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θυμός

thymós

G2372 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A state or outburst of strong internal motion or feeling; primarily, intense emotion (especially anger or wrath), but also a strong impulse, passion, or temper. In Classical and Koine Greek, θυμός can denote the seat of emotions or desires, an expression of fury or temper, the vital force or 'spirit' of a person, and at times, courage or boldness. Frequently in the Septuagint and New Testament, it indicates wrath, rage, or anger, either human or divine, but is also used for other strong passions or drives.

Semantic Range

passion, emotional surge, internal impulse, wrath, rage, indignation, fierceness, temper, spiritedness, courage

Root / Etymology

From the root θυμ-; related to θύω (“to rush, boil, sacrifice”), possibly linked to Proto-Indo-European *dheu- (“to rise in a cloud, to smoke”). The root is associated with swelling, boiling, or rising up — imagery that contributes to the sense of surging emotion.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Homeric and Classical Greek, θυμός refers both to the seat of courage, desire, or feelings within a person and to the vital force or life-principle (distinguished from ψυχή, 'soul/life', and πνεῦμα, 'spirit/breath'). In philosophical texts, θυμός is often one part of the tripartite soul (e.g. Plato), representing spiritedness or high emotion. During the Hellenistic and Roman periods, the term increasingly expresses strong, often negative emotion, particularly anger or wrath—especially in the Septuagint, where it translates Hebrew 'af (nose/anger) and related terms, and in the New Testament. In the LXX and NT, it is often, but not always, paired or contrasted with ὀργή (anger), where θυμός may emphasize the suddenness or intensity of the emotion, while ὀργή can suggest the settled or lasting aspect. Standard English translations often narrow θυμός to 'wrath' or 'rage,' but the term's range includes any strong internal surge, from righteous indignation to passionate desire or emotional fervor.

Translation Consistency

primary "anger" 16 occurrences

θυμός most often denotes intense anger or wrath in the LXX and NT. "Anger" is the natural, common English term that covers wrath, rage, indignation and strong emotional surges while remaining idiomatic for both human and divine contexts. It is broader and more conversational than the more formal "wrath," so it will produce more natural renderings across the word’s typical uses.

Alternatives (2 occurrences):
"surging passions" (2x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from θύω; passion (as if breathing hard):--fierceness, indignation, wrath. Compare ψυχή.

Root Family

θυμός (thymos) — emotion, passion, wrath, temperament

Root θυμ- emotion, passion, wrath, temperament

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2372-04 θυμοῦ thumou N GEN M SG wrath of wrathful passion of anger 10
G2372-02 θυμόν thumon N ACC M SG wrath intense passion anger 3
G2372-03 θυμός thumos N NOM M SG wrath surging passion surging anger 3
G2372-01 θυμοί thumoi N NOM M PL anger surging passions surging passions 2

Occurrences in Scripture

18 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2372-04 Luke 4:28 θυμοῦ thumou N GEN M SG with wrath of wrathful passion of anger
G2372-04 Acts 19:28 θυμοῦ thumou N GEN M SG with wrath of wrathful passion of anger
G2372-03 Romans 2:8 θυμός thumos N NOM M SG indignation surging passion surging anger
G2372-01 2 Corinthians 12:20 θυμοί thumoi N NOM M PL anger surging passions surging passions
G2372-01 Galatians 5:20 θυμοί thumoi N NOM M PL wrath surging passions surging passions
G2372-03 Ephesians 4:31 θυμὸς thumos N NOM M SG wrath surging passion surging anger
G2372-02 Colossians 3:8 θυμόν thumon N ACC M SG wrath intense passion anger
G2372-02 Hebrews 11:27 θυμὸν thumon N ACC M SG wrath intense passion anger
G2372-02 Revelation 12:12 θυμὸν thumon N ACC M SG wrath intense passion anger
G2372-04 Revelation 14:8 θυμοῦ thumou N GEN M SG wrath of wrathful passion of anger
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