ESTUDIO DE LA PALABRA GRIEGA
Phōnē (φωνή) — Meaning & Usage in the Bible
φωνή (phōnḗ) is a Greek noun meaning a tone, voice, or sound — whether spoken, uttered by an animal, or produced by something inanimate.
Significado de la palabra
φωνή primarily denotes a tone or articulate sound. The lexicon defines it as 'a tone (articulate, bestial or artificial); by implication, an address (for any purpose), saying or language.' It covers human speech, animal cries, and any produced sound.
The Septuagint uses φωνή chiefly to translate the Hebrew קוֹל (qōl), 'voice.' In the New Testament it functions in three main ways: (a) literally, the voice of a person or being; (b) metonymically, the speaker themselves (e.g., Revelation 1:12, 'see the voice'); and (c) of inanimate sources such as wind, trumpets, or thunder.
Uso en las Escrituras
φωνή appears 126 times in the NT and is concentrated in narratives involving divine speech. At Jesus' baptism (Matthew 3:17, Mark 1:11), at the transfiguration (Matthew 17:5, Mark 9:7), and on the cross (Matthew 27:46, 50), a φωνή from heaven or from Jesus himself marks decisive moments.
The phrase 'φωνὴ βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ' ('the voice of one crying in the wilderness') from Matthew 3:3 — itself an echo of Isaiah 40:3 — shows how φωνή frames prophetic speech. Paul also extends the word to 'language' in 1 Corinthians 14:10, where φωνή refers to distinct kinds of tongues.
La palabra en detalle
- G5456 Lemma: φωνή (phōnḗ), feminine noun. Core meaning: a tone or voice. Translates Hebrew קוֹל in the LXX. KJV renders it 'voice,' 'sound,' or 'noise' depending on context.
Versículos de ejemplo
- Matthew 3:3 Quoting Isaiah 40:3, this verse uses φωνή to introduce prophetic speech: 'the voice of one crying in the wilderness.'
- Matthew 3:17 A φωνή from heaven identifies Jesus as the beloved Son at his baptism.
- Matthew 17:5 At the transfiguration, a φωνή out of the cloud commands, 'Hear him.'
- Matthew 27:50 Jesus 'cried with a loud voice' (φωνῇ μεγάλῃ) and yielded up his spirit.
Preguntas frecuentes
Is φωνή only used for human voices?
No. The lexicon specifies it covers articulate, bestial, or artificial tones, so it is also used of animals, trumpets, wind, and thunder.
What is the Hebrew word behind most φωνή uses in the Old Testament?
In the Septuagint, φωνή chiefly translates קוֹל (qōl), 'voice' or 'sound.'
How many times does φωνή appear in the New Testament?
It appears 126 times across 113 distinct verses, with notable clusters in the Gospels and Revelation.