4764. strénos
Lexical Summary
strénos: Luxury, revelry, indulgence

Original Word: στρῆνος
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: strénos
Pronunciation: STRAY-nos
Phonetic Spelling: (stray'-nos)
KJV: delicacy
NASB: sensuality
Word Origin: [akin to G4731 (στερεός - firm)]

1. a "straining", "strenuousness" or excessive "strength"
2. (figuratively) luxury (voluptuousness)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
delicacy, luxury

Akin to stereos; a "straining", "strenuousness" or "strength", i.e. (figuratively) luxury (voluptuousness) -- delicacy.

see GREEK stereos

HELPS Word-studies

4764 strḗnos (from strēnēs, "rough, grating") – properly, excessive, strong desire that "longs to break forth" (J. Thayer), i.e. in self-indulgent luxury (used only in Rev 18:3).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from strénés (hard, strong)
Definition
insolent luxury
NASB Translation
sensuality (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 4764: στρῆνος

στρῆνος, στρήνους, τό (allied with στερεός, which see), excessive strength which longs to break forth, over-strength; luxury (R. V. wantonness (marginal reading luxury)): Revelation 18:3 (see δύναμις, d.); for שַׁאֲנָן, arrogance, 2 Kings 19:28; eager desire, Locophron, 438.

Topical Lexicon
Overview

The term στρῆνος (strēnos) conveys an atmosphere of luxuriant excess that is both material and sensual. It depicts a style of living so saturated with self-indulgence that it becomes a power in itself, shaping attitudes, economies, and even empires.

Usage in Revelation 18:3

“For all the nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her immorality; the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxury.” (Revelation 18:3)

Here strēnos is rendered “luxury.” The phrase “the power of her luxury” emphasizes that Babylon’s opulence is not merely an incidental detail; it is the very engine driving her global influence and intoxicating the nations.

Association with End-Time Babylon

1. Economic magnetism: The city’s wealth attracts merchants worldwide, creating an international system tied to covetousness and idolatry.
2. Moral corruption: Immorality and luxury are intertwined, revealing that unchecked prosperity often paves the way for spiritual compromise.
3. Divine retribution: Babylon’s downfall (Revelation 18:8-19) demonstrates that such opulence, when divorced from righteousness, inevitably invites judgment.

Old Testament Parallels

Isaiah 47:8–9 addresses proud Babylon: “You who dwell securely… you say in your heart, ‘I am, and there is none besides me.’”
Ezekiel 16:49 identifies “abundance of bread and careless ease” as a root of Sodom’s sin.
Amos 6:4–7 denounces those “who recline on beds of ivory… but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph.”

These passages show that strēnos-like indulgence is a recurring theme that the prophets consistently condemn.

Moral Warnings Regarding Luxury

Luke 16:19–25 contrasts the rich man’s lavish living with Lazarus’ destitution, highlighting eternal reversal.
James 5:1–5 rebukes the rich who “have lived in luxury and self-indulgence.”
1 Timothy 6:9–10 warns that a craving for riches leads to ruin and destruction.

Contrast with Godly Stewardship and Contentment

Scripture affirms that wealth is not inherently evil (Proverbs 10:22), yet it must be held in submission to God’s purposes. Believers are called to generosity (2 Corinthians 9:6-8), contentment (Hebrews 13:5), and a life that seeks first the kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33).

Eschatological Significance

Strēnos represents the allure of the final world system that opposes Christ. Its fleeting nature underscores the certainty of Christ’s return and the establishment of a kingdom “that cannot be shaken” (Hebrews 12:28).

Practical Ministry Applications

1. Discipleship: Teach believers to discern between legitimate enjoyment of God’s gifts and destructive self-indulgence.
2. Counseling: Address materialism as a spiritual bondage; freedom comes through repentance and renewed trust in God’s provision.
3. Preaching: Use Revelation 18 as a sober reminder that present affluence is temporary, urging congregations to invest in eternal treasures.
4. Social action: Encourage stewardship that alleviates poverty and reflects Christ’s compassion, countering the spirit of Babylon with acts of mercy.

Homiletical Insights

Strēnos serves as a vivid illustration of how wealth, wedded to arrogance, can become a “power” that intoxicates culture. A sermon on Revelation 18:3 can highlight:
• The seduction of worldly splendor.
• The link between moral compromise and economic gain.
• The ultimate bankruptcy of any system not founded on righteousness.

Summary

Strēnos crystallizes the Bible’s consistent warning against opulence divorced from devotion. It stands as both a mirror—exposing the human heart’s susceptibility to excess—and a signpost, directing believers toward the enduring riches found only in Christ.

Forms and Transliterations
εκθαμβήσει στρήνός στρηνους στρήνους στρίφνος στροβείτω στροβήσει στρογγύλα στρογγύλην στρογγύλον στρογγυλούν στρογγύλωμα στρογγύλωσιν στρουθίζων strenous strēnous strḗnous
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Revelation 18:3 N-GNS
GRK: δυνάμεως τοῦ στρήνους αὐτῆς ἐπλούτησαν
NAS: by the wealth of her sensuality.
KJV: the abundance of her delicacies.
INT: power of the luxury of her were enriched

Strong's Greek 4764
1 Occurrence


στρήνους — 1 Occ.

4763
Top of Page
Top of Page