χωλός (chōlos)
chōlos
lame
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 15 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek adjective chōlos describes a person who is physically lame or unable to walk properly. It appears in fifteen verses across the Gospels, Acts, and Hebrews, consistently referring to those with mobility impairments. In Matthew 15:30 and Luke 7:22, Jesus points to the healing of such individuals as evidence of his messianic identity, fulfilling prophetic expectations.
The term is used in a straightforward, literal sense without metaphorical extension in these texts. It highlights physical limitation rather than spiritual deficiency. In Acts 3:2, it describes a man lame from birth sitting at the temple gate, emphasizing his total dependence on others for movement and alms.
Translators typically render chōlos as "lame" or "crippled," preserving the direct physical description. The word underscores the tangible reality of human suffering and the concrete nature of Jesus' healing ministry. It serves as a visible sign of divine compassion in action, showing that spiritual power addresses real bodily needs.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word chōlos describes a person who cannot walk properly or at all. In the New Testament, it appears in fifteen verses, always referring to physical mobility issues. Jesus frequently included those with these limitations in his healing ministry, such as the man lame from birth in Acts 3:2 or the crowds in Matthew 15:30. This shows that God cares about our physical bodies and real-world struggles.
For your faith, this reminds you that spiritual power is not distant but touches tangible suffering. When Jesus healed the lame, he did not ignore their pain; he addressed it directly. You can trust that He sees your limitations, whether physical or emotional, and offers comfort that meets you where you are.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 15 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- lame12×
- lame,1×
- lame [one]1×
- [the] lame,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- χωλοὶ4×
- χωλὸν3×
- χωλὸς2×
- χωλούς,2×
- χωλοὺς2×
- χωλῶν,1×
- χωλοῦ1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 11:5
the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.
Jesus lists the healing of the lame as primary evidence of his messianic identity to John the Baptist.
-
Acts 3:2
A certain man who was lame from his mother’s womb was being carried, whom they laid daily at the door of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask gifts for the needy of those who entered into the temple.
This verse identifies a specific man who was lame from birth, highlighting his total dependence on others for movement and alms.
-
Matthew 15:30
Great multitudes came to him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others, and they put them down at his feet. He healed them,
The crowd brings the lame to Jesus, showing that physical impairment was a visible sign of human suffering he came to address.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Greek word chōlos mean?
How is chōlos different from other words for weakness?
Where does this word appear most significantly?
Every Occurrence (15 verses across 6 books)
Matthew 5 verses
the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the…
Matthew 15:30Great multitudes came to him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others, and they put them down…
Matthew 15:31so that the multitude wondered when they saw the mute speaking, the injured healed, the lame walking, and the blind…
Matthew 18:8If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into…
Matthew 21:14The lame and the blind came to him in the temple, and he healed them.