### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek noun aphros (ἀφρός), `{{G876}}`, is a primary word denoting "froth" or "foam." Specifically, it refers to the bubbly discharge from the mouth, often termed "slaver." Its semantic range is narrow, consistently pointing to a physical manifestation of internal distress, illness, or, as seen in its biblical occurrences, demonic affliction. The term carries an inherent sense of something expelled from the body due to an unnatural or severe condition, signifying a state of profound physical and often spiritual turmoil.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word aphros appears exclusively twice in the New Testament, both instances occurring in the Synoptic Gospels within the parallel accounts of Jesus casting out a demon from a boy.
* **[[Mark 9:18]]**: "And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. And I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able." Here, aphros is listed among the violent and distressing symptoms of the boy's demonic possession. The foaming at the mouth is a visible, undeniable sign of the spirit's forceful and debilitating control over the child, indicative of intense internal struggle and physical convulsions.
* **[[Luke 9:39]]**: "And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out, and it convulses him so that he foams, and it hardly leaves him, bruising him." Luke's description aligns closely with Mark's, emphasizing the sudden onset and violent nature of the seizures, with foaming as a key, observable manifestation. The detail that the spirit "hardly leaves him, bruising him" further underscores the physical toll and the severity of the demonic grip.
In both contexts, aphros serves as a stark indicator of severe, life-threatening demonic oppression. It portrays a body in crisis, completely overwhelmed and distorted by an external, malevolent force, highlighting the desperate need for divine intervention.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary context for aphros in the New Testament is directly linked to the theme of demonic possession and the subsequent deliverance by Jesus.
* **Demonic Activity:** The word is inextricably tied to the reality of spiritual warfare and the destructive power of evil spirits. It connects to terms like `{{G1140}}` (daimonizomai, "to be demonized") and `{{G4151}}` (pneuma, "spirit," often evil spirit in this context).
* **Physical Manifestations of Affliction:** While specifically demonic, the symptom of foaming at the mouth can be associated with severe medical conditions such as epilepsy, which was often attributed to demonic influence in antiquity. This links it to words describing physical suffering, such as `{{G4967}}` (sparassō, "to tear, convulse").
* **Divine Authority and Healing:** The presence of such a severe symptom immediately sets the stage for Jesus' miraculous power. This ties aphros to concepts of healing (`{{G2323}}`, therapeuō) and casting out (`{{G1544}}`, ekballō), demonstrating Jesus' supreme authority over all forms of evil and suffering.
* **Faith and Discipleship:** The disciples' inability to cast out the demon, despite the evident symptoms like foaming, highlights their need for greater faith and reliance on God's power, contrasting their limitations with Jesus' omnipotence.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of aphros lies in its vivid portrayal of the destructive impact of evil and the profound suffering it inflicts. The physical symptom of foaming at the mouth serves as a tangible sign of a soul and body utterly consumed by demonic power, symbolizing the complete dehumanization and torment wrought by spiritual darkness.
Jesus' immediate and authoritative expulsion of the demon, which results in the cessation of all such symptoms, powerfully demonstrates His absolute dominion over all forces of evil. The deliverance from foaming and convulsions is not merely a physical cure but a profound spiritual victory, a clear manifestation of the Kingdom of God invading and conquering the realm of Satan.
Furthermore, the disciples' failure to cast out the demon, despite the boy's evident distress, underscores their spiritual immaturity and reliance on their own strength rather than divine power. This incident, marked by the visible symptom of aphros, becomes a lesson in the necessity of faith, prayer, and complete dependence on Christ's authority for effective ministry. Thus, aphros functions as a stark visual testament to the brokenness of a fallen world under the sway of evil, simultaneously highlighting the unique and unparalleled redemptive power of Jesus Christ to bring wholeness, deliverance, and restoration.
### Summary
Aphros (ἀφρός), `{{G876}}`, meaning "froth" or "foaming," is a rare but impactful Greek word, appearing only twice in the New Testament (Mark 9:18, Luke 9:39). In both instances, it describes a severe physical symptom—foaming at the mouth—manifested by a boy under violent demonic possession. This vivid detail underscores the extreme suffering and physical subjugation caused by the evil spirit. Theologically, aphros serves as a potent symbol of the destructive power of spiritual darkness and the profound need for divine intervention. Jesus' successful deliverance of the boy, in contrast to the disciples' inability, highlights His supreme authority over all forces of evil and His unique power to bring complete restoration, making aphros a powerful testament to Christ's redemptive work.