UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

Sense 1: to extinguish a fire, to put out a fire

Semantic entry: 14.70

Semantic domains: Physical Events and States

Subdomains: Burning

Definition: to cause a fire to be extinguished

Notes: ‘To put out fierce fires’ may be expressed as ‘to cause fierce fires no longer to burn’ or ‘to make large fires stop burning.’ In order to speak of ‘fierce fires’ it may be necessary in some languages to speak of ‘large, hot fires.’

Sense 2: to stop, to quench

Semantic entry: 68.52

Semantic domains: Aspect

Subdomains: Cease, Stop

Definition: (a figurative extension of meaning of σβέννυμι[a] ‘to extinguish a fire,’ 14.70: σβέννυμι) to cause a fervent activity to cease

Notes: Though the particular activity of the Spirit is not overtly indicated in the context of RV TH1 5:19 · LV TH1 5:19 · Read together TH1 5:19, the book as a whole contains sufficient reference to the activity of the Spirit so as to indicate what is involved.

Sense 3: to stop burning

Semantic entry: 14.69

Semantic domains: Physical Events and States

Subdomains: Burning

Definition: to cease burning, either because of lack of material to be burned or because the fire has been forcibly extinguished

Notes: The expression ‘our lamps are going out’ may be rendered as ‘our lamps will soon not be burning’ or ‘our lamps will burn only a little bit more.’ It may, however, be misleading to speak of ‘lamps burning’ (see discussion in 14.65: ἀνάπτω / 14.65: ἅπτω / 14.65: ἐμπίπρημι / 14.65: καίω / 14.65: περιάπτω / 14.65: φλογίζω), and accordingly, it may be much better to translate ‘our lamps will show light only a little bit more’ or ‘the oil in our lamps will burn only a little bit more.’

Forms: σβέννυμαι