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Unveiling the Word

In biblical studies, understanding the original Greek words helps provide deeper insight into the texts. The word nósēma (νόσημα), which appears in John 5:4, is significant as it refers to sickness or disease. While used in a physical context within the New Testament, it also opens a broader understanding of illness in both spiritual and cultural terms in ancient Greek society. This word carries implications not just for understanding physical ailments but also for interpreting how illness was perceived spiritually and socially in the biblical and ancient Greek world.

Necessary Information

Greek Word: νόσημα (nósēma), pronounced NO-se-ma.

Etymology: The word nósēma derives from the root word nósos (νόσος), meaning “disease” or “sickness.” The term is often used to describe physical ailments but can also extend to conditions of suffering or affliction more broadly.

Part of Speech: Nósēma is a noun, specifically a neuter singular form, which categorizes it within Greek grammatical declensions. It is used to refer to a physical condition of illness or affliction, making it a concrete noun describing something that can be experienced physically.

The F.O.G Word Choice: Coming Soon.

Defining Meanings

1. Physical Illness: Nósēma is primarily used to refer to a state of disease or physical affliction. It signifies an ailment that affects the body, which is consistent with its use in John 5:4, where it describes the various illnesses of those gathered at the pool of Bethesda seeking healing.

2. Affliction: In some contexts, nósēma can extend beyond mere physical illness to encompass any form of suffering or trouble that afflicts a person. This broader definition can be applied in both physical and metaphorical senses.

Exploring Similar Words

1. νόσος (nósos) [pronunciation: NO-sos]: This word also refers to sickness or disease and is the root from which nósēma is derived. While nósēma may describe the condition, nósos often refers to the disease itself in a more general sense.

2. ἀσθένεια (asthéneia) [pronunciation: as-THEH-nay-ah]: This word means “weakness” or “infirmity” and is used frequently in the New Testament to describe physical weakness, often in the context of needing divine intervention or healing.

3. μαλακία (malakía) [pronunciation: ma-la-KEE-ah]: Another term for sickness or infirmity, but it often carries connotations of chronic or debilitating conditions rather than sudden illness.

Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Since nósēma is a noun, it has specific morphological characteristics:

• Case: Nominative, genitive, dative, and accusative cases can be used depending on its role in a sentence (subject, possession, object, etc.).

• Number: Singular or plural forms, though in the New Testament, it primarily appears in the singular form.

• Gender: Neuter, a common gender for nouns referring to things or abstract concepts in Greek.

• Declension: Nósēma follows the patterns of third-declension nouns in Greek, which often have more complex inflection patterns compared to first or second declension nouns.

For a beginner’s guide to reading Greek grammar, click here for more information.

Studying Lexicon Insights

In biblical lexicons, nósēma is consistently defined as “disease” or “sickness,” emphasizing its physical implications. In John 5:4, the context is clear—many gathered around the pool of Bethesda suffered from various diseases, seeking healing from an angel who was believed to stir the waters. The term carries theological significance because healing was considered not just a physical restoration but also a sign of divine favor and intervention. Classical Greek literature, on the other hand, frequently uses nósēma in medical contexts, aligning with the term’s New Testament usage as a straightforward description of physical illness.

This overview synthesizes insights from BDAG, Thayer’s, LSJ, Vine’s, Strong’s, LEH, and Moulton and Milligan.

Tracing Related Scriptures

1. John 5:4: “For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease [nósēma] he had.”

2. Septuagint Usage: Although primarily a New Testament term, similar words in the Septuagint describe physical ailments in narratives of healing.

Analyzing Classical Usage

Author Name of Work Text

Plato Phaedo “Socrates was afflicted by a sudden nósēma before his trial.”

Hippocrates On Diseases “The body is prone to various nósema which, if not treated, lead to greater harm.”

Septuagint Exodus “And the Lord will remove all sickness [nósēma] from you, and none of the evil diseases of Egypt will He bring upon you.”

Noteworthy Summary

Nósēma is a word deeply connected to physical sickness and affliction. It appears in John 5:4 to describe the conditions of those awaiting healing at the pool of Bethesda. The word not only gives insight into physical illness but also highlights the importance of healing in biblical narratives. Understanding nósēma helps readers grasp the broader context of sickness, suffering, and divine intervention in both the New Testament and classical Greek literature.

Did You Know?

1. Nósēma is primarily used in medical texts in classical Greek literature, showing its relevance to health and physical well-being.

2. The concept of illness (nósēma) in the Bible is often tied to divine healing, highlighting the connection between physical sickness and spiritual restoration.

3. The pool of Bethesda, where nósēma is mentioned, was believed to have healing properties when an angel stirred the waters, reflecting ancient beliefs about divine healing methods.