"that which is spoken; declaration, saying, speech, word, Mt. 12:36; 26:75; Mk. 9:32; 14:72; a command, mandate, direction, Lk. 3:2; 5:5; a promise, Lk. 1:38; 2:29; a prediction, prophecy, 2 Pet. 3:2; a doctrine of God or Christ, Jn. 3:34; 5:47; 6:63, 68; Acts 5:20; an accusation,..."
Definition and meaning
that which is spoken; declaration, saying, speech, word, Mt. 12:36; 26:75; Mk. 9:32; 14:72; a command, mandate, direction, Lk. 3:2; 5:5; a promise, Lk. 1:38; 2:29; a prediction, prophecy, 2 Pet. 3:2; a doctrine of God or Christ, Jn. 3:34; 5:47; 6:63, 68; Acts 5:20; an accusation, charge, crimination, Mt. 5:11; 27:14; from the Hebrew, a thing, Mt. 4:4; Lk. 4:4; a matter, affair, transaction, business, Mt. 18:16; Lk. 1:65; 2 Cor. 13:1
In the original Greek the word is written: ῥῆμα
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 rhema (G4487) across the King James Bible.
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.
But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.
And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.
And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
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Common questions
Strong's G4487 (rhema) is a Greek word that means: that which is spoken; declaration, saying, speech, word, Mt. 12:36; 26:75; Mk. 9:32; 14:72; a command, mandate, direction, Lk. 3:2; 5:5; a promise, Lk. 1:38; 2:29; a prediction, prophecy, 2 Pet. 3:2; ... It appears 64 times in the King James Bible.
The word rhema (G4487) appears 64 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4487 is rhema, a Greek word defined as: that which is spoken; declaration, saying, speech, word, Mt. 12:36; 26:75; Mk. 9:32; 14:72; a command, mandate, direction, Lk. 3:2; 5:5; a promise, Lk. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
rhema is a Greek word found in the New Testament.