Pronunciation Guide: hay-mor-rho-EH-oh

Basic Definition

Strong’s G131: αἱμορροέω describes a continuous flow or discharge of blood, specifically referring to hemorrhaging or bleeding. This medical term appears only once in the New Testament, describing the condition of the woman who touched Jesus’ garment for healing. The word emphasizes both the chronic nature of the condition and its severe impact on the sufferer’s physical and social well-being.

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Etymology and Morphology

• Verb (Present Active Participle)
• Compound word from αἷμα (haima, “blood”) and ῥέω (rheō, “to flow”)
• Used in medical and diagnostic contexts
• Found in narrative passages describing healing miracles

αἱμορροέω Morphology:

• αἱμορροοῦσα (nominative feminine singular present active participle) – she who is bleeding
• αἱμορροεῖν (present active infinitive) – to hemorrhage
• αἱμορροῶν (nominative masculine singular present active participle) – he who is bleeding

Origin & History

The term αἱμορροέω has its roots in ancient Greek medical literature, where it was used by physicians like Hippocrates in his medical treatises (circa 400 BCE) to describe various types of hemorrhaging conditions. The word appears in his work “On Diseases of Women,” showing its specific application to gynecological conditions.

In the Hellenistic period, medical writers like Galen continued to use this term in their detailed descriptions of bleeding disorders, maintaining its technical precision while expanding its diagnostic applications. The term’s usage in medical contexts highlights the gravity of the condition it describes, as chronic bleeding was often considered both physically debilitating and ritually defiling in ancient societies.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• A continuous or chronic flow of blood
• To suffer from hemorrhaging
• To experience ongoing bleeding that depletes strength

αἱμορροέω Translation Options:

• “suffering from bleeding” – emphasizes the ongoing nature of the condition
• “having a hemorrhage” – captures the medical precision of the term
• “bleeding continuously” – highlights the persistent nature of the condition
• “having a flow of blood” – reflects the literal meaning while maintaining sensitivity

Biblical Usage

The word αἱμορροέω appears exclusively in Matthew 9:20, though the account of the bleeding woman is also recorded in Mark 5:25-34 and Luke 8:43-48, where different but related terminology is used. This singular usage makes it particularly significant, as Matthew, with his careful choice of medical terminology, emphasizes both the clinical nature of the condition and its devastating impact.

The parallel accounts provide additional details about the woman’s condition, revealing that she had suffered for twelve years and had spent all she had on physicians. The use of αἱμορροέω in Matthew’s account serves as a precise medical diagnosis while also highlighting the miraculous nature of her healing.

• “And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood [αἱμορροοῦσα] for twelve years” Matthew 9:20

Cultural Insights

In first-century Jewish society, a woman suffering from αἱμορροέω would have experienced not only physical suffering but also severe social and religious isolation. According to Levitical law (Leviticus 15:25-27), anyone with a continuous flow of blood was considered ritually unclean. This meant she couldn’t participate in religious activities, touch anyone, or even enter the temple courts.

The woman’s condition would have rendered everything she touched unclean, effectively cutting her off from normal social interaction. Her decision to touch Jesus’ garment in a crowd was therefore not only an act of faith but also a significant risk, as she could have been severely punished for potentially making others ceremonially unclean.

Theological Significance

The use of αἱμορροέω in the context of this healing miracle reveals profound theological truths about the Messiah’s power and compassion. Jesus’ response to the woman demonstrates His ability to overcome both physical ailments and religious barriers, showing that His healing power transcends the limitations of ritual uncleanness.

The account particularly highlights how the Messiah’s power intersects with persistent faith. Despite her condition making her ritually unclean, the woman’s faith led her to reach out to Jesus, and His response validated her faith while restoring both her physical health and her place in society. This demonstrates how the Messiah’s ministry consistently challenged and transformed traditional boundaries between the clean and unclean, the acceptable and the outcast.

Personal Application

This word study reminds us that no condition is beyond the Messiah’s healing touch, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. Like the woman who pressed through the crowd despite her ceremonial uncleanness, we too can approach Him with persistent faith, knowing that He sees beyond our circumstances to our hearts.

When we feel isolated by our conditions or circumstances, this account encourages us to reach out to Jesus with faith, knowing that He has the power to restore us completely – not just physically, but in every dimension of our being.

Related Words

• ῥύσις (rhusis) – a flowing, specifically of blood – connects to the concept of continuous flow but is more general in nature. See G4511
• αἷμα (haima) – blood, literally or figuratively – the root word representing the substance itself. See G129
• ῥέω (rheō) – to flow – the second component of our compound word, describing the action. See G4482
• σταλάζω (stalazō) – to drop, distill – contrasts with αἱμορροέω by describing intermittent rather than continuous flow. See G4744

Did you Know?

• The term αἱμορροέω was so precise in ancient medical literature that it helped scholars identify Matthew as having medical knowledge, supporting traditional claims about his background as an educated man.
• The condition described by αἱμορροέω would have made the woman unable to bear children according to ancient medical understanding, adding another layer of social stigma to her suffering in a culture where childbearing was highly valued.
• Modern medical historians suggest that the condition described by αἱμορροέω could have been a variety of gynecological conditions, including uterine fibroids or endometriosis, showing how precisely the ancient Greek language could describe medical conditions we still recognize today.

Remember This

αἱμορροέω stands as a powerful testament to how the Messiah’s healing power overcomes both physical affliction and social barriers when met with persistent faith.