"that which is mingled and reduced to a uniform consistence, by kneading, beating, treading, etc.; a mass of potter’s clay, Rom. 9:21; of dough, 1 Cor. 5:6, 7; Gal. 5:9; met. Rom. 11:16*"
Definition and meaning
that which is mingled and reduced to a uniform consistence, by kneading, beating, treading, etc.; a mass of potter’s clay, Rom. 9:21; of dough, 1 Cor. 5:6, 7; Gal. 5:9; met. Rom. 11:16*
In the original Greek the word is written: φύραμα
Historical context
Paul wrote Romans from Corinth, one of the most important commercial cities in the empire. Rome had a Jewish population of around 50,000. The letter addresses real tensions between Jewish believers with centuries of Torah tradition and Gentile believers with no such background. Emperor Nero was on the throne. Within ten years he would execute both Paul and Peter.
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 phyrama (G5445) across the King James Bible.
Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
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Common questions
Strong's G5445 (phyrama) is a Greek word that means: that which is mingled and reduced to a uniform consistence, by kneading, beating, treading, etc.; a mass of potter’s clay, Rom. 9:21; of dough, 1 Cor. 5:6, 7; Gal. 5:9; met. Rom. 11:16* It appears 5 times in the King James Bible.
The word phyrama (G5445) appears 5 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G5445 is phyrama, a Greek word defined as: that which is mingled and reduced to a uniform consistence, by kneading, beating, treading, etc.; a mass of potter’s clay, Rom. 9:21; of dough, 1 Cor.. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
phyrama is a Greek word found in the New Testament.