ἦχος : ECHO; SOUND; FAME

Illustrations of English words
derived from the Greek in the New Testament.

By Gaylon West.

From etymonline.com: echo

English echo from Latin echo, from Greek echo, personified as a mountain nymph, from or related to ekhe "sound," ekhein "to resound," from PIE root swagh- "to resound" (cf. to Sanskrit vagnuch "sound," Latin vagire "to cry," Old English swogan "to resound").

Note: in the Greek Old Testament, echo is used for the sound from heaven at the Sea and Mt. Sinai; in the New Testament, it is used for the sound at Pentecost.

1. Israel’s rescue and revelation at Sinai: “There was a multitude of noisesG2279 of waters; [ a sound gave out the clouds]; for also your arrows travel abroad. The sound of your thunder in the wheel; [ appeared your lightnings] to the inhabitable world; [ was shaken and trembling took place the earth]. … (verse 20) You guided [ as sheep your people] by the hand of Moses and Aaron.” (Psalms 77:17-20, ABP+)

2. At Jerusalem on Pentecost’s baptism of the Holy Spirit: "And came suddenly from out of the heaven a sound (G2279 echo) as if being brought of a breath violent , and filled the whole house of which they were settled" (Acts 2:2).

Greek dictionary

Thayer's Definition:
1) a sound, noise 1a) spoken of the roar of the sea waves 2) rumour, report
Part of Speech: noun masculine
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: of uncertain affinity

Total KJV Concordance (NT),
Occurrences: 3
sound, 2:
Acts 2:1-2, " And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting."
Hebrew 12:19, "And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more."

1 time as "fame"
Translated as "fame" in Luke 4:36,37, " And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.  And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about. "

VINCENT'S WORD PICTURES
"ECHO was the medical term for sound in the ears or head. Hippocrates uses both words together: “the ears are full of sound and Aretaeus of the noise of the sea, as in Luke 21:25 (sea will be "roaring" like an echo at the second coming).