Pronunciation Guide: hor-MAY-mah
Quick Answer: ὅρμημα means a violent rush, sudden attack, or overwhelming impulse – particularly describing the irresistible force of divine judgment, as seen when Babylon is cast down “with violence” like a millstone into the sea.
What Does ὅρμημα Mean?
Strong’s G3731: ὅρμημα captures the essence of violent momentum, sudden attack, or overwhelming impulse that carries everything in its path. This Greek word conveys not merely movement, but movement with devastating force and unstoppable momentum. In biblical usage, it specifically describes the irresistible violence of divine judgment that sweeps away opposition like a flood. The word encompasses both the suddenness of the action and the completeness of its destructive power. When God moves in judgment, there is no gradual decline but rather a catastrophic ὅρμημα that leaves nothing standing.
Key Insight: ὅρμημα reveals that divine judgment doesn’t come as gentle correction but as overwhelming, irresistible force that completely destroys wickedness.
Where Does ὅρμημα Come From?
- Part of speech: Neuter noun
- Root word: ὁρμή (horme) – meaning “start, impetus, rush, attack, effort”
- Verbal root: ὁρμάω (hormao) – meaning “to set in motion, to rush, to attack”
- Language origin: Classical Greek with extensive usage in military and philosophical contexts
- Primary usage: Found in narrative and prophetic sections describing violent action
What Is the History of ὅρμημα?
The term ὅρμημα traces its roots deep into classical Greek literature, where it originally described military attacks, sudden rushes, and violent assaults. In Homer’s works, the concept appears in contexts of warriors rushing into battle with overwhelming force. Classical authors like Plutarch employed the word to describe both physical attacks and emotional impulses that compel action. The Septuagint translators chose this word carefully when rendering Hebrew concepts of divine wrath and judgment, recognizing its power to convey the unstoppable nature of Yahweh’s righteous fury.
In early church fathers’ writings, particularly those commenting on Revelation, ὅρμημα became associated with the inexorable judgment of God against sin and rebellion. Church fathers like John Chrysostom and Jerome understood this word as describing not human violence but divine violence—the righteous anger of the Almighty that cannot be resisted or turned aside. The word carried connotations of both temporal and eternal judgment, representing the moment when God’s patience ends and His justice takes action.
Historical Summary: ὅρμημα evolved from describing military assaults in classical literature to representing the irresistible force of divine judgment in biblical and patristic writings.
How Should ὅρμημα Be Translated?
Primary meanings:
- Violence (sudden, overwhelming force)
- Rush (irresistible forward momentum)
- Attack (devastating assault)
- Impulse (driving force that compels action)
- Precipitancy (headlong, reckless speed)
Translation Tip: Context determines whether to emphasize the suddenness (rush), force (violence), or completeness (overwhelming attack) of the action described.
ὅρμημα Translation Options: The richness of this Greek term requires careful consideration of its morphological components and contextual usage. The instrumental dative ὁρμήματι in Revelation 18:21 specifically indicates “by means of violence” or “with violence,” showing the manner in which Babylon’s destruction occurs—not gradually but with devastating force.
- “With violence” – emphasizing the manner of destruction
- “By sudden force” – highlighting the unexpectedness
- “Through overwhelming attack” – stressing the completeness
- “By irresistible impulse” – focusing on the unstoppable nature
- “With devastating rush” – combining speed and destruction
How Is ὅρμημα Used in the Bible?
ὅρμημα appears uniquely in the New Testament in Revelation 18:21, where it describes the manner of Babylon’s destruction. This single occurrence is profoundly significant, as it represents the climactic moment when God’s judgment falls upon the symbolic center of worldly rebellion. The word appears in the context of a mighty angel casting a great millstone into the sea, declaring that “with such violence” (οὕτως ὁρμήματι) Babylon will be thrown down. This dramatic imagery communicates both the suddenness and finality of divine judgment.
The Septuagint usage provides additional context, where ὁρμημα appears in passages describing divine wrath and the consequences of rebellion against יהוה (Yahweh). The translators chose this word to convey the Hebrew concept of overwhelming divine judgment that sweeps away wickedness like a flood. The term bridges Old and New Testament theology, showing the consistent character of God’s justice throughout Scripture.
Usage Summary: ὅρμημα appears once in the New Testament to describe the violent manner of Babylon’s destruction, emphasizing divine judgment’s sudden and complete nature.
Cross-reference verses using ὅρμημα:
- “Thus with violence [ὁρμήματι] shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.” Revelation 18:21
What Cultural Context Surrounds ὅρμημα?
In the ancient Mediterranean world, ὅρμημα carried powerful military connotations that would have immediately resonated with John’s original audience. The word evoked images of cavalry charges, naval ramming attacks, and the overwhelming force of siege warfare. When Roman legions swept across battlefields with unstoppable momentum, or when battering rams shattered city gates, observers would describe such action using terms related to ὅρμημα. This military imagery perfectly suited John’s description of divine judgment falling upon the corrupt world system.
