"a rainbow, iris, Rev. 4:3; 10:1*"
Definition and meaning
a rainbow, iris, Rev. 4:3; 10:1*
In the original Greek the word is written: ἶρις
Historical context
Domitian required people across the empire to address him as Dominus et Deus — Lord and God. Christians who refused to burn incense before the emperor's image faced economic exclusion and imprisonment. The book was written in apocalyptic imagery that believers would recognize but Roman authorities would not — a letter of resistance written to people being crushed by the most powerful empire on earth.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of iris (G2463) across the King James Bible.
And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
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Common questions
Strong's G2463 (iris) is a Greek word that means: a rainbow, iris, Rev. 4:3; 10:1* It appears 2 times in the King James Bible.
The word iris (G2463) appears 2 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2463 is iris, a Greek word defined as: a rainbow, iris, Rev. 4:3; 10:1*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
iris is a Greek word found in the New Testament.