ἱδρώς (hidrōs)
hidrōs
sweat
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun hidrōs refers simply to sweat or perspiration. In the New Testament, it appears only once, in Luke 22:44, describing the physical state of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. The text notes that his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground, a vivid image that underscores the intensity of his anguish.
Lexical sources trace this word to a strengthened form of idrōs, also meaning sweat. Its singular occurrence highlights a moment of extreme human vulnerability. By using this specific term for bodily fluid, the Gospel writer emphasizes the reality of Jesus’ physical suffering alongside his spiritual distress, grounding the narrative in tangible, human experience.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word hidrōs simply means sweat, yet its single appearance in Scripture carries immense weight. In Luke 22:44, it describes Jesus’ physical state as He prays in the Garden of Gethsemane. The text notes that His sweat became like great drops of blood falling to the ground. This vivid detail grounds the narrative in tangible human experience, showing that Jesus did not merely observe suffering from a distance but entered fully into the reality of human anguish.
For your faith, this word offers comfort in seasons of deep distress. It reminds us that God understands physical and emotional exhaustion intimately. When you feel overwhelmed or anxious, remember that Christ experienced such intensity Himself. His vulnerability was not a weakness but an act of love, making Him a compassionate High Priest who truly knows what it means to struggle.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- sweat1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἱδρὼς1×
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 is the only New Testament occurrence of hidrōs, where it vividly illustrates the physical intensity of Jesus' spiritual agony in Gethsemane.