"a homicide, murderer, Mt. 22:7; Acts 3:14; 7:52; 28:4; 1 Pet. 4:15; Rev. 21: 8; 22:15*"
Definition and meaning
a homicide, murderer, Mt. 22:7; Acts 3:14; 7:52; 28:4; 1 Pet. 4:15; Rev. 21: 8; 22:15*
In the original Greek the word is written: φονεύς
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
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 phoneus (G5406) across the King James Bible.
But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.
But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
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Common questions
Strong's G5406 (phoneus) is a Greek word that means: a homicide, murderer, Mt. 22:7; Acts 3:14; 7:52; 28:4; 1 Pet. 4:15; Rev. 21: 8; 22:15* It appears 7 times in the King James Bible.
The word phoneus (G5406) appears 7 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G5406 is phoneus, a Greek word defined as: a homicide, murderer, Mt. 22:7; Acts 3:14; 7:52; 28:4; 1 Pet. 4:15; Rev. 21: 8; 22:15*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
phoneus is a Greek word found in the New Testament.