θρόμβος (thrombos)
thrombos
drop
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun thrombos refers to a thickened mass or clot, specifically describing a drop of blood that has coagulated. Its root sense relates to thickening, distinguishing it from ordinary liquid flow. This precise terminology appears only once in the New Testament, in Luke 22:44.
In that passage, the word describes the sweat falling from Jesus during his agony in Gethsemane. The text notes that this sweat became like great drops of blood, a detail that highlights the physical intensity of his suffering. Translators often render this as "clots" or "large drops" to capture the unusual viscosity implied by the Greek term.
The rarity of this word in Scripture makes its single occurrence significant. It provides a vivid, concrete image of human vulnerability and strain. By using a medical-sounding term for coagulated blood, the Gospel writer emphasizes the reality of Jesus' physical experience without elaborating on supernatural causes.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word thrombos appears only once in the New Testament, found in Luke’s account of Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane. It describes sweat that fell like great drops of blood, a detail that highlights the intense physical strain Jesus endured. This rare term points to a thickened mass or clot, emphasizing the reality of his human suffering.
For your faith, this image reminds us that Jesus fully understood the weight of human agony. He did not remain distant from our pain but entered into it with profound vulnerability. His experience shows that God is close to those who struggle, sharing in their deepest fears and physical tolls.
This single occurrence invites you to trust in a Savior who knows your burdens intimately. When you face seasons of stress or sorrow, remember that Christ’s heart was moved by similar anguish. You are never alone in your trials, for he has walked this path before you.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- great drops1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- θρόμβοι1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 22:44
Being in agony, he prayed more earnestly. His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.
This verse uses thrombos to describe the unusual viscosity of Jesus' sweat, highlighting the extreme physical toll of his spiritual agony in Gethsemane.