The cultural understanding of millstones adds depth to the metaphor in Revelation 18:21. In Jewish culture, millstones represented both sustenance (grinding grain for bread) and judgment (drowning was a form of execution). The rabbinical tradition taught that certain sins deserved such severe punishment that the perpetrator should have a millstone tied around their neck and be cast into the sea. This cultural background illuminates why the mighty angel uses this specific imagery—it represents complete, irreversible judgment.
Cultural Context: ὅρμημα combined military imagery of unstoppable attacks with Jewish concepts of divine judgment as sudden and complete as drowning.
What Does ὅρμημα Teach Us About God?
ὅρμημα reveals profound truths about יהוה’s (Yahweh’s) character as the righteous Judge of all the earth. This word demonstrates that while God is longsuffering and patient, His justice cannot be delayed indefinitely. When divine judgment finally comes, it arrives with overwhelming force that no earthly power can resist or deflect. The ὅρμημα of God’s judgment reveals both His holiness (which cannot tolerate sin) and His power (which no rebellion can withstand).
The theological implications extend to understanding God’s sovereignty over human history. The use of ὅρμημα in describing Babylon’s fall teaches that no matter how powerful worldly systems appear, they exist only by God’s permission and will be swept away when His purposes are fulfilled. This word reminds us that the Messiah Jesus will return not as the suffering servant but as the conquering King whose judgment comes with irresistible force.
Theological Core: ὅρμημα reveals that God’s patience has limits, and His judgment, when it comes, arrives with unstoppable divine power.
How Can I Apply ὅρμημα to My Life?
Understanding ὅρμημα should produce both holy fear and confident hope in believers’ hearts. The holy fear comes from recognizing that our God is not a cosmic grandfather who overlooks sin, but the righteous Judge who will deal with rebellion decisively. This should motivate us to examine our lives for areas where we might be aligning ourselves with “Babylon”—the world system that opposes God’s kingdom. The confident hope emerges from knowing that injustice will not triumph forever; God’s ὅρμημα will ultimately vindicate His people and establish perfect righteousness.
The concept also applies to our spiritual warfare. Just as earthly Babylon cannot resist divine ὅρμημα, neither can the spiritual forces of darkness withstand God’s power working through His people. When we face overwhelming opposition, we can remember that our victory comes not through human effort but through participating in God’s irresistible purposes.
Self-Examination Questions: Am I aligning myself with God’s kingdom or with worldly systems that oppose Him? Do I trust in God’s ultimate justice when facing injustice? How does understanding God’s irresistible power affect my prayers and spiritual warfare?
What Words Are Similar to ὅρμημα?
- ὁρμή (horme) [hor-MAY] – the root noun meaning “start, impetus, rush” – differs from ὅρμημα by describing the initial impulse rather than the completed violent action – See G3730
- ὁρμάω (hormao) [hor-MAH-oh] – the root verb meaning “to rush, to set in motion” – differs from ὅρμημα by being the action itself rather than the manner of action – See G3729
- βία (bia) [BEE-ah] – meaning “force, violence” – differs from ὅρμημα by describing static force rather than dynamic momentum – See G970
- σφοδρός (sphodros) [SFOD-ros] – meaning “violent, vehement” – differs from ὅρμημα by describing intensity rather than sudden attacking motion – See G4971
- κατάκλυσμός (kataklysmos) [kat-AK-loos-mos] – meaning “flood, deluge” – similar to ὅρμημα in describing overwhelming destructive force but specifically refers to water-based judgment – See G2627
Did You Know?
- What does ὅρμημα mean in modern Greek? While not commonly used in everyday modern Greek, the word survives in philosophical and literary contexts to describe sudden, powerful impulses or attacks, maintaining its ancient connotation of overwhelming force.
- How did Homer use related terms to ὅρμημα? Homer used the root ὁρμή in the Iliad to describe warriors’ battle-rage and the irresistible charge of heroes into combat, establishing the word’s association with unstoppable military force that influenced biblical usage.
- What’s the difference between ὅρμημα and βία (violence)? While both describe force, ὅρμημα emphasizes sudden, overwhelming momentum like a cavalry charge, whereas βία describes raw power or coercion that may be gradual or sustained.
- Why does the Bible use ὅρμημα only in Revelation 18:21? This unique usage creates dramatic emphasis for the climactic judgment of Babylon, reserving this most powerful word for violence to describe the ultimate manifestation of divine wrath against world-system rebellion.
- How does ὅρμημα relate to divine sovereignty? The word demonstrates that when God acts in judgment, His power is irresistible and complete—no earthly authority can slow, stop, or deflect the ὅρμημα of divine justice when it finally comes.
- What causes spiritual “Babylon” to face ὅρμημα today? Modern systems that oppose God’s kingdom—materialism, idolatry, persecution of believers, and moral rebellion—accumulate divine judgment that will ultimately be released with the same irresistible force described in Revelation.
- The millstone imagery in Revelation 18:21 connects to Messiah Jesus’s teaching – When Jesus warned about causing little ones to stumble, He said it would be better to have a millstone hung around one’s neck and be cast into the sea, using similar imagery of irreversible judgment that John later employs in Revelation.
Remember This
ὅρμημα stands as Scripture’s most powerful word for divine judgment’s irresistible force—reminding us that while God’s patience endures long, His justice, when released, sweeps away all opposition with the unstoppable momentum of righteousness itself.
