).
Used elsewhere in the period: Greek Old Testament: Gen 3:24 (the flaming sword at Eden); Isa 66:16; Ezek 21:9–15 (the sharpened sword of the LORD). Wisdom of Solomon 18:15–16 pictures God's 'all-powerful word' leaping from heaven 'as a stern warrior carrying the sharp sword of your command.' Isaiah 11:4: the coming king will 'strike the earth with the rod of his mouth' and kill the wicked 'with the breath of his lips.' Psalms of Solomon 17:24 (1st century BC) hopes for a Messiah who will 'destroy the lawless nations by the word of his mouth.'

Where it appears

Luke · 1

Luke 2:35 ῥομφαία a sword —

so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your soul as well.”

Revelation · 6

Revelation 1:16 ῥομφαία a sword

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: A large sword, a weapon of war and execution. In the Greek Old Testament it often translates Hebrew ḥerev, the sword of God's judgment. Here it is the subject of the clause. No verb like 'was' is supplied: the sword is simply seen.
Revelation 2:12 ῥομφαίαν sword

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

Here: Originally a long, heavy Thracian blade. In the Greek Old Testament it is the standard word for a sword of war and of God's judgment. Here it stands for Christ's word as a weapon that judges and makes war (2:16; 19:15, 21).
Revelation 2:16 ῥομφαίᾳ sword

Therefore repent! Otherwise I will come to you shortly and wage war against them with the sword of My mouth.

Here: A big battle sword, the word the Greek Old Testament often uses for Hebrew ḥereb. It was the sword of the angel who stood against Balaam (Num 22:23, 31) and the sword that killed him (Num 31:8).
Revelation 6:8 ῥομφαίᾳ sword

Then I looked and saw a pale green horse. Its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed close behind. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill by sword, by famine, by plague, and by the beasts of the earth.

Here: A long, heavy sword: war and violent death. It is the word the Greek Old Testament uses in Ezekiel's list of four judgments (Ezek 14:21).
Revelation 19:15 ῥομφαία a sword

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: A long, heavy battle sword. This is the word the Greek Old Testament uses for the sword of divine judgment.
Revelation 19:21 ῥομφαίᾳ sword

And the rest were killed with the sword that proceeded from the mouth of the One seated on the horse. And all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.

Here: A large sword, the usual Greek Old Testament word for the Hebrew ḥereb. Here it never sits in a hand. It is the sword that comes out of the rider's mouth, so it pictures his spoken word working as an executing weapon.

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