109. aér
Lexical Summary
aér: Air

Original Word: ἀήρ
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: aér
Pronunciation: ah-ayr'
Phonetic Spelling: (ah-ayr')
KJV: air
NASB: air
Word Origin: [from aemi "to breathe unconsciously", i.e. respire]

1. "air" (as naturally surrounding)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
air.

From aemi (to breathe unconsciously, i.e. Respire; by analogy, to blow); "air" (as naturally circumambient) -- air. Compare psucho.

see GREEK psucho

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from aémi (to breathe, blow)
Definition
air
NASB Translation
air (7).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 109: ἀήρ

ἀήρ, ἀέρος, (ἄημι, ἄω (cf. ἄνεμος, at the beginning)), the air (particularly the lower and denser, as distinguished from the higher and rarer αἰθήρ, cf. Homer, Iliad 14, 288), the atmospheric region: Acts 22:23; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; Revelation 9:2; Revelation 16:17; ἄρχων τῆς ἐξουσίας τοῦ ἀέρος in Ephesians 2:2 signifies 'the ruler of the powers (spirits, see ἐξουσία 4 c. ββ.) in the air,' i. e. the devil, the prince of the demons that according to Jewish opinion fill the realm of air (cf. Meyer at the passage; (B. D. American edition under the word ; Stuart in Bib. Sacr. for 1843, p. 139f)). Sometimes indeed, ἀήρ denotes a hazy, obscure atmosphere (Homer, Iliad 17, 644; 3, 381; 5, 356, etc.; Polybius 18, 3, 7), but is nowhere quite equiv, to σκότος — the sense which many injudiciously assign it in Ephesians, the passage cited ἀέρα δέρειν, (cf.verberat ictibus auras, Vergil Aen. 5, 377, of pugilists who miss their aim) i. e. to contend in vain, 1 Corinthians 9:26; εἰς ἀέρα λαλεῖν (verba ventis profundere, Lucr. 4, 929 (932)) 'to speak into the air' i. e. without effect, used of those who speak what is not understood by the hearers, 1 Corinthians 14:9.

Topical Lexicon
Physical Atmosphere and Human Experience

In several passages the word denotes the literal atmosphere that envelops the earth. When the mob in Jerusalem raged against Paul, “they threw dust into the air” (Acts 22:23), a vivid snapshot of agitation stirring the very environment around them. In the apocalyptic vision of the fifth trumpet, “the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke from the pit” (Revelation 9:2), reminding readers that cosmic judgments impact creation’s most fundamental life-giving element.

Metaphor for Futile Effort

Paul twice employs the term as a figure for wasted exertion. In athletic imagery he insists, “I do not run aimlessly; I do not box like one beating the air” (1 Corinthians 9:26). Likewise, speech that lacks clear meaning is described as “speaking into the air” (1 Corinthians 14:9). Both texts underscore the biblical call to purposeful living and intelligible ministry: effort and utterance are to land solid blows, not dissipate in empty atmosphere.

Scene of Eschatological Events

At the consummation of redemption the atmosphere becomes the meeting-place between the risen Lord and His people: “We who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Far from an indeterminate realm, the air is portrayed as the stage on which Christ’s triumph and the church’s hope converge, bridging heaven and earth and assuring believers of bodily resurrection and reunion.

Domain of Spiritual Opposition

Paul identifies the pre-conversion walk of the Ephesians as being “according to the prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2). Here the atmospheric realm symbolizes the pervasive but unseen influence of satanic authority over fallen humanity. The contrast between this hostile dominion and the believer’s new position in “the heavenly realms in Christ” (Ephesians 2:6) heightens the magnitude of salvation and the call to spiritual vigilance.

Divine Judgment and Final Cleansing

The seventh bowl of wrath is “poured out into the air” (Revelation 16:17), signaling God’s decisive act to purge even the unseen spaces where rebellion once held sway. That the final judgment targets the very medium of breath demonstrates the totality of God’s holiness: nothing—visible or invisible—remains untouched by His righteous rule.

Pastoral and Homiletical Applications

• Purposeful ministry: Avoid “beating the air” by aligning goals, discipline, and communication with the gospel’s clear objectives.
• Assurance of victory: The same atmosphere manipulated by demonic powers will host the victorious appearing of Christ, bolstering confidence amid spiritual warfare.
• Cosmic scope of redemption: From the dust of earthly turmoil to the clouds of the blessed hope, the biblical narrative moves through the air, teaching that salvation and judgment encompass all creation.

Forms and Transliterations
αερα αέρα ἀέρα αερος αέρος ἀέρος αέρων αηρ αήρ ἀὴρ aer aēr aḕr aera aéra aeros aéros
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Acts 22:23 N-AMS
GRK: εἰς τὸν ἀέρα
NAS: and tossing dust into the air,
KJV: dust into the air,
INT: into the air

1 Corinthians 9:26 N-AMS
GRK: ὡς οὐκ ἀέρα δέρων
NAS: in such a way, as not beating the air;
KJV: as one that beateth the air:
INT: as not [the] air beating

1 Corinthians 14:9 N-AMS
GRK: γὰρ εἰς ἀέρα λαλοῦντες
NAS: For you will be speaking into the air.
KJV: speak into the air.
INT: indeed into [the] air speaking

Ephesians 2:2 N-GMS
GRK: ἐξουσίας τοῦ ἀέρος τοῦ πνεύματος
NAS: of the power of the air, of the spirit
KJV: of the power of the air, the spirit
INT: authority of the air the spirit

1 Thessalonians 4:17 N-AMS
GRK: κυρίου εἰς ἀέρα καὶ οὕτως
NAS: the Lord in the air, and so
KJV: the Lord in the air: and so
INT: Lord in [the] air and thus

Revelation 9:2 N-NMS
GRK: καὶ ὁ ἀὴρ ἐκ τοῦ
NAS: and the sun and the air were darkened
KJV: and the air were darkened
INT: and the air by the

Revelation 16:17 N-AMS
GRK: ἐπὶ τὸν ἀέρα καὶ ἐξῆλθεν
NAS: out his bowl upon the air, and a loud
KJV: vial into the air; and there came
INT: into the air and came out

Strong's Greek 109
7 Occurrences


ἀὴρ — 1 Occ.
ἀέρα — 5 Occ.
ἀέρος — 1 Occ.

108
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