Lexical Summary Euphratés: Euphrates Original Word: Εὐφράτης Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Euphrates. Of foreign origin (compare Prath); Euphrates, a river of Asia -- Euphrates. see HEBREW Prath NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain origin Definition Euphrates, a river of Asia NASB Translation Euphrates (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2166: ΑὐφράτηςΑὐφράτης, Αὐφράτου, ὁ, Euphrates, a large and celebrated river, which rises in the mountains of Armenia Major, flows through Assyria, Syria, Mesopotamia and the city of Babylon, and empties into the Persian Gulf (Hebrew פְּרָת (i. e. (probably) 'the great stream' (Genesis 1:18); cf. Fried. Delitzsch, Wo lag d. Par., p. 169)): Revelation 9:14; Revelation 16:12. (B. D. under the word and references there.) Topical Lexicon Geographical Profile The Euphrates is the longest river of western Asia, rising in the mountains of modern-day Turkey, coursing through Syria and Iraq, and finally emptying into the Persian Gulf. Fed by melting snow and seasonal rains, it has served as a natural highway and lifeline for peoples and empires from the dawn of history. In Scripture it is repeatedly called “the great river” (Genesis 15:18; Revelation 16:12), a reminder of its unmatched scale and strategic importance within the biblical world. Early Biblical Mentions 1. Edenic Context (Genesis 2:14). The Euphrates is one of the four rivers flowing from the garden of Eden, linking it to humanity’s beginnings. Covenant Boundary and Promised Territory Throughout the Old Testament the Euphrates functions as a divinely defined perimeter: Setting of National Judgment and Exile Assyrian and Babylonian armies, situated along or near the Euphrates, repeatedly invaded Israel and Judah. Prophets such as Isaiah (Isaiah 8:5-8) and Jeremiah (Jeremiah 46:2-10) speak of the river as the staging ground for judgment. Jeremiah dramatically buried a linen waistband “at the Euphrates” (Jeremiah 13:4-11) to illustrate Judah’s coming ruin. Thus the river embodies both blessing when Israel is faithful and chastening when Israel departs from the LORD. Prophetic Significance Leading to the Day of the LORD The Old Testament anticipates a future reckoning involving the Euphrates. Isaiah foretells a time when the LORD will “dry up the tongue of the Sea of Egypt” and smite “the River” into seven streams so that men can cross on foot (Isaiah 11:15). Zechariah envisions worldwide dominion extending “from the River to the ends of the earth” (Zechariah 9:10). These predictions prepare the reader for the river’s eschatological role in Revelation. Occurrences in Revelation 1. Revelation 9:14 (sixth trumpet). “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” The command unleashes a vast cavalry that slays a third of mankind, demonstrating that forces of judgment have been restrained by God until His appointed hour. Both passages underscore the sovereignty of God over geographic and spiritual realms. The Euphrates—once a token of Covenant promise—now becomes the stage on which divine wrath is displayed, showing the seamless unity of God’s dealings from Genesis through Revelation. Symbolic and Theological Themes • Boundary: Represents limits established by God—limits that He alone may move or remove. Implications for Ministry and Discipleship 1. Confidence in God’s Sovereignty. The same Lord who set the Euphrates as a boundary for Abram directs end-time events. Believers can trust His unbroken rule over nations and nature. Summary Strong’s Greek 2166 draws attention to the Euphrates as a thread woven through the tapestry of Scripture: a literal river, a covenant frontier, a highway of judgment, and ultimately a signpost of God’s comprehensive plan. From Eden to the eschaton, its flow testifies that the Word of God is unified, trustworthy, and moving inexorably toward the fulfillment of every promise in Jesus Christ. Forms and Transliterations Ευφρατη Εὐφράτῃ Ευφρατην Εὐφράτην Euphrate Euphratē Euphrátei Euphrátēi Euphraten Euphratēn Euphráten EuphrátēnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Revelation 9:14 N-DMSGRK: τῷ μεγάλῳ Εὐφράτῃ NAS: at the great river Euphrates. KJV: the great river Euphrates. INT: great Euphrates Revelation 16:12 N-AMS Strong's Greek 2166 |