Lexical Summary cholaó: To be lame, to limp Original Word: χωλάω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance be angry. From chole; to be bilious, i.e. (by implication) irritable (enraged, "choleric") -- be angry. see GREEK chole HELPS Word-studies 5520 xoláō (akin to 5521 /xolḗ, "gall, bile") – properly, full of bile; (figuratively) filled with bitter anger and hence harsh (even violent). [This is also the meaning of this term in classical Greek.] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom cholé Definition to be melancholy, mad, angry NASB Translation angry (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5520: χολάωχολάω, χόλῳ; (χολή, which see); 1. to be atrabilious; to be mad (Aristophanes nub. 833). 2. to be angry, enraged (for χολοῦμαι, more common in the earlier Greek writings from Homer down): τίνι, John 7:23 (3Macc. 3:1; Artemidorus Daldianus, Nicander, Mosch., Diogenes Laërt, others). Cholao denotes a state of irritation or anger, literally “to be filled with bile.” In biblical usage it is concerned less with the physiological imagery and more with the moral and relational implications of displeasure that has risen to the level of indignation. Biblical Occurrence The verb appears once in the Greek New Testament, John 7:23, where Jesus asks, “If a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the Law of Moses will not be broken, why are you angry with Me for making a man entirely well on the Sabbath?” (John 7:23). The present plural form, “are you angry” (choláte), addresses the collective attitude of the Jewish leaders and the crowd in Jerusalem. Contextual Background in John 7:23 1. Sabbath Debate: The healing of the man at the pool of Bethesda (John 5:1–15) had taken place on the Sabbath, provoking controversy. Jesus’ question in 7:23 forces His listeners to weigh their traditional interpretations against the deeper intent of the Law. Theological Significance Anger in Scripture is morally ambivalent: the wrath of God is holy (Nahum 1:2; Revelation 6:17), while human anger is cautioned against because it so easily becomes sinful. “Be angry, yet do not sin” (Ephesians 4:26) underscores the need for discernment. Cholao in John 7:23 exemplifies anger that has already crossed the line into sin because it resists divine compassion and opposes the revelation of the Son. Old Testament Foundations The Old Testament warns that anger can harden the heart (Psalm 37:8; Proverbs 14:29). Jesus’ interlocutors mirror the pattern of Cain who “became very angry” and then acted against his brother (Genesis 4:5–8). The Sabbath regulations were intended for life and blessing (Exodus 31:13), not for restricting mercy (Isaiah 58:13). Cholao thus functions as a diagnostic term revealing a heart out of step with the gracious purposes of God. Extra-biblical Greek Usage Classical and Hellenistic literature employ cholao for irritation stirred by insult or injury, sometimes escalating to vengeance. The word can describe an inner ferment that seeks release, reinforcing the biblical picture of anger as something that must be governed lest it burst forth destructively (Proverbs 29:11). Ministry Applications 1. Diagnosing Legalistic Anger: Modern ministry encounters similar indignation whenever traditions are elevated above the well-being of people. Leaders must examine whether their own irritation arises from wounded pride rather than zeal for truth. Relation to Righteous Indignation Scripture affirms a place for righteous anger, as when Jesus cleansed the temple (John 2:13–17). The difference lies in the object and motive: anger aligned with God’s holiness protects others; cholao in John 7 exposes anger opposed to God’s life-giving will. Warnings and Exhortations James 1:19–20 states, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires.” The single occurrence of cholao illustrates this principle, showing that even religious leaders can fall prey to destructive indignation. Christological Considerations Jesus, though sinless, provoked cholao in those unwilling to accept His revelation. The presence of such anger becomes evidence of human rebellion. At the cross that anger reached its climax, yet God used it to accomplish redemption (Acts 2:23). Thus Christ both exposes sinful anger and absorbs its consequences. Summary Strong’s Greek 5520 pictures anger that resists the gracious works of God. Its lone New Testament appearance underscores the danger of allowing legalistic zeal to eclipse compassion. By contrasting circumcision on the Sabbath with the healing of a whole person, Jesus unmasks hypocrisy and calls His audience—and every reader—to align their passions with the life-giving purposes of God. |
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