ξηρός (xēros)
xēros
dried up/withered
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 8 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek adjective xēros describes something that is dry, parched, or withered. It applies to physical conditions where moisture has been lost, such as land lacking water or a body part shrunk by disease. In the Gospels, it appears frequently to describe a hand rendered useless by illness, highlighting a state of functional impairment rather than simple aesthetic damage.
This word carries a vivid metaphorical weight when Jesus contrasts the fate of the righteous with that of the wicked in Luke 23:31. He suggests that if these things are done to a "dry" (withered) tree, the consequences for the green one will be severe. The imagery relies on the vulnerability of dry wood, which burns easily and breaks readily, serving as a stark warning about judgment.
Its usage spans both literal and figurative senses. While it describes the dry land in Matthew 23:15 where proselytes are sought, it also characterizes the withered hand in Mark 3:3 that Jesus heals. The term consistently points to a loss of vitality or life-giving fluid, whether in soil, limb, or spiritual standing.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word xēros describes a state where life-giving moisture has vanished, leaving something brittle and useless. In the Gospels, it often depicts a hand that cannot grasp or serve, a physical reality that mirrors our own moments of spiritual dryness. When we feel unable to act in faith or love, this imagery reminds us that our weakness is seen clearly by Jesus.
He does not ignore our withered conditions but meets them with restorative power. The healing of the withered hand shows that restoration is possible even when function seems completely lost. Similarly, the warning about the dry tree highlights the urgency of remaining connected to life, for separation from that source leads to inevitable decay.
This term invites us to look beyond surface appearances to the deeper need for vitality. It assures us that no condition is too broken for divine intervention. We are invited to bring our parched areas to Him, trusting that He alone can restore what has withered and make us whole again.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 8 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- withered2×
- dry2×
- withered;1×
- withered.1×
- paralyzed1×
- dry [land]1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ξηρὰν3×
- ξηρῷ1×
- ξηρῶν1×
- ξηρᾶς1×
- ξηράν·1×
- ξηρά.1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 12:10
And behold, there was a man with a withered hand. They asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day?” so that they might accuse him.
This verse establishes the word's use for a limb rendered functionally useless by disease, setting the stage for Jesus' authority over physical brokenness.
-
Mark 3:3
He said to the man whose hand was withered, “Stand up.”
Here the word identifies the specific man Jesus calls forward, highlighting that restoration begins with being seen and named despite one's impairment.
-
Luke 23:31
For if they do these things in the green tree, what will be done in the dry?”
Jesus uses the image of a dry tree to warn of severe judgment, contrasting the vulnerability of what lacks life with the security of the righteous.