- ῥομφαία
- ῥομφαία, ας, ἡ ‘a large and broad sword’ used by non-Greek-speaking peoples, esp. the Thracians (Phylarch. [III B.C.]: 81 Fgm. 57 Jac.; Plut., Aemil. 264 [18, 5]; Hesychius; Suda). In our lit. simply sword (so also LXX; pseudepigr.; Jos., Bell. 6, 289, Ant. 6, 254; 7, 299;—In Philo [like ApcMos] always of the angel’s flaming sword after Gen 3:24) Lk 21:24 v.l.; Rv 2:16; 6:8; 19:15, 21. ῥ. δίστομος καὶ ὀξεῖα a sharp and double-edged sword Rv 2:12; cp. 1:16. φείδεσθαι τῆς ψυχῆς τινος ἀπὸ ῥ. spare someone’s life from the sword (so that he may die on the cross) B 5:13 (Ps 21:21). In imagery for pain or anguish (s. Sib-Or 5, 260 v.l.) τὴν ψυχὴν διελεύσεται ῥομφαία Lk 2:35 (ῥ. διελεύς. cp. SibOr 3, 316; Ezk 14:17.—Artem. 1, 41 p. 39, 19 τιτρώσκεσθαι κατὰ τὸ στῆθος means ‘receive sad news’).—DELG. M-M. TW.
Ελληνικά-Αγγλικά παλαιοχριστιανική Λογοτεχνία. 2015.