Divine Justice Revealed: ταρταρόω (Strong’s G5020: tartaroō) Shows God’s Authority

Strong’s G5020: A unique verb occurring only once in the New Testament, derived from the Greek mythological term Tartarus. It describes the act of casting into or imprisoning in the deepest abyss, specifically used of God’s judgment on rebellious angels, emphasizing divine authority over all spiritual powers.

U- Unveiling the Word

Ταρταρόω represents a fascinating intersection of Greek mythology and biblical truth, uniquely employed in Scripture to convey God’s supreme authority over rebellious spiritual beings. While drawing from Greek cultural understanding of Tartarus as the deepest pit of judgment, Peter redefines it within a biblical framework to describe God’s sovereign power to judge and restrain evil angels. This verb powerfully communicates that even the most powerful spiritual beings remain subject to God’s authority. The early church understood this term as emphasizing both God’s justice and His complete sovereignty over all creation, including the spiritual realm. Today, it reminds believers that no power – physical or spiritual – exists beyond the Lord’s authority and judgment.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: ταρταρόω, tartaroō, /tar-tar-OH-oh/
• Detailed Pronunciation: tar (as in “target”) – tar (same) – OH (as in “go”) – oh (same)
• Part of Speech: Verb

Etymology:

• Root: τάρταρος (Tartarus) – the deepest abyss of the underworld
• Suffix: -όω – verbalization suffix indicating “to make” or “to put into a state”
• Combined meaning: “to cast into Tartarus” or “to hold in Tartarus”

D – Defining Meanings

• To cast into Tartarus
• To hold imprisoned in eternal darkness
• To condemn to the deepest abyss

For compound words: The -όω suffix transforms the noun Tartarus into a verb, indicating the action of casting or confining something into this state

Translation Options:

• Cast into the abyss – Captures the physical action
• Confined in darkness – Emphasizes the state of imprisonment
• Condemned to Tartarus – Preserves the cultural connection

E – Exploring Similar Words

• βάλλω (ballō) /BAL-loh/ – General term for casting or throwing
  See G906
• φυλακίζω (phylakizō) /foo-lak-ID-zoh/ – To imprison
  See G5439
• κρίνω (krinō) /KREE-noh/ – To judge
  See G2919

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

As a verb, ταρταρόω follows these patterns:

• Tense: Aorist (past action viewed as a whole)
• Voice: Active (subject performs the action)
• Mood: Participle (verbal adjective)
• Person: Third person
• Number: Singular
• Aspect: Punctiliar (single, completed action)

The aorist participle suggests a completed action with ongoing results – the angels were cast into Tartarus and remain there.

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

The lexical sources provide fascinating insights into ταρταρόω. BDAG emphasizes its unique status as a hapax legomenon (occurring only once) in the New Testament, highlighting its deliberate use to communicate to a Hellenistic audience. Thayer’s notes its connection to Greek mythology while emphasizing its Christian reinterpretation. LSJ provides extensive documentation of its pre-Christian usage in Greek literature. Vine’s emphasizes how Peter adapted this pagan term to express divine truth. Strong’s highlights its connection to judgment and restraint. Moulton and Milligan discuss its rarity in koine Greek, suggesting Peter’s intentional choice for rhetorical effect. LEH notes its absence from the Septuagint, underscoring its special purpose in 2 Peter.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
2 Peter 2:4: “For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment”

Additional References:
None – this is a hapax legomenon (occurs only once in the New Testament)

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

The unique appearance of ταρταρόω in Scripture powerfully demonstrates how the Holy Spirit inspired biblical authors to communicate divine truth using culturally relevant language. While drawing from Greek mythology, Peter transforms the concept to reveal the supreme authority of the one true God over all spiritual powers. This word proclaims the good news that King Jesus has ultimate authority over every spiritual force, offering believers absolute security in His sovereign protection and assuring us that all evil will face divine judgment.

D – Did You Know?

1. This is the only occurrence of a mythological term being transformed into a verb in the New Testament
2. The word appears in no other known Christian writings from the first century
3. Ancient Greeks considered Tartarus to be as far below Hades as Earth is below Heaven

Strong’s G5020: A unique verb occurring once in the New Testament, derived from the Greek mythological term Tartarus. It describes the act of casting into or imprisoning in the deepest abyss, specifically used of God’s judgment on rebellious angels, emphasizing divine authority over all spiritual powers.

Part of speech: Verb

Tags: judgment, angels, punishment, hell, divine-authority, peter, spiritual-warfare, mythology, greek-culture, sovereignty, justice​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​