"forehead, front, Rev. 7:3; 9:4; 13:16; 14:1, 9; 17:5; 20:4; 22:4*"
Definition and meaning
forehead, front, Rev. 7:3; 9:4; 13:16; 14:1, 9; 17:5; 20:4; 22:4*
In the original Greek the word is written: μέτωπον
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 metopon (G3359) across the King James Bible.
Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.
And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
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Common questions
Strong's G3359 (metopon) is a Greek word that means: forehead, front, Rev. 7:3; 9:4; 13:16; 14:1, 9; 17:5; 20:4; 22:4* It appears 8 times in the King James Bible.
The word metopon (G3359) appears 8 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G3359 is metopon, a Greek word defined as: forehead, front, Rev. 7:3; 9:4; 13:16; 14:1, 9; 17:5; 20:4; 22:4*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
metopon is a Greek word found in the New Testament.