Lexical Summary purrazó: To be red, to glow Original Word: πυρράζω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance be red. From purrhos; to redden (intransitively) -- be red. see GREEK purrhos NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom purros Definition to be fiery red NASB Translation red (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4449: πυρράζωπυρράζω; equivalent to πυρρός γίνομαι, to become glowing, grow red, be red: Matthew 16:2f (but T brackets; WH reject the passage) (Byzantine writings; πυρρίζω in the Sept. and Philo.) Topical Lexicon Biblical UsageStrong’s Greek 4449 appears only twice, both in the Lord’s rebuke of the Pharisees and Sadducees (Matthew 16:2-3). There it describes the sky that “is red” (“πυρράζει”) in the evening and again “red and overcast” in the morning. The verbs frame a common Mediterranean weather proverb: a red sunset signals fair weather; a red dawn warns of an approaching storm. Jesus grants the truth of the proverb yet contrasts the leaders’ skill in reading natural signs with their blindness to spiritual realities. Cultural and Meteorological Background First-century Jews, like other ancient peoples, watched the heavens for practical guidance. In a land dependent on predictable rainfall for crops, the color of the sky at dawn and dusk furnished valuable information. Classical writers such as Aristotle (Meteorologica 2.9) and Pliny the Elder (Natural History 18.87) mention the same rule of thumb: dust-laden, moisture-free air at sunset scatters light, creating a deep red horizon that heralds calm weather; a crimson dawn reflects moisture and instability, signaling rain or a sirocco. Jesus employs that well-known maxim, assuming His hearers’ acquaintance with agrarian lore. Theological Implications 1. Accountability for Revelation The leaders recognize atmospheric data yet ignore messianic evidence standing before them. The Lord’s implicit question—“How can you read the sky but not the Scriptures?”—underscores the moral obligation to respond to divine revelation. Awareness of ordinary signs increases culpability when greater, salvific signs are neglected. 2. Discernment and Faith The saying exposes the difference between empirical observation and spiritual discernment. Correct interpretation of creation should lead to worship of the Creator (Romans 1:20), while misreading or indifference reveals unbelief. Jesus’ miracles, teachings, and fulfilled prophecies were as plain as a red horizon, but prejudice veiled the leaders’ eyes. 3. Continuity with Prophetic Tradition Old Testament prophets likewise chastised Israel for failing to recognize the “time of visitation” (for example, Jeremiah 8:7). Jesus stands in that line, intensifying the warning because He Himself embodies God’s ultimate sign (Matthew 12:39-40). Patristic and Historical Reception Early Christian writers drew a double lesson. Chrysostom emphasized the folly of seeking further signs when abundant evidence had already been granted. Jerome highlighted the irony that fishermen from Galilee could identify the Messiah, whereas trained scholars could not. Reformers such as John Calvin applied the passage to the tendency of religious authorities to pursue speculative knowledge while ignoring plain Scripture. Ministry Application • Preachers: Urge hearers to move from natural theology to saving faith. Just as weather signs demand timely action, gospel signs call for immediate repentance. Related Biblical Motifs • Signs in the heavens—Genesis 1:14; Joel 2:30-31; Matthew 24:30. Conclusion Though Strong’s 4449 occurs only twice, it contributes a vivid picture: the undeniable redness of the sky that demands a verdict about coming weather. In context, the verb becomes a parable of spiritual perception. The unchanging color of the evening and morning sky still warns today: “You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times” (Matthew 16:3). The admonition remains: attend to God’s self-disclosure with humble, obedient faith. Forms and Transliterations πυρραζει πυρράζει πυρράκης πυρρίζουσα πυρριζούσας purrazei pyrrazei pyrrázeiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 16:2 V-PIA-3SGRK: λέγετε Εὐδία πυρράζει γὰρ ὁ NAS: for the sky is red.' KJV: for the sky is red. INT: you say Fair weather is red indeed the Matthew 16:3 V-PIA-3S |
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