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Smyrna

Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:

(myrrh). A coast city of Ionia, Asia Minor, 40 miles north of Ephesus. Mentioned in Revelation 2:8-11⁸And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; ⁹I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. ¹⁰Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. ¹¹He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. (Revelation 2:8‑11) as site of one of the seven churches of Asia. The old city of Smyrna dates back to Theseus, 1300 years B. C. Alexander the Great built the new city B. C. 320. It became subject to Rome and was noted for its beauty. Christianity got an early foothold there and the city sent a bishop to the council of Nice, A. D. 325. It is still a large city of mixed nationalities and creeds, and of considerable commercial importance.

Concise Bible Dictionary:

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Smyrna

Ancient city in the west of Asia Minor, about forty miles north of Ephesus. No mention is made of Paul having visited the city; but we know an assembly was gathered there by its being one of the seven churches in Asia, to which addresses were sent through the apostle John. See REVELATION 2. History calls Polycarp the first bishop of Smyrna, and it was there he suffered martyrdom. Christian writers have often pointed out in connection with the allusion to “the synagogue of Satan” in Revelation 2:9⁹I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. (Revelation 2:9), the eagerness with which the Jews sought to aid in the martyrdom of Polycarp.

It was of old an important city, and modern Smyrna is a large town, and many of its inhabitants are professedly Christian (Rev. 1:11¹¹Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. (Revelation 1:11); Rev. 2:8⁸And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; (Revelation 2:8)). The name means “myrrh.”

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Strong’s Dictionary of Greek Words:

Number:

4667 (find all occurrences in KJV Bible)

Greek:

Σμύρνα

Transliteration:

Smurna

Phonic:

smoor’-nah

Meaning:

the same as 4666; Smyrna, a place in Asia Minor

KJV Usage:

Smyrna

Jackson’s Dictionary of Scripture Proper Names:

myrrh

Potts’ Bible Proper Names:

Cold habitation; myrrh; tribulation:―a place in Asia Minor, Rev. 1:11. {Habitatio frigida}