Living Wood: ὑγρός (Strong’s G5200: hygros) Reveals Divine Judgment’s Power

Strong’s G5200: From an uncertain root; wet, moist, or green (as in living wood). Used metaphorically in Luke’s Gospel to contrast the fate of the righteous (green wood) with the unrighteous (dry wood) in the context of divine judgment. Emphasizes vitality versus spiritual deadness.

U- Unveiling the Word

The term ὑγρός fundamentally describes something wet, moist, or full of natural vitality. In its sole New Testament appearance, it carries profound theological significance in the Messiah’s words about impending judgment. The metaphor of “green wood” versus “dry wood” draws on Old Testament imagery where moisture represents life and vitality, while dryness symbolizes judgment and death. The early church fathers expanded on this imagery to contrast the living vitality of faith with spiritual deadness. Today, this metaphor continues to powerfully illustrate the contrast between those who are alive in the Messiah and those who remain spiritually dry, warning of judgment while offering hope through repentance.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: ὑγρός, hygros, /hoo-GROS/
• Detailed pronunciation: hoo (as in “who”) – GROS (rhymes with “gross”)
• Part of Speech: Adjective

Etymology:

• Root origin uncertain but likely related to:
• Proto-Indo-European *wegw- (wet, moist)
• Connected to Latin “umor” (moisture)
• No prefixes or suffixes – simple stem

D – Defining Meanings

• Primary meanings:

1. Wet, moist
2. Green (of wood)
3. Full of natural sap
4. Fresh, living (metaphorically)

For compound words: Not applicable as this is a simple stem

Translation Options:

1. “Green” – best captures the metaphorical meaning in context
2. “Moist” – more literal but loses metaphorical force
3. “Living” – captures theological significance but less precise

E – Exploring Similar Words

• χλωρός (chloros) /klo-ROS/ – green, pale green See G5515
• νεός (neos) /neh-OS/ – new, fresh, young See G3501
• ζωντός (zontos) /zone-TOS/ – living, alive See G2198

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Adjective Features:

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

Examples:

• ὑγρός (masculine nominative singular)
• ὑγρόν (neuter nominative/accusative singular)
• ὑγροῦ (masculine/neuter genitive singular)
• ὑγροί (masculine nominative plural)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes the word’s literal meaning of “moist” while noting its metaphorical significance in Luke’s Gospel. Thayer’s connects it to natural vitality and life-giving moisture. LSJ provides extensive documentation of its use in classical Greek, particularly in medical and botanical contexts. Vine’s highlights its symbolic use contrasting spiritual life and death. Moulton and Milligan note its common usage in papyri regarding agricultural matters. The lexicons agree that in its New Testament context, ὑγρός carries deep theological significance, representing divine life and vitality in contrast to spiritual deadness.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
Luke 23:31: “For if they do these things in a [ὑγρός] green tree, what shall be done in the dry?”

Additional References:
This is the only occurrence in the New Testament.

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

The use of ὑγρός in Luke’s Gospel presents a powerful metaphor for divine judgment and spiritual vitality. When our Lord uses this term, He contrasts Himself (the green wood) with those facing judgment (the dry wood). This imagery reminds us that true life is found only in Him, the living vine. The good news is that through faith in the Messiah, we can be transformed from spiritual dryness to vibrant life. His sacrificial death, symbolized by the “green wood” being consumed, offers hope for those who would otherwise face judgment as “dry wood.”

D – Did You Know?

1. This word is related to modern terms like “hydrodynamics” and “hydrogen”
2. Ancient Greek physicians used it in medical texts to describe healthy tissue
3. It appears over 150 times in the Septuagint, often describing fertile land

Strong’s G5200: From an uncertain root; wet, moist, or green (as in living wood). Used metaphorically in Luke’s Gospel to contrast the fate of the righteous (green wood) with the unrighteous (dry wood) in the context of divine judgment. Emphasizes vitality versus spiritual deadness.

Part of speech: Adjective

Tags: moisture, green wood, judgment, vitality, life, Luke’s Gospel, metaphor, divine judgment, righteousness, crucifixion, prophecy, warning, repentance, salvation, transformation​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​