Greek word · G4763

στρηνιάω

strēniaō

to revel

To live in luxury and sensual excess, to indulge without restraint, often with arrogance or wantonness. The related noun στρῆνος (Rev 18:3) means luxury, but also insolent pride and the swagger that comes from too much.

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated October 23, 2026

What it means

στρηνιάω, ῶ

(στρῆνος, which see), [in Sm.: Isaiah 61:6 (אָכַל) * ;]

a word which first appears in the middle comedy (Rutherford, NPhr., 475 f.), to run riot, wax wanton: Revelation 18:7-9 (cf. κατα-στρηνιάω).†

SYN.: σπαταλάω (which see), τρυφάω (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 18:7

Range of meaning: To live in luxury and sensual excess, to indulge without restraint, often with arrogance or wantonness. The related noun στρῆνος (Rev 18:3) means luxury, but also insolent pride and the swagger that comes from too much.
Against the English: BSB/NIV/ESV 'lived in luxury' gets the wealth. NASB 'lived sensuously' gets the indulgence. WEB 'grew wanton' and YLT 'did revel' get the lack of restraint. KJV 'lived deliciously' now sounds like good food. None fully carries the mix of opulence and arrogance.
How it drifted: KJV's 'deliciously' follows the Latin Vulgate's 'in deliciis fuit' (Latin deliciae = luxuries, voluptuous pleasures). In 1611 'delicious' could still mean sensually indulgent. Today it is narrowed to taste.
Used elsewhere in the period: A rare, mostly colloquial word, found in the Greek comic poets for high living. In the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament), στρῆνος translates the arrogance of the Assyrian king in 2 Kings 19:28 (= Isa 37:29), 'your insolence has come up to my ears.' Paul's compound καταστρηνιάω (1 Tim 5:11) describes younger widows whose desires 'grow wanton against Christ.' In Revelation the word family appears only in chapter 18 (vv. 3, 7, 9).

From the study of Revelation 18:9

Range of meaning: To live in luxury that has become wanton: unrestrained self-indulgence, with overtones of arrogance and insolence. The related noun στρῆνος (18:3) means luxury, sensuality, and the excess and pride that wealth breeds. Some ancient writers link the word group to στρηνής, 'strong, harsh'.
Against the English: 'Lived in luxury' (BSB, ESV) is accurate but tame. 'Lived deliciously' (KJV) now sounds odd or even pleasant. 'Lived wantonly' (WEB) and 'did revel' (YLT) keep more of the sense of excess. The NIV's 'shared her luxury' brings out the partnership.
How it drifted: 'Luxury' in modern English can be neutral or even something to aim for. The Greek word carries moral weight: indulgence that has slipped its limits.
Used elsewhere in the period: Rare word. In the New Testament it appears only here and in 18:7, where it is said of Babylon herself. The noun στρῆνος appears in 4 Kgdms (2 Kings) 19:28 LXX for the arrogance of the Assyrian king Sennacherib. Later Greek writers of everyday language (e.g. in the comic poets) use the word group for luxurious living.

Where it appears

Revelation · 2

Revelation 18:7 ἐστρηνίασεν, lived in luxury,

As much as she has glorified herself and lived in luxury, give her the same measure of torment and grief. In her heart she says, ‘I sit as queen; I am not a widow and will never see grief.’

Here: Luxury with an edge of swagger and unrestrained indulgence. It is not just comfort. It picks up 'the power of her luxury' (18:3) that made the merchants rich.
Revelation 18:9 στρηνιάσαντες, having lived luxuriously,

Then the kings of the earth who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her will weep and wail at the sight of the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her.

Here: Excess that has turned into self-indulgence and arrogance. It picks up 'the power of her luxury' (στρῆνος) from 18:3 and her own 'luxury' in 18:7.

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