πυρετός

a fever

Definition

πυρετός refers specifically to a fever, a condition of elevated body temperature often associated with illness. In the New Testament, it consistently denotes a physical malady, as seen in the healing of Peter's mother-in-law (Matthew 8:15, Mark 1:31, Luke 4:38-39) and others (John 4:52, Acts 28:8). The word carries the connotation of a 'burning' or 'scorching heat,' reflecting the physical sensation of a fever. In all its biblical occurrences, it describes a tangible sickness that Jesus and the apostles healed, demonstrating their authority over physical infirmities.

Biblical Usage

This word is used exclusively in narratives describing miraculous healings. It appears in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke) in the parallel account of healing Peter's mother-in-law, in John's Gospel for the royal official's son, and in Acts for the father of Publius on Malta. The pattern is consistent: πυρετός is the specific ailment that Jesus or an apostle (Paul in Acts 28:8) directly and authoritatively heals, often with immediacy.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek root πῦρ (pyr, G4442), meaning 'fire.' Thus, πυρετός literally means 'a fiery heat' or 'a burning condition,' directly describing the sensation of a fever. This connection to fire emphasizes the intensity of the ailment.

Semantic Range

While the word itself is a medical term, its consistent use in healing miracles gives it theological significance. It represents a category of common, debilitating human sickness over which Jesus and his apostles demonstrate divine power and compassion. Understanding it as a 'fiery heat' underscores the severity of the condition from which people were instantly delivered, highlighting the authority of Christ and the inbreaking of God's kingdom through healing.

In the ancient Greco-Roman world, fevers were serious and often feared illnesses, as medical understanding and treatment were limited. A high fever could easily be life-threatening. The New Testament's mention of πυρετός would have immediately conveyed a sense of a grave physical crisis, making the instantaneous healings performed by Jesus and the apostles all the more remarkable to the original audience.

νόσος (nosos, G3554) — a broader term for disease or sickness, of which a fever is one type. μαλακία (malakia, G3119) — generally means weakness, sickness, or infirmity, often used for chronic or debilitating conditions.

Word Details

Scripture References