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βρέχω

bréchō

G1026 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

to wet or moisten, chiefly through the action of rain or falling water; in extended sense, to cause to be rained upon, to provide with rain, or to cause precipitation; also, in some contexts, more generally to wet or drench, particularly by a fluid falling from above.

Semantic Range

to moisten, to wet, to drench, to rain, to cause rain to fall, to rain upon, to be rained upon

Root / Etymology

βρέχω is a primary verb of uncertain etymology, though it is attested from early Greek literature. It does not clearly derive from another Greek verb, and its root relationship is uncertain.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Classical Greek (from at least Homer onward), βρέχω most often refers to making something wet by falling water, usually rain. In the LXX and Koine Greek sources, it commonly denotes the divine or natural act of sending rain to water the earth (e.g., the verb is frequent in Septuagint contexts describing agricultural blessing or calamity). In the New Testament, the verb maintains this sense (e.g., Matthew 5:45), especially in expressions for 'to make it rain' or 'to rain upon.' The verb can, in some rare classical and poetic contexts, be used semi-metaphorically or with objects other than rain, but this is less common in Hellenistic and biblical usage. English translations often render the verb as 'to rain,' but this can omit the broader sense of causing wetness, which is contextually present in Greek. The verb is distinct from related terms such as ὕω (to rain) and from verbs denoting general washing (like λούω or νίπτω), as βρέχω emphasizes the act of wetting, usually from above, rather than washing per se.

Translation Consistency

primary "wet" 2 occurrences

βρέχω primarily means to moisten or drench (often by falling water/rain) and 'wet' is the simple, natural English verb that covers both intransitive (be rained upon) and transitive (make wet/drench) uses. It fits the typical usage across occurrences and reads naturally in most contexts.

Alternatives (5 occurrences):
"wetted" (2x) "rain" (2x) "rains" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primary verb; to moisten (especially by a shower):--(send) rain, wash.

Root Family

βρέχω (brechō) — to moisten, to wet, to rain

Root βρεχ- to moisten, to wet, to rain

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1026-05 ἔβρεξέν ebrexen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG has-washed it rained it wetted 3
G1026-04 βρέξαι brexai V AOR ACT INF rain to rain to rain 1
G1026-02 βρέχει brechei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG sends rain it is raining it rains 1
G1026-01 βρέχῃ breche V PRS ACT SUBJ 3P SG may rain may rain may rain 1
G1026-03 βρέχειν brechein V PRS ACT INF to wet to rain to wet 1

Occurrences in Scripture

7 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1026-02 Matthew 5:45 βρέχει brechei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG sends rain it is raining it rains
G1026-03 Luke 7:38 βρέχειν brechein V PRS ACT INF to wet to rain to wet
G1026-05 Luke 7:44 ἔβρεξέν ebrexen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG has-washed it rained she wet
G1026-05 Luke 17:29 ἔβρεξεν ebrexen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG it rained it rained it wetted
G1026-04 James 5:17 βρέξαι brexai V AOR ACT INF rain to rain to rain
G1026-05 James 5:17 ἔβρεξεν ebrexen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG rain it rained it wetted
G1026-01 Revelation 11:6 βρέχῃ breche V PRS ACT SUBJ 3P SG may rain may rain may rain
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