ῥύσις

a flowing, an issue

Definition

ῥύσις (rysis) refers to a 'flowing' or 'issue,' specifically describing an involuntary bodily discharge. In its three New Testament occurrences, it denotes a chronic hemorrhage or flow of blood, a serious medical condition in the ancient world. The word is used exclusively in the synoptic Gospels to describe the affliction of the woman healed by Jesus (Mark 5:25, Luke 8:43, Luke 8:44). There is no significant variation in meaning between these passages; it consistently describes her persistent physical ailment.

Biblical Usage

This noun is used three times, all within the parallel accounts of the same healing miracle. It appears in Mark 5:25 and twice in Luke 8:43-44. The usage is highly specific, describing the woman's 'flow of blood' that had lasted twelve years. The context is always medical and social, highlighting a condition that made her ritually unclean and socially isolated according to Jewish law (Leviticus 15:25-27).

Etymology

Derived from the Greek verb ῥέω (rheō, G4482), meaning 'to flow.' The noun ῥύσις is formed from this root, indicating the action or result of flowing. It is a straightforward formation, with its meaning directly connected to its verbal root.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it defines the precise nature of the woman's affliction in a key miracle story. Her 'flow of blood' (ῥύσις) represented not just a physical illness but a state of ritual impurity that excluded her from community and worship. Jesus' healing (Mark 5:29) therefore demonstrates his power over chronic disease, his compassion for the marginalized, and his authority to override purity laws, restoring her to both physical health and social/religious standing. Understanding this Greek term clarifies the full weight of her desperation and the completeness of Christ's restoration.

In first-century Jewish culture, a chronic flow of blood rendered a woman ceremonially unclean according to the Mosaic Law (Leviticus 15:25-33). This meant she could not participate in temple worship, and anything she touched was also considered unclean, leading to significant social isolation and stigma. The condition described by ῥύσις was therefore not merely a private medical issue but a public religious and social crisis, which explains the woman's secrecy and Jesus' public declaration of her healing.

νόσος (nosos, G3554) — a broader term for 'disease' or 'sickness,' not specifying a flow. μαλακία (malakia, G3119) — generally means 'weakness' or 'sickness,' often of a chronic or debilitating nature, but again, not specific to a discharge.

Word Details

Scripture References