ὑδρωπικός
hydrōpikós
G5203 attributive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Suffering from dropsy; afflicted with edema or abnormal fluid accumulation, especially characterized by swelling. In medical usage, refers to a person exhibiting symptoms of dropsy, which is the retention of excess fluid in bodily tissues. The term may denote both the condition itself and those who are affected by it.
Semantic Range
suffering from dropsy, afflicted with edema, exhibiting symptoms of abnormal fluid retention; dropsical (medical), relating to or affected by swelling from bodily fluid accumulation
Root / Etymology
Formed from ὕδωρ (water) and the adjectival suffix -ικός (-ikos), used to indicate relation or belonging to; modeled after medical Greek compounds indicating disease or condition associated with the root ('hydr-'). While the Strong's gloss references ὀπτάνομαι (to see), the medical formation is directly from ὕδρωψ (dropsy, edema) + -ικός (adjectival suffix).
Historical & Contextual Notes
ὑδρωπικός is a rare term in Greek literature, with primary attestation in medical writers such as Hippocrates, Galen, and in Luke 14:2 (unique in the New Testament). In classical and medical Greek, ὑδρωπικός denotes an individual suffering from dropsy, a condition characterized by the pathological accumulation of serous fluid leading to swelling, most often of the limbs or abdomen. In the context of Luke 14:2, the term is used to describe a man with this physical disorder whom Jesus encounters. The English translation 'dropsical' is an antiquated medical term; modern equivalents include 'edematous' or 'suffering from edema.' The ancient understanding of dropsy varied but was always associated with abnormal retention of fluids. The word does not have metaphorical or extended uses in Greek sources; it is strictly physical and medical in reference.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from a compound of ὕδωρ and a derivative of ὀπτάνομαι (as if looking watery); to be "dropsical":--have the dropsy.
Root Family
ὑδρωπικός (hydrōpikos) — water, fluid, swelling, affliction
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5203-01 |
ὑδρωπικὸς | udropikos | ADJ.A NOM M SG |
with-dropsy | dropsical man | dropsical man | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5203-01 |
Luke 14:2 | ὑδρωπικὸς | udropikos | ADJ.A NOM M SG |
with-dropsy | dropsical man | dropsical man |