Greek word · G822

ἀτμίς

atmis

vapor

A visible vapor or exhalation: steam rising from hot water or a furnace, smoke, the fumes or cloud of incense, breath, and sometimes mist. The constant is something you can see that has no solid substance and quickly thins into nothing.

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

What it means

ἀτμίς, -ίδος, ἡ

[in LXX for עָנַן, תִּמֹּר, etc. ;]

vapour: James 4:14; ἀ. καπνοῦ, Acts 2:19 (LXX).†

(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 James 4:14

Range of meaning

A visible vapor or exhalation: steam rising from hot water or a furnace, smoke, the fumes or cloud of incense, breath, and sometimes mist. The constant is something you can see that has no solid substance and quickly thins into nothing.

Against the English

KJV/WEB/YLT have "vapour/vapor," BSB/NIV/ESV "mist," NASB "vapor," NLT "morning fog." All capture the brevity. "Mist" and "fog" lean toward weather. In the Greek Bible the word more often belongs to fire, cooking and incense. Modern scientific "vapor" (an invisible gas) misses that this vapor is seen: it "appears."

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint): Lev 16:13, the cloud (ἀτμίς) of incense on the Day of Atonement. Hos 13:3, where Israel will be like morning cloud, early dew, chaff, and "vapor". The Hebrew there is "smoke from a window." Joel 2:30, quoted in Acts 2:19, has "vapor of smoke." Sir 22:24 has the vapor and smoke of a furnace. Sir 24:15 has Wisdom as the fragrance of frankincense in the tabernacle. Wis 7:25 calls Wisdom "a breath (ἀτμίς) of the power of God." The closest idea is in Wis 2:2–4: "the breath in our nostrils is smoke… our life will be scattered like mist." The word appears in the New Testament only here and in Acts 2:19.

From the study of Acts 2:19

Range of meaning

Atmis means steam, vapor, an exhalation or a rising cloud. In 'vapor of smoke', the second word names what the cloud is made of. Behind it stands the Hebrew tîmărôt ʿāšān, 'columns of smoke'. Tîmărôt is related to tāmār, 'palm tree', and describes a tall column of smoke that spreads at the top, like a palm.

Against the English

KJV, YLT, ESV and NASB say 'vapor of smoke', which today sounds like a thin mist or steam. BSB, WEB and NIV say 'billows of smoke', and NLT says 'clouds of smoke'. These better capture something huge and visible from far off.

How it drifted

'Vapour' meant any visible exhalation in 1611. Today it suggests faint moisture or e-cigarettes.

Used elsewhere in the period

Song 3:6 uses tîmărôt ʿāšān for a figure rising from the wilderness 'like columns of smoke'. In the LXX, Lev 16:13 and Ezek 8:11 use atmis for an incense cloud. James 4:14 says 'you are a vapor (atmis)'. Exod 19:18 describes Sinai's smoke 'like the smoke of a furnace'.

Where it appears

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 2:19 ἀτμίδα vapor

    I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke.

    Here: A rising vapor or cloud. It renders Hebrew tîmărôt, columns of smoke shaped like palm trunks. The picture is a towering column, not a thin haze.

James · 1

  1. James 4:14 ἀτμὶς A vapor

    You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

    Here: A visible puff: steam off a pot, a wisp of smoke or incense, a breath of mist. You can see it, but you cannot hold it, and it is soon gone. It comes first in its clause for emphasis: "A vapor is what you are."

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