Skip to content

Revelation 3:18

Footnote:

9

Strong's #G2845. κολλούριον, a pessary. 

The slight variation between κολλύριον (kollurion) and κολλούριον (kollourion) lies in one letter. Kollurion would more likely be an eye salve or paste. But according to Liddell-Scott-Jones, κολλούριον kollourion refers to a pessary. The term "pessary" has a historical context that spans several different uses in ancient medical practices:

  1. Hp. Mul. 1.51 (Hippocrates, "On the Diseases of Women"): Pessary here is referred to as κολλούριον "kollourion", the spelling we find in Revelation 3:18. It was a device used by ancient Greek physicians for various gynecological treatments. The specific use and form of the pessary can vary, but it was typically used to support or correct the position of the uterus or to manage certain medical conditions.

  2. Dsc. 1.1 (Dioscorides, "De Materia Medica"): Dioscorides, a Greek physician and pharmacologist, mentions pessaries in his work, describing their use in medical treatments. His references involve descriptions of various medicinal substances and devices, including pessaries, which were used in both therapeutic and diagnostic contexts.

  3. Cels. 7.4.4 (Celsus, "De Medicina"): In this text, the pessary is mentioned as a substitute for a probe in some medical procedures. This suggests that pessaries were used in diagnostic practices, potentially to help in the examination or treatment of certain conditions.

(cf. Logeion κολλύριον)

The following word ἐγχρῖσαι anoint, apply, stick/sting. (Strong's #G1472) does not contradict this word. 

The term ἐγχρίω (enchriō) in ancient Greek carries several meanings related to the act of applying or inserting something. Here's an explanation of its uses based on the provided references in addition to anoint:

  1. To Sting or Prick: The verb ἐγχρίω can mean "to sting" or "to prick." This usage is illustrated in Plato’s Phaedrus (251d), where it refers to the action of a sting or a similar sharp sensation.

  2. To Inject Poison: In the passive form, ἐγχρισθείς (enchristheís) refers to poison being injected by a sting. This usage is noted by Aelian in On the Nature of Animals (1.54), where the term describes the effect of poison being delivered through a sting or similar means.

  3. To Stick In: In a different context, ἐγχρίω can mean "to stick in" or "to insert." This sense is exemplified in Aelian’s On the Nature of Animals (6.20), where it describes the action of sticking something, like a point or a weapon, into a target or surface.

(cf. Logeion ἐγχρίω)