3639. olethros
Strong's Lexicon
olethros: Destruction, ruin

Original Word: ὄλεθρος
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: olethros
Pronunciation: o'-leth-ros
Phonetic Spelling: (ol'-eth-ros)
Definition: Destruction, ruin
Meaning: ruin, doom, destruction, death.

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek verb ὄλλυμι (ollumi), meaning "to destroy" or "to ruin."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Hebrew equivalent often associated with "olethros" is אָבַד (abad, Strong's H6), which means to perish, destroy, or be lost.

Usage: In the New Testament, "olethros" is used to denote a form of destruction or ruin that is often associated with divine judgment or punishment. It implies not just physical destruction but also a spiritual or eternal consequence. The term is used to describe the ultimate fate of those who oppose God or reject His salvation.

Cultural and Historical Background: In the Greco-Roman world, the concept of "olethros" would have been understood in the context of both physical and existential destruction. The term was often used in Greek literature to describe the downfall of cities, empires, or individuals due to divine retribution or moral failure. In the Jewish context, it aligns with the Old Testament themes of divine judgment against nations or individuals who defy God's commandments.

HELPS Word-studies

3639 ólethros (from ollymi/"destroy") – properly, ruination with its full, destructive results (LS). 3639 /ólethros ("ruination") however does not imply "extinction" (annihilation). Rather it emphasizes the consequent loss that goes with the complete "undoing."

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from ollumi (to destroy)
Definition
destruction, death
NASB Translation
destroyed (1), destruction (3), ruin (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 3639: ὀλέθριος

ὀλέθριος, ὀλέθριον (in secular authors also of three term., as in Wis. 18:15) (ὄλεθρος), from (Homer), Herodotus down, destructive, deadly: δίκην, 2 Thessalonians 1:9 Lachmann text

STRONGS NT 3639: ὄλεθροςὄλεθρος, ὄλεθρον (ὄλλυμι to destroy (perhaps (ὀλνυμι) allied to Latinvulnus)), from Homer down, rain, destruction, death: 1 Thessalonians 5:3; 1 Timothy 6:9; εἰς ὄλεθρον τῆς σαρκός, for the destruction of the flesh, said of the external ills and troubles by which the lusts of the flesh are subdued and destroyed, 1 Corinthians 5:5 (see παραδίδωμι, 2); equivalent to the loss of a life of blessedness after death, future misery, αἰώνιος (as 4 Macc. 10:15): 2 Thessalonians 1:9 (where L text ὀλέθριον, which see), cf. Wis. 1:12.

STRONGS NT 3639a: ὀλιγοπιστίαὀλιγοπιστία, ὀλιγοπιστιας, , littleness of faith, little faith: Matthew 17:20 L T Tr WH, for R G ἀπιστία. (Several times in ecclesiastical and Byzantine writings.)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
destruction.

From a primary ollumi (to destroy; a prolonged form); ruin, i.e. Death, punishment -- destruction.

Forms and Transliterations
ολεθρον όλεθρον ὄλεθρον ολεθρος όλεθρος ὄλεθρος ολέθρου ολέκει ολέκεις ολέκομαι ολιγόβιος olethron ólethron olethros ólethros
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
1 Corinthians 5:5 N-AMS
GRK: Σατανᾷ εἰς ὄλεθρον τῆς σαρκός
NAS: to Satan for the destruction of his flesh,
KJV: for the destruction of the flesh,
INT: to Satan for destruction of the flesh

1 Thessalonians 5:3 N-NMS
GRK: αὐτοῖς ἐφίσταται ὄλεθρος ὥσπερ ἡ
NAS: then destruction will come
KJV: sudden destruction cometh upon
INT: upon them comes destruction as the

2 Thessalonians 1:9 N-AMS
GRK: δίκην τίσουσιν ὄλεθρον αἰώνιον ἀπὸ
NAS: of eternal destruction, away
KJV: with everlasting destruction from
INT: [the] penalty will suffer destruction eternal from

1 Timothy 6:9 N-AMS
GRK: ἀνθρώπους εἰς ὄλεθρον καὶ ἀπώλειαν
NAS: plunge men into ruin and destruction.
KJV: men in destruction and perdition.
INT: men into ruin and destruction

Strong's Greek 3639
4 Occurrences


ὄλεθρον — 3 Occ.
ὄλεθρος — 1 Occ.

















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