5203. hudrópikos
Lexical Summary
hudrópikos: Dropsical, suffering from dropsy

Original Word: ὑδρωπικός
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: hudrópikos
Pronunciation: hoo-dro-PEE-kos
Phonetic Spelling: (hoo-dro-pik-os')
KJV: have the dropsy
NASB: suffering from dropsy
Word Origin: [from a compound of G5204 (ὕδωρ - water) and a derivative of G3700 (ὀπτάνομαι - appearing) (as if looking watery)]

1. to be "dropsical"

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
suffering from dropsy

From a compound of hudor and a derivative of optanomai (as if looking watery); to be "dropsical" -- have the dropsy.

see GREEK hudor

see GREEK optanomai

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from hudróps (dropsy)
Definition
suffering from edema
NASB Translation
suffering from dropsy (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 5203: ὑδρωπικός

ὑδρωπικός, ὑδρωπικη, ὑδρωπικον (ὕδρωψ, the dropsy, i. e. internal water), dropsical, suffering from dropsy: Luke 14:2. (Hippcr. (Aristotle), Polybius 13, 2, 2; (others).)

Topical Lexicon
Lexical Background

The Greek adjective ὑδρωπικός (hydropikos) describes a person afflicted with dropsy, a pathological retention of fluid that causes abnormal swelling. Though a medical term, its single New Testament appearance becomes theologically rich when placed within the Gospel narrative.

Medical and Cultural Context

In the ancient Mediterranean world, dropsy was viewed as incurable and often associated with other systemic illnesses. Swelling of the limbs and abdomen visibly marked the sufferer, making him ritually unclean by Pharisaic interpretation and socially marginalized. Physicians such as Hippocrates discussed the malady, yet effective treatment was scarce. Consequently, a hydropic person embodied chronic suffering and exclusion, providing a stark contrast to the wholeness of life envisioned in God’s covenant promises.

Biblical Occurrence and Narrative Setting

Luke 14:2 introduces “a man whose body was swollen with fluid” positioned directly before Jesus in the house of a leading Pharisee on a Sabbath day. The placement is deliberate:
• The Sabbath accentuates divine rest and mercy (Genesis 2:3; Exodus 20:8-11).
• The Pharisaic environment highlights prevailing legalistic rigor.
• The sufferer stands as a living test case confronting religious hardness of heart.

By asking, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?” (Luke 14:3), Jesus exposes the discrepancy between the Law’s intent and the tradition-bound application of it. When He heals the man, sending him away whole, the Savior affirms the Sabbath as a day “for doing good” (cf. Luke 6:9), reasserting God’s compassionate character.

Theological Significance

1. Manifestation of Messianic Authority

The instantaneous healing confirms Isaiah’s portrait of the Messiah who brings release to the captives and recovery to the afflicted (Isaiah 61:1-2; Luke 4:18-19). By commanding bodily water to recede, Jesus displays mastery over creation itself.

2. Revelation of Kingdom Priorities

Following the miracle, Jesus speaks two parables concerning humility and the heavenly banquet (Luke 14:7-24). The hydropic man’s restoration anticipates the inclusive feast of the Kingdom, where the physically and spiritually bloated pride of the self-righteous is contrasted with the humble who accept the invitation.

3. Indictment of Hypocrisy

The Lord appeals to the Pharisees’ own Sabbath practice of rescuing an ox or a son fallen into a pit (Luke 14:5). If mercy toward animals or family members is permitted, how much more should mercy for a suffering image-bearer of God be celebrated?

Ministry Applications

• Compassion Over Convention: Believers are called to subordinate man-made regulations to God’s higher law of love (Romans 13:10).
• Visibility of Need: The hydropic man is placed “right in front” of Jesus—physical presence of the needy is often the catalyst for Spirit-empowered ministry (James 2:15-16).
• Holistic Healing: While spiritual salvation is paramount, the Lord’s care extends to physical affliction, encouraging the Church to engage medicine, prayer, and benevolence cooperatively (3 John 2).

Patristic and Historical Reflections

• Cyril of Alexandria noted that the swelling body symbolized the “watery passions” of greed and earthly desire; Christ’s word released both fluid and sin, illustrating inner and outer liberation.
• Bede contrasted the waterlogged flesh of dropsy with the living water Christ offers (John 4:14), underscoring the Gospel’s power to replace death-dealing excess with life-giving abundance.
• Reformers used the account to argue that Sabbath observance is fulfilled in works of necessity and mercy, shaping Protestant social ethics.

Related Biblical Themes

Healing miracles: Matthew 12:9-14; Mark 2:1-12

Sabbath mercy: Deuteronomy 5:14-15; Isaiah 58:13-14

Banquet imagery: Isaiah 25:6-9; Revelation 19:9

Humility: Proverbs 15:33; 1 Peter 5:5

The lone New Testament appearance of ὑδρωπικός thus magnifies the Savior’s compassion, authenticates His identity, and instructs the Church to embody merciful Sabbath rest in every generation.

Forms and Transliterations
υδρωπικος υδρωπικός ὑδρωπικὸς hydropikos hydropikòs hydrōpikos hydrōpikòs udropikos udrōpikos
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Englishman's Concordance
Luke 14:2 Adj-NMS
GRK: τις ἦν ὑδρωπικὸς ἔμπροσθεν αὐτοῦ
NAS: of Him was a man suffering from dropsy.
KJV: before him which had the dropsy.
INT: certain there was with dropsy before him

Strong's Greek 5203
1 Occurrence


ὑδρωπικὸς — 1 Occ.

5202
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