Flaming Arrow of the Enemy (Ephesians 6:16)

Ephesians 6:16 of the interlinear text gives us a useful tool for three key words:

  • Arrow, Strongs Number G956
  • To burn, G4448
  • To quench, G4570

Arrow, G956

We can examine this word by searching (such as by Google) for “G956.”  It is helpful to narrow the search to also add the word “Strongs,” but this is not necessary.  This search will lead us to multiple website that can help us:

  • https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G956
  • http://studybible.info/strongs/G956
  • http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Lexicon.show/ID/G956/belos.htm

Another useful site (as noted on the above tab “Related Websites” for such study is Bible Hub.  As shown below, one puts in the Strongs Number after the “/greek/” followed by “.htm”

  • http://biblehub.com/greek/956.htm

Using the Blue Letter Bible website as an example, we see the following:

Lexicon :: Strong’s G956 – belos

βέλος

Transliteration
belos
Pronunciation
be’-los (Key)
Part of Speech
neuter noun
Root Word (Etymology)

The above provides a pronunciation link, and the root (source) of the word, here coming from a word with the Strongs Number G906, as shown by an active link on that website page (the audio does not work here).

Further down on that page we can see a definition from a Greek-English Lexicon known by its author (Thayer).  There we see that the word have been used of a missile (i.e., something thrown, not a reference to a modern day rocket), a dart, javelin, or arrow.

Thayer’s Greek Lexicon

G956

Still further down, we see where else the word has been used.  In this case we find that it occurs only here in the New Testament.  (However, because it is used widely in other Greek literature, there is no uncertainty as to its meaning and, further, as we will examine below, the root word tells us more about its meaning).

Concordance Results Using KJV

Strong’s Number G956 matches the Greek βέλος (belos),
which occurs 1 times in 1 verses in the Greek concordance of the KJV

Tools specific to Eph 6:16  Eph 6:16
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts G956 of the wicked.

Now we can click on the Strongs Number on that website relating to the root work, Strongs G906 to bring us to a page that can enable us to drill down further.  We find:

KJV Translation Count — Total: 125x
The KJV translates Strongs G906 in the following manner: cast (86x), put (13x), thrust (5x), cast out (4x), lay (3x), lie (2x), misc (12x).
Outline of Biblical Usage

  1. to throw or let go of a thing without caring where it falls

    1. to scatter, to throw, cast into

    2. to give over to one’s care uncertain about the result

    3. of fluids

      1. to pour, pour into of rivers

      2. to pour out

  2. to put into, insert
Strong’s Definitions
†βάλλω bállō, bal’-lo; a primary verb; to throw (in various applications, more or less violent or intense):—arise, cast (out), × dung, lay, lie, pour, put (up), send, strike, throw (down), thrust. Compare G4496.

So we can see that the root meaning of our “arrow” word in Eph 6:16 is something that is thrown.  In the case of the arrow it is of course something pointed, intended to harm, as is used in battle.

To Burn, G4448

We can now do a similar study by searching on Strongs G4448 regarding the verb “to burn.”  This tells us something important about the kind of arrow, namely that it is coated with a substance, either a burning pitch or a poison, that when it penetrates creates a painful burning, a chemical wound, in addition to a very serious physical wound.

To Quench, G4570

Next, we can turn to the deliverance from such burning arrow, namely the capacity to quench or extinguish, as given by Strongs G4570.