πυρέσσω

I am sick with a fever

Definition

The verb πυρέσσω (pyressō) means to be ill with a fever or to have a fever. In its two New Testament occurrences, it describes a specific, acute physical condition of high body temperature. The word focuses on the state of suffering from the fever itself, not the cause. In Matthew 8:14 and Mark 1:30, it is used identically to describe Peter's mother-in-law, who was lying down, afflicted by a fever.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only twice in the New Testament, in parallel accounts of the same healing miracle. In both Matthew 8:14 and Mark 1:30, it describes the condition of Simon Peter's mother-in-law. The usage is straightforward and medical, denoting a serious physical ailment that immediately precedes Jesus's act of healing. There are no extended metaphorical uses in the biblical text.

Etymology

πυρέσσω is derived from the Greek noun πυρετός (pyretos, G4446), which means 'fever' or 'burning heat.' The verb form literally means 'to be feverish' or 'to have a fever.' It is a specific medical term within the broader semantic field of words related to sickness and healing.

Semantic Range

While the word itself is a medical term, its theological significance lies entirely in the narrative action that follows. Jesus's response to πυρέσσω—immediately healing the sufferer by touch—demonstrates his compassionate authority over sickness and his power to restore individuals to wholeness and service (she immediately began to serve them). It highlights the in-breaking of God's kingdom where illness, a manifestation of a fallen world, is decisively overcome.

In the ancient world, fevers were often serious and life-threatening illnesses with limited treatment options. They were sometimes viewed with superstitious fear, seen as a punishment or the work of malevolent spirits. The biblical accounts, however, present the fever as a straightforward physical malady, setting the stage for a demonstration of divine power through Christ's simple, authoritative healing.

ἀσθενέω (astheneō, G770) — a broader term meaning 'to be weak' or 'to be sick,' without specifying a fever. νοσέω (noseō, G3552) — another general term for being sick or ill. κάμνω (kamnō, G2577) — to be weary or sick, often from labor or exhaustion.

Word Details

Scripture References