ἀνθρακιά (G439) — Greek Lexicon

ἀνθρακιά

anthrakiá

G439 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A heap or bed of (char)coal, especially burning coals, typically used to denote a collection of live or glowing coals for the purpose of providing heat, roasting, or cooking. The primary sense is a mass or arrangement of burning coals set together.

Semantic Range

bed of burning coals, heap of coals (for warmth or cooking), charcoal fire, collection of live coals

Root / Etymology

From ἄνθραξ (ánthrax, 'coal' or 'charcoal') with the suffix -ιά (-ia) indicating a collective or place; thus, 'a collection or heap of coals.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

ἀνθρακιά is rare in classical sources and appears only a few times in Koine texts, notably in the New Testament (John 18:18, 21:9), where it describes the arrangement of burning coals around which people stand for warmth or which are used for preparing food. The term focuses on the set or mass of burning coals, not merely isolated pieces of charcoal. The usage suggests a domestic, social, or utilitarian context (warming, cooking). English translations often render it as 'charcoal fire' or 'fire of coals,' but these can obscure the focus on the actual arrangement or collective aspect. The underlying root ἄνθραξ refers more generally to 'coal' or 'charcoal,' while ἀνθρακιά specifies the collective or purposeful arrangement. The term does not carry ritual, symbolic, or cultic connotations in the sources where it appears; it is a practical, everyday term. In LXX and contemporary Hellenistic Greek, similar terms occur for fires, but ἀνθρακιά is distinctive for its focus on coals rather than wood fire in general.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἄνθραξ; a bed of burning coals:--fire of coals.

Root Family

ἀνθρακιά (anthrakiá) — coal, charcoal, burning coal, heap of coals

Root ἀνθρακ- coal, charcoal, burning coal

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G439-01`	ἀνθρακιὰν	anthrakian	`N ACC F SG`	a charcoal fire	a heap of burning coals	a heap of burning coals	2

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G439-01`	John 18:18	ἀνθρακιὰν	anthrakian	`N ACC F SG`	fire of coals	a heap of burning coals	a heap of burning coals
`G439-01`	John 21:9	ἀνθρακιὰν	anthrakian	`N ACC F SG`	a charcoal fire	a heap of burning coals	a heap of burning coals

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