The Greek noun ἄνεμος (anemos) means “wind.” It refers to the natural movement of air, which can be gentle or strong, depending on the context. In biblical and classical Greek, it is often used metaphorically to describe things that are transient, changeable, or lacking in substance.

Detailed Overview

According to Strong’s Concordance, ἄνεμος (G417) is used to denote “wind” in both literal and metaphorical senses. In the New Testament, it appears in passages such as Matthew 7:25, where the term describes the physical wind blowing against a house, and in John 3:8, where it is used metaphorically to illustrate the mysterious and uncontrollable nature of the Spirit.

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The Bauer-Danker-Arndt-Gingrich (BDAG) Greek-English Lexicon provides a detailed explanation, noting that ἄνεμος refers to the “wind” in both its literal and metaphorical usages. BDAG emphasizes that the term can describe the physical phenomenon of moving air as well as abstract concepts, such as instability or the unpredictable nature of events or people. The lexicon also points out that in metaphorical uses, ἄνεμος can represent things that are fleeting or unreliable.

The Liddell-Scott-Jones (LSJ) Greek-English Lexicon further supports this by defining ἄνεμος as “wind” and detailing its use in classical Greek literature to denote the air in motion. LSJ also notes the metaphorical use of the term to describe things that are ephemeral or lacking in permanence, reflecting its broader application in various contexts.

In summary, ἄνεμος primarily means “wind,” referring to the natural movement of air. This meaning is consistently supported by Strong’s Concordance, BDAG, and LSJ, each providing context for its literal and metaphorical uses in describing both physical phenomena and abstract concepts in biblical and classical Greek literature.