The Greek word nósēma, represented by G3553, refers to an ailment or disease. It is derived from νοσέω. Appearing only 1 time in 1 unique verse, its significance is concentrated in a single, specific biblical account.
The sole appearance of G3553 is in the account of the pool of Bethesda. Here, it describes the physical condition from which people sought healing. The text states that an angel's intervention made it possible for the first person entering the troubled water to be made whole from "whatsoever disease he had" John 5:4. This highlights its use in the context of supernatural healing.
Several related words from its context help illuminate the meaning of G3553:
- G5199 hygiḗs (sound, whole): This term describes the state of being made well, the direct deliverance from the disease John 5:4. It is the desired outcome for those suffering from an ailment.
- G1096 gínomai (to become, be made): Used in the phrase "was made whole," this word signifies the transformation from sickness to health, a miraculous change of state John 5:4.
- G2861 kolymbḗthra (pool): This word identifies the specific location where the healing from the disease was said to occur, establishing the physical setting for this miracle John 5:4.
The theological significance of G3553 is tied entirely to its single use, which illustrates several concepts:
- Supernatural Healing: The word appears in a context where a disease is cured not by medicine but by a miraculous event initiated by an angel G32 of God John 5:4.
- Divine Authority Over Sickness: The account shows that any disease, regardless of its nature ("whatsoever disease"), could be overcome, pointing to a power greater than the physical ailment itself John 5:4.
- The Locus of Hope: The pool G2861 becomes a specific place where people suffering from a disease gathered in hope of divine intervention, tying the concept of healing to a particular location and event.
In summary, nósēma G3553 is a specific term for disease whose biblical meaning is defined by its singular appearance. It functions within the narrative of the pool of Bethesda to identify the malady that is overcome by a direct, supernatural act of God. The word, therefore, serves to underscore the power of divine intervention over physical sickness.
TRV