ῥύσις (rhusis)
rhusis
discharge
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun rhusis refers to a continuous flow or discharge, derived from the verb for "to flow." In the New Testament, it appears only three times, all within the Synoptic Gospels, specifically describing a medical condition involving blood loss. The term carries a clinical precision, denoting not just the presence of blood but the active, ongoing nature of the hemorrhage.
Its most notable usage occurs in Mark 5:25 and Luke 8:43-44, where it describes the woman who had suffered from this issue for twelve years. The sources highlight that this word emphasizes the chronic and exhausting character of her condition. It was not a momentary event but a persistent draining that left her physically weakened and socially marginalized, underscoring the severity of her need for healing.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word rhusis describes a persistent discharge, capturing the heavy reality of chronic illness. In Mark 5:25 and Luke 8:43, it refers to a woman who suffered for twelve years. This was not a brief moment of pain but a long, draining condition that weakened her body and emptied her resources. It paints a picture of exhaustion that many people today can understand.
Seeing this word helps us grasp the depth of her need. She had tried everything available to her, yet the flow continued. Her story shows that no amount of human effort could stop what was happening inside her. The physical toll was real and ongoing, leaving her isolated from others and unsure of any relief.
Yet this persistent struggle meets a gentle answer. In Luke 8:44, we read that when she touched Jesus’ cloak, the flow stopped immediately. This moment reminds us that God sees those who are worn down by long-term hardship. His power brings peace to situations that seem endless and beyond human control.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a flux2×
- flux1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ῥύσει2×
- ῥύσις1×
Key Verses
-
Mark 5:25
A certain woman who had a discharge of blood for twelve years,
This verse introduces the woman’s twelve-year struggle, establishing the chronic nature of her condition through this specific medical term.
-
Luke 8:43
A woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her living on physicians and could not be healed by any,
Here the word highlights both the duration of her suffering and the futility of her financial efforts to find a cure from physicians.
-
Luke 8:44
came behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak. Immediately the flow of her blood stopped.
This occurrence marks the turning point where the persistent discharge ceases instantly upon her touch, demonstrating the immediacy of Jesus’ healing power.