Lexical Summary ombros: Rain, shower Original Word: ὄμβρος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance a shower, thunderstormOf uncertain affinity; a thunder storm -- shower. Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3655: ὄμβροςὄμβρος, ὀμβρου, ὁ (Latinimber) a shower, i. e. a violent rain, accompanied by high wind with thunder and lightning: Luke 12:54. (Deuteronomy 32:2; Wis. 16:16; in Greek writings from Homer down.) STRONGS NT 3655a: ὁμείρομαιὁμείρομαι (or ὀμείρω, see below) equivalent to ἱμείρομαι; to desire, long for, yearn after (A. V. to be affectionately desirous): τίνος, 1 Thessalonians 2:8, G L T Tr WH (but the last read ὁμειρόμενοι, cf. their Appendix, p. 144 and Lob. Pathol. Element. 1:72), on the authority of all the uncial and many cursive manuscripts, for Rec. ἱμειρόμενοι. The word is unknown to the Greek writers, but the commentators at the passage recognize it, as do Hesychius, Phavorinus, and Photius, and interpret it by ἐπιθυμεῖν. It is found in Psalm 62:2 Symm., and according to some manuscripts in Job 3:21. According to the conjecture of Fritzsche, Commentary on Mark, p. 792, it is composed of ὁμοῦ and ἐίρειν, just as Photius (p. 331, 8 edition Porson) explains it ὁμοῦ ἡρμοσθαι (so Theophylact (cf. Tdf.'s note)). But there is this objection, that all the verbs compounded with ὁμοῦ govern the dative, not the genitive. Since Nicander, ther. verse 402, uses μείρομαι for ἱμείρομαι, some suppose that the original form is μείρομαι, to which, after the analogy of κέλλω and ὀκέλλω), either ἰ or ὁ is for euphony prefixed in ἱμείρομαι and ὁμείρομαι But as ἱμείρομαι is derived from ἵμερος, we must suppose that Nicander dropped the ι( syllable to suit the meter. Accordingly, ὁμείρεσθαι seems not to differ at all from ἱμείρεσθαι, and its form must be attributed to a vulgar pronunciation. Cf. (WHs Appendix, p. 152); Winers Grammar, 101 (95); (Buttmann, 64 (56); Ellicott on 1 Thessalonians, the passage cited; (Kuenen and Cobet, N. T. Vat., p. ciii.)). Ὄμβρος appears once in the Greek New Testament—Luke 12:54—where Jesus appeals to His listeners’ weather lore: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and that is what happens” (Berean Standard Bible). The term identifies a sudden rain-shower drawn off the Mediterranean, easily recognized by villagers in Galilee and Judea. Teachings of Jesus in Luke 12:54 1. Discernment. The crowd could diagnose approaching weather but failed to read “the present time” (Luke 12:56). Jesus contrasts natural insight, represented by ὄμβρος, with spiritual obtuseness. Rain Imagery in the Old Testament While ὄμβρος itself does not occur in the Hebrew text, the Septuagint uses it for several Hebrew words related to rain (e.g., Deuteronomy 11:14; Job 37:6). These passages develop two complementary motifs: Against this backdrop Jesus’ mention of ὄμβρος evokes the consistent biblical theme that God governs both meteorological and moral realms. Prophetic and Eschatological Overtones Old Testament prophets used rain imagery to anticipate the outpouring of the Spirit (Joel 2:23). New Testament writers echo the motif: “the early and latter rains” (James 5:7). Though different Greek words appear, Luke 12:54 fits within the same symbolic field—divine intervention imminent as an approaching storm. The future consummation (Revelation 22:17) will either refresh or overwhelm, depending on one’s readiness. Historical Insights Second Temple literature (e.g., 1 Enoch 100:1–3) links sudden storms to eschatological upheaval. Rabbinic sources likewise saw rain as a barometer of Israel’s spiritual health. Jesus’ teaching aligns with these expectations yet centers them on Himself as the decisive sign. Systematic Theology Connections • Providence. Jesus acknowledges observable weather patterns, yet Scripture attributes rain to God’s sovereign ordering (Job 36:27–28; Matthew 5:45). Practical Ministry Applications 1. Preaching. Use common experience—changes in weather—to illustrate unseen spiritual realities, following Jesus’ model. Homiletical and Devotional Reflections • Watchfulness. As farmers scan the horizon for ὄμβρος, disciples must stay alert to God’s movements (Mark 13:37). Summary Though ὄμβρος occurs only once in the New Testament, its single appearance gathers a wealth of biblical theology. Jesus’ reference challenges hearers to match natural discernment with spiritual perception, invokes centuries of prophetic rain imagery, and points to the swift approach of grace and judgment. Obedient recognition of the “cloud rising in the west” remains vital for the church today. |
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