ἕλκος (G1668) — Greek Lexicon

ἕλκος

hélkos

G1668 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A wound or ulcer, specifically an external injury or lesion characterized by breaking of the skin and formation of pus, often understood as a festering sore or boil. More broadly, refers to any open, suppurating wound, whether caused by injury, disease, or infection.

Semantic Range

ulcer, suppurating sore, open wound, boil, festering lesion

Root / Etymology

From the root ἑλκ- (meaning 'to draw' or 'pull'), possibly related to ἑλκύω ('to draw, drag'). The word originally described something drawn together or contracted, presumably referring to the puckering or contraction of skin around an ulcer.

Historical & Contextual Notes

ἕλκος is widely attested in classical and Hellenistic Greek, where it typically refers to an external sore, ulcer, or boil. The term appears in medical writings (Hippocratic Corpus, Galen) for various forms of lesions, especially those that exude pus or indicate infection. In the Septuagint and in the New Testament (e.g., Revelation), the term retains its general sense of a suppurating wound or sore, frequently in contexts describing disease, plague, or divine affliction. English translations often simply use 'sore' or 'ulcer,' but in both medical and figurative contexts, the sense of an open, festering wound is primary. The semantic range remains relatively stable from classical through New Testament Greek. It differs from related words like τραῦμα ('wound' usually from trauma) or πληγὴ ('blow, wound' often emphasizing the cause).

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

probably from ἑλκύω; an ulcer (as if drawn together):--sore.

Root Family

ἕλκος (helkos) — ulcer, open wound, suppurating sore, boil

Root ἑλκ- to draw, to pull

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G1668-02`	ἑλκῶν	elkon	`N GEN N PL`	sores	of festering sores	sores	1
`G1668-03`	ἕλκος	elkos	`N NOM N SG`	sore	a festering ulcer	a festering ulcer	1
`G1668-01`	ἕλκη	elke	`N ACC N PL`	sores	festering ulcers	sores	1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G1668-01`	Luke 16:21	ἕλκη	elke	`N ACC N PL`	sores	festering ulcers	sores
`G1668-03`	Revelation 16:2	ἕλκος	elkos	`N NOM N SG`	sore	a festering ulcer	a festering ulcer
`G1668-02`	Revelation 16:11	ἑλκῶν	elkon	`N GEN N PL`	sores	of festering sores	sores

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