αἱμορροέω

I suffer from a continual flow (oozing) of blood

Definition

αἱμορροέω (aimorroeō) is a verb meaning 'to suffer from a continual flow or discharge of blood.' In its sole New Testament occurrence, it describes a chronic gynecological hemorrhage, a condition that would have rendered the woman ritually unclean under Mosaic law (Leviticus 15:25-27). The term emphasizes not just a single incident, but a persistent, debilitating, and likely incurable condition that had lasted for twelve years (Matthew 9:20). This specific usage highlights both the physical suffering and the profound social and religious isolation it caused in the first-century Jewish context.

Biblical Usage

This verb is used only once in the New Testament, in Matthew 9:20, to describe the condition of the woman who touched Jesus' garment. The usage is highly specific, depicting a chronic medical ailment. The context is a narrative of healing, where the word underscores the severity and duration of the illness, setting the stage for a miraculous intervention that contrasts with the failure of earthly physicians.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek words αἷμα (haima, G129), meaning 'blood,' and ῥέω (rheō, G4482), meaning 'to flow.' It is a compound verb that literally means 'to flow with blood.' The related noun αἱμορροΐς (aimorrois) is used in the parallel account in Mark 5:25. The term is a precise medical descriptor for a hemorrhage or dysentery in ancient Greek literature.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it frames a powerful narrative of faith, purity, and Christ's authority. The woman's condition made her ritually unclean, excluding her from worship and social contact. Her act of touching Jesus' garment, an act of desperate faith, demonstrates that faith supersedes ceremonial law. Jesus' healing not only restores her physically but also reintegrates her into the community, showcasing His power over disease, His compassion for the marginalized, and His role as the ultimate cleanser from all forms of impurity (spiritual and ceremonial).

In first-century Judaism, a chronic flow of blood rendered a woman ceremonially unclean according to Levitical law (Leviticus 15:25-30). This meant she could not participate in temple worship, and anything she touched became unclean. Her condition would have caused severe social ostracism, financial ruin from seeking cures, and personal despair. Understanding this context is crucial, as it reveals why her approach to Jesus was so furtive and why her healing was as much a social and religious restoration as a physical one.

ῥέω (rheō, G4482) — The root verb meaning simply 'to flow,' used for liquids like water or blood, but without the specific medical or chronic connotation of αἱμορροέω.

Word Details

Scripture References