Definition and Medical Context:
The term "dropsical" refers to a condition known in modern medical terminology as edema, characterized by an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the body's tissues, leading to swelling. In biblical times, this condition was often associated with various ailments and was considered a significant health issue due to the lack of advanced medical treatments.

Biblical References:
The most notable reference to a dropsical condition in the Bible is found in the Gospel of Luke. In Luke 14:2 , it is recorded: "There in front of Him was a man suffering from dropsy." This passage describes an encounter between Jesus and a man afflicted with dropsy, which took place on the Sabbath in the house of a prominent Pharisee. The presence of this man at the gathering may have been a deliberate test of Jesus' willingness to heal on the Sabbath, a day traditionally reserved for rest and worship according to Jewish law.

Cultural and Religious Significance:
In the biblical context, physical ailments such as dropsy were often viewed through a spiritual lens. Illness could be perceived as a manifestation of sin or divine displeasure, although this was not a universal belief. The healing of such conditions by Jesus was seen as a demonstration of His divine authority and compassion, challenging prevailing religious norms and emphasizing the importance of mercy over ritualistic observance.

Theological Implications:
The healing of the man with dropsy by Jesus, as recorded in Luke 14, serves as a powerful illustration of the Kingdom of God's values. Jesus' actions highlight the priority of human need and compassion over strict adherence to religious law. In Luke 14:3-4 , Jesus poses a question to the Pharisees and experts in the law: "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?" When they remain silent, Jesus heals the man and sends him away, demonstrating that acts of mercy and healing are in alignment with God's will, even on the Sabbath.

Symbolic Interpretation:
Dropsy, as a condition involving excess and imbalance, can also be interpreted symbolically in biblical exegesis. It may represent spiritual or moral excess, such as greed or pride, which requires the healing touch of Christ to restore balance and health. This interpretation aligns with the broader biblical theme of Jesus as the healer of both physical and spiritual maladies.

Historical Context:
In the ancient world, dropsy was a well-known condition, often associated with other diseases such as heart or kidney failure. The lack of effective medical treatments made it a chronic and debilitating condition. The miraculous healings performed by Jesus, including that of the man with dropsy, would have been seen as extraordinary and served to affirm His divine mission and authority.

Conclusion:
The account of Jesus healing the man with dropsy in Luke 14 is a testament to His compassion and authority, challenging the legalistic interpretations of the Sabbath and emphasizing the primacy of love and mercy in the Kingdom of God. This narrative continues to inspire believers to prioritize compassion and service to others, reflecting the heart of Christ's teachings.1. (a.) Diseased with dropsy; hydropical; tending to dropsy; as, a dropsical patient.

2. (a.) of or pertaining to dropsy.

5203. hudropikos -- suffering from edema
... 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. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5203.htm - 6k

Cure of the Infirm Woman on the Sabbath; the Pharisees ...
... (Luke, xiii., 10.)"Of the Dropsical Man. ... Whether by accident, or by the contrivance
of the Pharisees, a dropsical man was there, seeking to be healed. ...
/.../section 170 cure of the.htm

And Disputes
... "Do not you know that the king thirsts for money as a dropsical man does
for water, my lord bishop?" To this the answer was, "Yes. ...
/.../marson/hugh bishop of lincoln/chapter vii name disputes.htm

The Lessons of a Feast
... observers. The miracle and the two parables are aimed straight at their
errors. I. How came the dropsical man there? Possibly he ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/the lessons of a feast.htm

Behaviour in the Baths.
... [1630] For through the body itself the wantonness of lust shines clearly; as
in the case of dropsical people, the water covered by the skin. ...
/.../clement/the instructor paedagogus/chapter v behaviour in the baths.htm

Of Another Hindrance
... possession of earthly things. The more such men acquire, the more they desire;
for they straightway become dropsical. The belly, that ...
/.../the adornment of the spritual marriage/chapter xxxi of another hindrance.htm

Gregory Further Shows that the Only-Begotten Being Begotten not ...
... once begetter and begotten." Ought we to give his words the name of argument, or
to call them rather a swelling of humours secreted by some dropsical inflation ...
/.../gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 7 gregory further shows.htm

Moreover, by his Own Power He not Only Performed those Miraculous ...
... He ordered the dropsical and swollen flesh to recover its natural dryness; and His
servants in the same manner stayed the wandering waters, and ordered them to ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/50 moreover by his own.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. vii. 7, "Ask, and it Shall be ...
... They are full of water, and yet they thirst for water. How then canst thou take
pleasure in opulence, who hast thereby this dropsical desire? ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon xi on the words.htm

The Golden Eagle is Cut to Pieces. Herod's Barbarity when He was ...
... there was a gentle fever upon him, and an intolerable itching over all the surface
of his body, and continual pains in his colon, and dropsical turnouts about ...
/.../chapter 33 the golden eagle.htm

The Census and the Journey of the Holy Family
... These shepherds had lepers hidden among them. He also healed here the dropsical
woman of the house where He stayed, and was mocked by the Pharisees. ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/x the census and the.htm

Dropsical (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Diseased with dropsy; hydropical; tending
to dropsy; as, a dropsical patient. ...Dropsical (1 Occurrence). ...
/d/dropsical.htm - 6k

Drops (27 Occurrences)

/d/drops.htm - 14k

Dropsy (1 Occurrence)

/d/dropsy.htm - 7k

Separate (115 Occurrences)
... (3) Besides the two portions of the Acts of Paul mentioned above there are others
of less value, the Healing of a Dropsical Man at Myra by the apostle (a ...
/s/separate.htm - 71k

Apocryphal
... (3) Besides the two portions of the Acts of Paul mentioned above there are others
of less value, the Healing of a Dropsical Man at Myra by the apostle (a ...
/a/apocryphal.htm - 101k

Acts (271 Occurrences)
... (3) Besides the two portions of the Acts of Paul mentioned above there are others
of less value, the Healing of a Dropsical Man at Myra by the apostle (a ...
/a/acts.htm - 101k

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