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Unveiling the Word

Understanding Greek words in biblical studies offers deep insight into the cultural, theological, and narrative contexts of the Scriptures. The word νεφέλη (nephelē), meaning “cloud,” appears in Matthew 17:5 during the Transfiguration of Jesus. In this pivotal moment, a “bright cloud” envelops Jesus, Peter, James, and John, and a voice from the cloud declares, “This is my beloved Son.” This event, along with other appearances of νεφέλη throughout the Bible, provides a theological connection to divine presence and revelation. Examining the significance of nephelē helps us understand its theological and cultural importance in both the Old and New Testaments.

Necessary Information

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Greek Word: νεφέλη (nephelē), pronounced ne-FEH-lay.

Etymology: The word nephelē derives from a Greek root meaning “cloud” or “mass of clouds.” The concept of clouds often carries symbolic weight, representing divine presence or the heavenly realm.

Part of Speech: Noun, feminine. This word is used in various contexts to describe literal clouds as well as metaphorical or symbolic references to God’s presence or divine intervention.

The F.O.G Word Choice: Coming Soon.

Defining Meanings

1. Literal Cloud: νεφέλη most often refers to a physical cloud in the sky, as seen in its use in both secular Greek and biblical contexts. Clouds were frequently observed in nature and used to describe meteorological phenomena.

2. Symbol of Divine Presence: In many scriptural instances, nephelē is associated with God’s presence. A notable example is the cloud that descended upon Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:9), where God spoke to Moses. Similarly, in the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:5), the cloud is a divine manifestation accompanying the voice of God.

3. Metaphor for Mystery or Revelation: Clouds, in their concealment of what lies beyond, can symbolize mystery or the revealing of divine truths. In Matthew 17:5, the cloud is both a literal object and a metaphor for the unveiling of Jesus’ divine sonship.

Exploring Similar Words

1. ἀήρ (aēr) [pronunciation: ah-AIR]: This word means “air” or “atmosphere” and can refer to the sky, but it is not specifically about clouds. It differs from nephelē, which describes an actual visible mass.

2. νέφος (nephos) [pronunciation: NEH-fos]: Another Greek word for cloud, but nephos can often refer to a “thick” or “dense” cloud. While nephelē is commonly used for a single, individual cloud, nephos might describe a cloud formation or large collection of clouds.

Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Case, Number, Gender: As a noun, nephelē follows the rules for feminine nouns in Greek. Its declension in singular and plural forms is as follows:

Case Singular Plural

Nominative νεφέλη νεφέλαι

Genitive νεφέλης νεφελῶν

Dative νεφέλῃ νεφέλαις

Accusative νεφέλην νεφέλας

This declension pattern is typical of first-declension feminine nouns.

Click here for a beginner’s guide to reading Greek.

Studying Lexicon Insights

From classical Greek texts to biblical Greek lexicons, the word νεφέλη is consistently associated with the sky and divine phenomena. In the New Testament, nephelē conveys God’s presence, as seen in Matthew 17:5, when a bright cloud appears at the Transfiguration. Thayer’s and BDAG highlight this word’s significance in both literal and figurative uses, emphasizing the association with divine intervention. Classical texts like Homer’s Iliad use nephelē simply to describe weather phenomena, while in the Septuagint, the word frequently appears when describing moments of divine interaction, such as God’s leading Israel by a cloud in Exodus.

This overview synthesizes insights from BDAG, Thayer’s, LSJ, Vine’s, Strong’s, LEH, and Moulton and Milligan.

Tracing Related Scriptures

1. Matthew 17:5 – “While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud [νεφέλη] overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.”

2. Exodus 19:9 (Septuagint) – “And the Lord said to Moses, Lo, I come to you in a thick cloud [νεφέλη], that the people may hear when I speak with you.”

3. Acts 1:9 – “And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud [νεφέλη] received him out of their sight.”

Analyzing Classical Usage

Author Name of Work Text with νεφέλη

Homer Iliad “The god gathered a cloud [νεφέλη] around him to hide his presence.”

Plato Republic “The philosopher rises above the cloud [νεφέλη] of ignorance.”

Septuagint Exodus “The Lord appeared in a cloud [νεφέλη] over the tabernacle.”

Noteworthy Summary

The Greek word νεφέλη (nephelē), translated as “cloud,” holds deep theological significance in the Bible. Beyond its literal meaning, it symbolizes divine presence and revelation. In Matthew 17:5, nephelē appears during Jesus’ Transfiguration, a moment where God directly speaks to the disciples through the cloud. This term’s frequent association with divine encounters underscores its importance in both the Old and New Testaments, representing moments of profound spiritual revelation.

Did You Know?

1. The word νεφέλη appears 26 times in the New Testament, often in connection with divine manifestations.

2. In Greek literature, νεφέλη is sometimes used metaphorically to describe confusion or lack of clarity, much like the modern idiom “a cloud of doubt.”

3. The cloud that guided the Israelites in the wilderness is one of the most famous uses of νεφέλη in the Septuagint (Exodus 13:21).