Brief Overview of πυρετός (Strong’s G4446: puretos)

Strong’s G4446: The primary Greek term for fever, derived from πῦρ (fire), reflecting the ancient understanding of fever as internal heat or burning. In New Testament usage, appears in healing narratives demonstrating Christ’s power over illness. A precise medical term used by ancient physicians.

U- Unveiling the Word

πυρετός represents the specific condition of fever in medical contexts, derived from the concept of internal fire. In New Testament usage, it appears in healing narratives where Jesus demonstrates his authority over illness. The word carries both medical precision and theological significance, as fever was considered a serious affliction in the ancient world. Early church fathers saw in Jesus’s healing of fevers a demonstration of his power over both physical and spiritual burning. They often drew parallels between the cooling of fever and the quenching of spiritual fires through Christ’s touch. Today, this word continues to remind us of Christ’s healing power and his concern for both physical and spiritual wellness.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: πυρετός, puretos, /pyreˈtos/
• Pronunciation Guide: “poo-reh-TOSS” (stress on final syllable)
• Part of Speech: Noun (masculine)

Etymology:

• Root: πυρ- (pur-) from πῦρ meaning “fire”
• Suffix: -ετός (-etos) – forms nouns indicating states or conditions
• Reflects medical understanding of fever as internal fire

D – Defining Meanings

• Fever
• Feverish condition
• Internal heat
• Febrile illness

Translation Options:

• Fever – Most precise medical translation
• Burning – Emphasizes etymological connection to fire
• High temperature – Modern medical equivalent

E – Exploring Similar Words

• πυρέσσω (puressō) /pyˈresso/ – verb form meaning “to have fever” – See G4445
• καῦσος (kausos) /ˈkawsos/ – burning heat or inflammatory fever – See G2741
• θέρμη (thermē) /ˈthermē/ – heat or warmth – See G2329

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Morphological Features (Noun):

• Case: Nominative, Genitive, Dative, Accusative
• Number: Singular, Plural
• Gender: Masculine
• Declension: Second

Examples:

• Nominative: πυρετός (fever)
• Genitive: πυρετοῦ (of fever)
• Dative: πυρετῷ (to/with fever)
• Accusative: πυρετόν (fever as object)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes its technical medical usage in ancient literature. Thayer’s notes its derivation from πῦρ and frequent use in medical texts. LSJ provides extensive examples from medical writings. Vine’s highlights its use in miracle narratives. Strong’s connects it to the concept of burning heat. LEH traces its usage in Septuagint medical contexts. Moulton and Milligan show its common usage in papyri describing illnesses.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First Appearance:
“He touched her hand, and the [πυρετός] fever left her, and she got up and began to serve him.” Matthew 8:15

Additional References:
Mark 1:31, Luke 4:38, Luke 4:39, John 4:52, Acts 28:8

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

πυρετός serves as a powerful reminder of Christ’s healing ministry. In the gospel accounts, Jesus’s authority over fever demonstrates his power over all forms of human suffering. This word proclaims the good news by showing that Jesus cares about our physical afflictions and has the power to heal them immediately and completely. Just as Peter’s mother-in-law was able to serve immediately after healing, Christ’s touch transforms us from illness to wholeness, from weakness to strength.

D – Did You Know?

1. The word gave rise to modern medical terms like “pyrexia” and “antipyretic.”
2. Ancient Greek physicians classified different types of πυρετός based on patterns and severity.
3. The term appears in ancient Greek magical papyri as a condition that required both medical and spiritual intervention.

Strong’s G4446: The primary Greek medical term for fever, derived from the word for fire. Used in New Testament healing narratives to demonstrate Christ’s authority over illness. A precise technical term that carried both medical and spiritual significance in ancient culture.

Part of speech: Noun (masculine)

Tags: fever, illness, healing, medical condition, Jesus’s miracles, Peter’s mother-in-law, disease, temperature, burning, divine healing, physical affliction, recovery​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​