1668. helkos

Lexicon

helkos: Sore, ulcer, wound

Original Word: ἕλκος
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: helkos
Pronunciation: HEL-kos
Phonetic Spelling: (hel'-kos)
Definition: Sore, ulcer, wound
Meaning: a (festering) sore, a wound.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

sore.

Probably from helkuo; an ulcer (as if drawn together) -- sore.

see GREEK helkuo

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
probably from a prim. root
Definition
a wound, a sore, an ulcer
NASB Translation
sore (1), sores (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 1668: ἕλκος

ἕλκος, ἑλκεος (ἕλκους) (cf. Latinulcus,ulcerare; perhaps akin to ἕλκω (Etym. Magn. 331, 3; 641, 3), yet cf. Curtius, § 23), τό;

1. a wound, especially a suppurated wound; so in Homer and earlier writings.

2. from (Thucydides), Theophrastus, Polybius on, a sore, an ulcer: Revelation 16:2; plural, Luke 16:21; Revelation 16:11. (for שְׁחִין, Exodus 9:9; Job 2:7, etc.)

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek verb ἕλκω (helkō), meaning "to draw" or "to drag."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Hebrew equivalent often associated with ἕλκος is Strong's Hebrew 7822 (שְׁחִין, shechin), which refers to a boil or sore. This term is used in the Old Testament to describe similar afflictions, such as the boils in the plagues of Egypt (Exodus 9:9-11) and the sores afflicting Job (Job 2:7).

Usage: The term ἕλκος is used in the New Testament to describe physical afflictions, particularly those that are severe and cause significant suffering. It appears in contexts that emphasize divine judgment or affliction.

Context: The Greek term ἕλκος appears in the New Testament primarily in the context of divine judgment and physical affliction. It is notably used in the Book of Revelation, where it describes the painful sores inflicted upon those who bear the mark of the beast. In Revelation 16:2 (BSB), it states, "So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly and painful sores broke out on those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image." This usage underscores the severity and divine origin of the affliction, serving as a physical manifestation of God's wrath against unrepentant humanity.

The term also appears in the Gospel of Luke, where it describes the sores of Lazarus, the beggar, in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. In Luke 16:20-21 (BSB), it is written, "And a beggar named Lazarus lay at his gate, covered with sores and longing to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores." Here, ἕλκος highlights the extreme poverty and suffering of Lazarus, contrasting his earthly affliction with his eventual comfort in the afterlife.

The use of ἕλκος in these passages reflects a broader biblical theme where physical ailments often symbolize spiritual or moral conditions, serving as a call to repentance or a demonstration of divine justice.

Forms and Transliterations

έλκει ελκη έλκη ἕλκη ελκος έλκος ἕλκος έλκους ελκων ελκών ἑλκῶν elke elkē elkon elkōn elkos helke helkē hélke hélkē helkon helkôn helkōn helkō̂n helkos hélkos

Englishman's Concordance

Luke 16:21 N-ANP
GRK: ἐπέλειχον τὰ ἕλκη αὐτοῦ
NAS: were coming and licking his sores.
KJV: and licked his sores.
INT: licked the sores of him

Revelation 16:2 N-NNS
GRK: καὶ ἐγένετο ἕλκος κακὸν καὶ
NAS: and malignant sore on the people
KJV: and grievous sore upon the men
INT: and came a sore evil and

Revelation 16:11 N-GNP
GRK: ἐκ τῶν ἑλκῶν αὐτῶν καὶ
NAS: of their pains and their sores; and they did not repent
KJV: and their sores, and repented
INT: for the sores of them and

Strong's Greek 1668
3 Occurrences

ἕλκη — 1 Occ.
ἑλκῶν — 1 Occ.
ἕλκος — 1 Occ.