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Antichrist

Original Hebrew / Aramaic / Greek connected to this term

How to read this: there is rarely one magic “true meaning” hidden behind an English word. A lexicon records a word’s semantic range. The intended meaning is narrowed by grammar, sentence, author, historical usage and context.

GREEK · G500

ἀντίχριστος

antichristos — antichrist

άντι-χριατος, -ον, ό Antichrist, "one who assuming the guise of Christ opposes Christ" (Westc., Epp. Jo., 70): 1Jn.2:18 Jn 2:22 Jn 4:3, 1Jn.1:7 pl. 1Jn.2:18 (cf. ψευδόχριστος, and see MM, VGT, see word).† (AS)

4 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G2342

θηρίον

thērion — wild animal

θηρίον, -ου, τό (dimin. of θήρ), [in LXX chiefly for חַי ;] a wild beast, beast: Mrk.1:13, Act.11:6 28:4-5, Tit.1:12, Heb.12:20, Jas.3:7, Rev.6:8; of Antichrist, Rev.11:7, 13-19.† (AS)

38 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G601

ἀποκαλύπτω

apokaluptō — to reveal

ἀπο-καλύπτω [in LXX chiefly for גָּלָה ] 1. in general sense (cl.), to reveal, uncover, disclose, (a) of things: Mat.10:26, Luk.2:35 12:2, 1Co.3:13; (b) of persons: pass., Christ, Luk.17:30; Antichrist, 2Th.2:3 2:6 2:8 2. In LXX and NT, in special sense of divine revelation: Mat.11:25 (on the tense, see M, Pr., 136), ib. Mat.11:27 16:17, Luk.10:21-22, Jhn.12:38, Rom.1:17-18 8:18, 1Co.2:10 14:30, Gal.1:16 3:23, Eph.3:5, Php.3:15, 1Pe.1:5-12 5:1 (Westc., Eph., 178 f.; M, Th., 149 f.).† SYN.: φανερόω (see Thayer, 62; Cremer, 342).† (AS)

26 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

Historical dictionary entry

Against Christ, or an opposition Christ, a rival Christ. The word is used only by the apostle John. Referring to false teachers, he says (1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 John 1:7), “Even now are there many antichrists.” (1.) This name has been applied to the “little horn” of the “king of fierce countenance” (Dan. 7:24, 25; 8:23-25). (2.) It has been applied also to the “false Christs” spoken of by our Lord (Matt. 24:5, 23, 24). (3.) To the “man of sin” described by Paul (2 Thess. 2:3, 4, 8-10). (4.) And to the “beast from the sea” (Rev. 13:1; 17:1-18).

Scripture references

Source: Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897). Historical dictionary wording reflects the scholarship and language of its era.

Compare other reference traditions

Look up Antichrist in Smith’s Bible Dictionary and ISBE →