δυσεντερία
dysentery
Definition
δυσεντερία refers to a severe intestinal illness characterized by inflammation, pain, and often bloody diarrhea. In the ancient world, this condition was debilitating and sometimes fatal due to limited medical treatment. In the New Testament, it appears only in Acts 28:8, describing the sickness of Publius's father on the island of Malta. The term is used in its straightforward medical sense, with no extended metaphorical meaning in biblical literature.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Acts 28:8. It describes the specific ailment of Publius's father, whom the Apostle Paul heals. The usage is purely descriptive of a physical illness within a narrative of miraculous healing, providing a concrete detail about the man's suffering before divine intervention.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek elements 'δυσ-' (dys-), meaning 'bad' or 'difficult,' and 'ἔντερον' (enteron), meaning 'intestine' or 'gut.' Thus, it literally means 'bad intestines' or 'intestinal difficulty.' It is a straightforward compound noun describing a specific medical condition.
Semantic Range
While the word itself is a medical term, its theological significance lies entirely in its narrative context in Acts 28:8. It highlights the reality of human suffering and serves as the specific object of Paul's healing power through Jesus Christ. This miracle authenticates Paul's apostolic ministry to the islanders of Malta, demonstrating God's compassion and the advance of the gospel even through shipwreck and hardship.
In the 1st-century Greco-Roman world, dysentery was a feared and serious illness, often linked with poor sanitation, contaminated food or water, and travel. It could lead to severe dehydration and death, especially without modern medical care. The detailed naming of the illness in Acts adds historical credibility to the account and underscores the gravity of the healing miracle performed by Paul.
νόσος (nosos, G3554) — a general term for 'disease' or 'sickness,' whereas δυσεντερία specifies a type of intestinal illness.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
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