### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **thymóō**, represented by `{{G2373}}`, is a term that means **to put in a passion, i.e. enrage:--be wroth**. It appears just **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the Bible, highlighting its highly specific application in scripture. Its definition is derived from the word θυμός, pointing directly to a state of being enraged or put into a passion.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{G2373}}` is used in a single, dramatic context. It describes the reaction of King Herod when he realized he had been deceived by the wise men. The scripture states that when Herod saw he was mocked, he "was exceeding **wroth**" [[Matthew 2:16]]. This intense anger is presented as the direct motivation for his subsequent command to kill the young children in and around Bethlehem.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words from its only context help illuminate the meaning of `{{G2373}}`:
* `{{G2264}}` **Hērṓdēs** (heroic; Herod, the name of four Jewish kings): This identifies the person who experienced the rage described by `{{G2373}}`. His actions are central to the events surrounding the birth of Jesus [[Matthew 2:16]].
* `{{G1702}}` **empaízō** (to jeer at, i.e. deride:--mock): This word provides the cause for Herod's anger. It was the feeling of being "mocked" that provoked him to become wroth [[Matthew 2:16]].
* `{{G3029}}` **lían** (much (adverbially):--exceeding, great(-ly), sore, very (+ chiefest)): This adverb intensifies the emotion, showing that Herod's reaction was not minor irritation but an extreme rage, as he was "exceeding wroth" [[Matthew 2:16]].
* `{{G337}}` **anairéō** (to take up, i.e. adopt; by implication, to take away (violently), i.e. abolish, murder:--put to death, kill, slay, take away, take up): This word describes the violent result of Herod's wrath, as he sent forth and "slew" all the children [[Matthew 2:16]].
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{G2373}}`, despite its single use, is tied directly to its role in the nativity account.
* **The Anger of Earthly Power:** The term is used exclusively to describe the fury of a human king, Herod `{{G2264}}`, when his authority is challenged and he feels mocked by the wise men [[Matthew 2:16]].
* **A Catalyst for Violence:** The state of being "wroth" is not a passive emotion in this context. It is the immediate trigger for Herod's violent decree to slay `{{G337}}` the innocent children of Bethlehem in an attempt to destroy the infant Jesus.
### Summary
In summary, `{{G2373}}` is a specific and potent term for enraged passion. Its solitary appearance in scripture is unforgettable, defining the furious emotional state of King Herod that directly led to the Massacre of the Innocents. It illustrates how a single, rare word can precisely capture the volatile human emotion that serves as the motivation for a pivotal and tragic event in the biblical narrative.
TRV