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πυρετός

pyretós

G4446 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A state of being affected by fever; fever, a pathological condition marked by elevated body temperature typically due to illness. More broadly, refers to the physical manifestation of heat or inflammation in a person as a symptom of disease. In figurative use, it may describe intense physical heat or burning sensation.

Semantic Range

fever, a feverish condition, disease marked by elevated heat, state of being inflamed (medically), burning heat (physiological)

Root / Etymology

Derived from the verb πυρέσσω ('to be on fire with fever, to have a fever'), which is itself formed from the root πυρ- ('fire'). The ending -τός is a nominal or adjective-forming suffix indicating the result or state.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, πυρετός was used primarily in medical contexts to denote a fever or feverish condition, closely associated with the Hippocratic corpus. By the Hellenistic and Koine periods, the term retains its core usage for fever, as seen in common Greek medical writings and in the New Testament. In the Septuagint and New Testament, πυρετός refers strictly to an episode of fever as a symptom of illness, often in narrative accounts of healings. English translations almost always render πυρετός as "fever," though it is worth noting that ancient conceptions of fever encompassed both the symptom and occasionally the sense of internal heat or burning as a sign of divine displeasure or disease. Koine usage aligns closely with clinical meaning; no distinct religious sense or metaphorical extension is attested. Related terms include πυρέσσω (to have a fever) and πυρετικός (feverish), all from the common root of fire (πυρ), emphasizing the heat element.

Translation Consistency

primary "fever" 6 occurrences

Pyretós refers specifically to the medical condition of elevated body temperature and is most naturally rendered in English as “fever.” This single noun matches the majority of existing renderings, covers both literal and figurative senses (feverish/burning heat), and will read naturally and consistently across all occurrences.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from πυρέσσω; inflamed, i.e. (by implication) feverish (as noun, fever):--fever.

Root Family

πυρετός (pyretos) — fire, burning, fever

Root πυρ- fire, burning, fever

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G4446-03 πυρετός puretos N NOM M SG fever burning fever burning fever 3
G4446-01 πυρετῷ pureto N DAT M SG fever with fever fever 2
G4446-02 πυρετοῖς puretois N DAT M PL with fevers to fevers with fevers 1

Occurrences in Scripture

6 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G4446-03 Matthew 8:15 πυρετός puretos N NOM M SG fever burning fever burning fever
G4446-03 Mark 1:31 πυρετός puretos N NOM M SG fever burning fever burning fever
G4446-01 Luke 4:38 πυρετῷ pureto N DAT M SG with a fever with fever with fever
G4446-01 Luke 4:39 πυρετῷ pureto N DAT M SG fever with fever fever
G4446-03 John 4:52 πυρετός puretos N NOM M SG fever burning fever burning fever
G4446-02 Acts 28:8 πυρετοῖς puretois N DAT M PL with fevers to fevers with fevers
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