ἑλκόω (helkoō)
helkoō
to have/cause sores
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb helkōō describes the physical act of wounding or ulcerating, resulting in open sores. Its primary meaning is active: to cause pain and damage to the flesh. In the rare passive form found in Scripture, it describes a person suffering from these afflictions, being covered in ulcers or wounds.
This word appears only once in the New Testament, in Luke 16:20, where it depicts the beggar Lazarus lying at the rich man’s gate. The text states he was "full of sores," using the perfect participle to indicate a state resulting from past actions. This vivid imagery highlights his extreme physical degradation and helplessness, contrasting sharply with the wealth of the man nearby.
While modern English rarely uses this specific term, it connects to medical concepts of ulceration rather than simple cuts or bruises. The word emphasizes chronic, painful damage to the skin, serving as a powerful literary device in Luke’s parable to evoke immediate compassion and underscore the severity of Lazarus’s suffering.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word helkōō describes a deep, painful wounding that leaves open sores. It is not a surface scratch but a chronic condition that causes constant suffering. In Luke’s parable, this term paints a stark picture of Lazarus, who lay at the rich man’s gate covered in these wounds. The imagery is raw and unignorable, forcing anyone nearby to confront the reality of his pain.
For your faith, this word reminds us that God sees the hidden suffering of those on the margins. He notices the person whose pain is visible yet often overlooked by society. This story invites you to look beyond social barriers and recognize the dignity in every sufferer. It calls for a heart that is sensitive to the cries of the broken.
When you encounter hardship or see others in distress, remember that your compassion matters. You do not need grand solutions to show love; sometimes, simply noticing and acknowledging pain is enough. May this passage encourage you to extend kindness to those who are suffering, reflecting God’s care for the lowly.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- full of sores1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- εἱλκωμένος1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 16:20
A certain beggar, named Lazarus, was taken to his gate, full of sores,
This verse uses the perfect participle of helkōō to describe Lazarus's chronic state of being covered in sores, emphasizing his total helplessness and physical degradation.