καύσων (kausōn)
kausōn
heat
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun kausōn refers to an intense, scorching heat, often specifically describing the dry, burning wind that blows from the east. In the New Testament, it appears in only three passages, yet its imagery is vivid and immediate. Matthew 20:12 uses it to describe the discomfort of laborers who stood in the sun’s glare all day, while Luke 12:55 cites it as a sign people recognize when they see the south wind blowing.
James 1:11 provides the most detailed usage, linking this heat to the withering of grass and flowers. The word captures not just temperature but a destructive force that dries up life quickly. This aligns with its Old Testament background, where similar terms describe the harsh east wind that brings drought and devastation.
Translators typically render kausōn as "heat" or "scorching heat," though some versions specify "hot wind" to capture the directional and drying nature of the phenomenon. The term emphasizes the physical reality of suffering under extreme conditions, serving as a metaphor for how quickly worldly glory fades when exposed to such intensity.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word kausōn describes a dry, burning wind that can quickly wither vegetation. In the ancient world, this was not just uncomfortable weather but a real threat to survival and livelihood. When we read about laborers enduring the scorching heat in Matthew 20:12, we see how physical exhaustion can lead to feelings of unfairness or resentment toward others who had it easier.
James uses this imagery to remind us that worldly success is fragile. Just as grass and flowers vanish under the intense sun, so too do our earthly pursuits fade away. This does not mean we should ignore our work, but rather that we keep our hope anchored in something permanent. The heat reveals what is temporary, inviting us to trust in God’s lasting grace rather than our own achievements.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- scorching heat.1×
- burning heat1×
- Heat1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- καύσωνι1×
- καύσωνα.1×
- καύσων1×
Key Verses
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Matthew 20:12
saying, ‘These last have spent one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat!’
The laborers use the physical pain of the scorching heat to justify their complaint, showing how suffering can distort our sense of fairness.
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Luke 12:55
When a south wind blows, you say, ‘There will be a scorching heat,’ and it happens.
Jesus points out that people easily recognize the signs of trouble in nature but often miss the spiritual warnings He is giving them.
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James 1:11
For the sun arises with the scorching wind and withers the grass; and the flower in it falls, and the beauty of its appearance perishes. So the rich man will also fade away in his pursuits.
The scorching wind serves as a vivid metaphor for how quickly earthly status and beauty disappear when exposed to God’s judgment or time.