Pronunciation Guide: HY-mah (rhymes with “Lima”)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G129: αἷμα (haima) refers to blood, both literally as the vital fluid that sustains physical life and metaphorically as representing life itself, death, and sacrifice. In biblical usage, it carries profound theological significance, particularly in relation to sacrifice, covenant, and redemption through the Messiah’s atoning work. This word embodies both the physical substance of blood and its spiritual implications in divine-human relationships.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of Speech: Noun (Neuter)
• Root: Proto-Indo-European *h₁ésh₂r̥
• Language Origin: Ancient Greek
• Primary Usage: Narrative, Legal texts, Theological discourse, Sacrificial contexts

αἷμα Morphology:

• αἷμα (nominative/accusative singular) – blood
• αἵματος (genitive singular) – of blood
• αἵματι (dative singular) – with/by blood
• αἱμάτων (genitive plural) – of bloods
• αἵμασι(ν) (dative plural) – with/by bloods

Origin & History

The term αἷμα has deep roots in classical Greek literature, appearing prominently in medical writings of Hippocrates (De Natura Hominis) where it was considered one of the four essential humors of the body. In Homer’s Iliad, αἷμα appears frequently in descriptions of battle wounds and sacrificial offerings, highlighting its dual association with both death and sacred ritual.

The word evolved from its basic physiological meaning to acquire rich symbolic and religious significance in Hellenistic culture. In Greek religious practices, αἷμα played a central role in purification rites and sacrificial ceremonies, as documented in Pausanias’s “Description of Greece.”

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• Physical blood as the vital fluid circulating in living beings
• Life force or the seat of life itself
• Blood as the medium of sacrifice and atonement
• Blood relationships and kinship
• Blood guilt or bloodshed

αἷμα Translation Options:

• Blood – Most common translation, appropriate for both literal and figurative uses
• Lifeblood – When emphasizing the vital nature of blood or life essence
• Bloodshed – In contexts of violence or murder
• Bloodline – When referring to family relationships or descent
• Blood sacrifice – In ritual or sacrificial contexts

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, αἷμα appears 97 times, with its most significant theological usage centering on the sacrificial death of Jesus the Messiah. The word first appears in Matthew 16:17 in the phrase “flesh and blood,” indicating human nature in contrast to divine revelation.

In the Septuagint, αἷμα translates the Hebrew דָּם (dam), carrying forward the Old Testament’s extensive blood imagery and sacrificial system into New Testament theology. This connection is particularly evident in the book of Hebrews, where the author develops a sophisticated theology of Christ’s blood sacrifice in relation to the Old Testament sacrificial system.

• “Flesh and blood [αἷμα] has not revealed this to you” – Matthew 16:17
• “This is My blood [αἷμα] of the covenant” – Matthew 26:28
• “Being justified by His blood [αἷμα]” – Romans 5:9
• “Through His own blood [αἷμα]” – Hebrews 9:12
• “The blood [αἷμα] of Jesus His Son cleanses us” – 1 John 1:7

Cultural Insights

In ancient Near Eastern culture, blood played a central role in covenant-making ceremonies. When two parties made a covenant, they would often split animals in half and walk between the pieces, symbolically saying, “May this happen to me if I break this covenant.” This practice illuminates the profound significance of Jesus’s blood in establishing the New Covenant.

The Jewish understanding of blood as containing the life force (נֶפֶשׁ nephesh) of a creature, based on Leviticus 17:11, provides essential background for understanding the New Testament’s use of αἷμα in relation to Christ’s sacrifice.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of αἷμα reaches its apex in the New Testament’s presentation of Christ’s sacrificial death. His blood represents both the reality of His human death and the efficacy of His sacrifice for sin. The writer of Hebrews particularly emphasizes how Christ’s blood accomplishes what the animal sacrifices of the Old Covenant could only foreshadow.

This word encapsulates the entire redemptive work of God in Christ, from the incarnation (sharing in human flesh and blood) to the crucifixion (the shedding of His blood) to the ongoing application of His sacrifice (cleansing from sin through His blood). The use of αἷμα thus forms a crucial bridge between Old Testament sacrifice and New Testament fulfillment in Christ.

Personal Application

Understanding the rich meaning of αἷμα should deepen our appreciation for the cost of our redemption and the thoroughness of God’s provision for our salvation. When we participate in communion, the cup represents not merely a historical event but our ongoing participation in the benefits of Christ’s sacrifice.

This understanding should also inform our view of life itself as sacred, since blood in Scripture consistently represents the precious gift of life given by God. This has implications for how we view both physical life and the spiritual life we receive through Christ’s blood.

Related Words

• ἱλαστήριον (hilasterion) – propitiation, mercy seat – Connected to the place where sacrificial blood was applied; highlights the atoning purpose of blood See G2435
• σφάγιον (sphagion) – victim, sacrifice – Related to the sacrificial aspect of bloodshed See G4968
• ζωή (zoe) – life – Contrasts with but connected to αἷμα as representing life force See G2222
• θυσία (thusia) – sacrifice – Often involves blood in religious ritual See G2378

Did you Know?

• The ancient Greeks believed that different types of blood flowing in the veins determined a person’s temperament and personality, leading to the development of the “four humors” theory that influenced medicine until the modern era.
• The phrase “flesh and blood” (σὰρξ καὶ αἷμα) appears in both classical Greek literature and the New Testament, consistently referring to human nature or mortality in contrast to divine or spiritual reality.
• Modern Greek still uses αἷμα in many idioms similar to English “blood” expressions, such as “blood is thicker than water” (το αἷμα νερό δεν γίνεται – “blood doesn’t become water”).

Remember This

αἷμα represents the precious life-price paid for our redemption, reminding us that our salvation was purchased not with perishable things, but with the precious blood of Christ.