Medical Terms Used by Luke
Compiled from: The Medical Language of St. Luke, William Kirk Hobart. Georgia Press.2004.
** Medical term used only by Luke. Greek word is uniquely used by Luke alone in NT
Verse / English words / Greek word / Medical Usage Description / CommentsChapter 1
Luke 1:1**
(also Acts 9:29, 19:13) / Taken in Hand
To undertake / #2021 Epicheireo / Applying the hand to in treatment or examination
Luke 1:1** / Declaration
Narrative / #1335 Diegesis / Medical history or treatise on medical subject
Luke 1:2** / Eyewitness / #845 Autoptes / Medical examination
To see for yourself . autopsy
Luke 1:2 / Minister
“under-rower” / #5257 Huperetes / Used in medical for attendants and assistants to physician during a procedure
Minister of medicine
Luke 1:3 / Perfect understanding
Intensive investigation / #199 Akribos
#3877 Parakoloutheo / Used to describe investigating illness & patient history; pay close attention to
Luke 1:9** / To burn incense / #2370 Thumiao / Medical fumigating with herbs & spices
Luke 1:29** / Troubled / #1298 Diatarraso / Disturbance of mind or body
Luke 1:36** / Old age / #1094 Geras / Used to denote one particular period of human life. Geriatric
Luke 1:42** / Speak, cry out / #400 Anaphoneo / A medical term for a certain exercise of the voice
Luke 1:63** / Writing tablet / #4093 Pinakidion / Physicians notebook or tablet
Luke 1:77, 3:3, 4:18, 24:47
(also Acts 2:38, 5:31, 10:43, 13:38, 26:18) / Remission / #859 Aphesis / Medical term for relaxation or ending of disease / Luke 10 times
Rest NT 7
Chapter 2
Luke 2:7, 12** / Swaddling clothes / #4683 Sparganoo / Burial cloths
Luke 2:16**
(also Acts 21:4) / Found / #429 Aneurisko / Find out by diligent examination the location and cause of disease
Luke 2:19**
(also Lk 14:31; Acts 4:15, 17:18, 18:27, 20:14) / Ponder / # Sumballo / Ponder diagnosis etc, Consult, meet together
Luke 2:24**
Also Lk 14:19 / Pair / #2201 Zeugos / Term for pair arteries, veins, nerves or muscles
Luke 2:27** / Custom / #1480 Ethizo / Common practice
Luke 2:51** / Guard/Keep carefully / #1301 Diatereo / Watch patient closely / Also Acts 15:29
Chapter 3
Luke 3:3 / Remission / #859 Aphesis / Medical term for relaxation or ending of disease / Luke 10 times
Rest NT 7
Luke 3:14** / Extort/Violence / #1286 Diaseio / Medical term to shake palsied limb or shake obstruction from liver
Luke 3:20, 12:25, 12:31, 17:5, 19:11
(also Acts 2:41, 2:47, 5:14, 11:24, 12:3, 13:36) / Added / #4369 Prostheso / Application of remedies to body: wet sponges to head (Hippocrates) or concoction of acorns (Galen)
Prosthesis / Luke 11 times
Rest NT 5 times
Luke 3:20**
(also Acts 26:10) / Shut up / #2623 Katakleio / Contain disease? / Compare Mat 14:3; Mk 6:17
Chapter 4
Luke 4:17** / Open / #380 Anaptusso / Description of opening out of various parts of the body
Luke 4:20** / Close / #4428 Ptusso / Term for rolling up of bandages
Luke 4:20
Also 22:56; Acts 1:10; 3:4,12; 6:15; 7:55; 10:4; 11:6; 13:9; 14:9; 23:1 / Eyes fixed on / #816 Atenizo / Peculiar fixed look in some patients / 2 Cor 3:7,13
Luke 4:28 / Fill/Filled / #4130 Pimplemi / Common medical term for filling or to be filled in various usages / Luke/Acts 20 times
Rest NT 3
Luke 4:29** / Brow / #3790 Ophrus / Human eyebrow, brow of forehead, or other projections of bones. Protruding frontal bossing in disease. / Septuagint
Lev 14:9
Luke 4:35**in medical context
also 17:2, Acts 22:23, 27:19, 27:29 / Throw down
Cast / #4496 Rhipto / Described shaking convulsions & fits / Luke 5 times
Rest NT 3
Luke 4:35** / Hurt/Disable / #984 Blapto / Term for Injury, disable, harm from disease / Only other usage in Mark 16:18
Luke 4:37**
(also Acts 2:2; Heb 12:19 LXX quote) / Fame, Report / #2279 Echos / Medical term for hearing of ears: Echo / Luke 2 times
Rest NT 1
Many other non-medical words could have be used for this.
Luke 4:38
(also Luke 8:37, 8:45, 12:50, 19:43, 22:63, Acts 7:57, 18:5, 28:8) / Taken with
Held , Sick
Pressed / #4912 Sunecho / Used in conjunction with fever & other diesases / Luke 9 times
Rest NT 3
Luke 4:38** / Great/High fever / #3173 Megas
#4446 Puretos / Used medically to describe high temperature fever
Chapter 5
Luke 5:2** / Washing/rinse / #637 Apopluno / Medical washing or cleansing / Ezek 16:19 Sept
Luke 5:4,5
Acts 9:25, 27:30 / Let down / #5465 Chalao / Extensive medical use:
Relaxing body part, loosening bandage, letting down drugs into vessel / Mark 2:4
2 Cor 11:33
Luke 5:6, 8:29
Acts 14:14 / Break, tear / #1284 Diarresso / Breaking/tearing in medical sense / Mat 26:65
Mark 14:63
Luke 5:12** / “Full of” leprosy / #3014 Lepra with #4134 “full of” / One specific fulminate form of this disease / Different term in Luke 17:12
Luke 5:16**
Also 9:10 / Withdrew, Went aside / #5298 Hupochoreo / Isolate a patient?
Luke 5:18, 24
Acts 8:7, 9:33
Heb 12:12 / Paralyzed, palsy / #3886 Paraluo / Specific medical term for paralyzed not used by lay people / Matthew 9:2-8;
Mark 2:1-12
Both use common term for same event
Luke 5:19,24** / Bed, couch / #2826 Klinidion / Specific bed or litter for carrying sick / Gen word used in v18
Luke 5:26** / Strange things / #3861 Paradoxos / Unusual or unexpected recovery from illness/disease / Compare Mk 2:12
Chapter 6
Luke 6:7
Also Lk 14:1; 20:20 / Watch carefully / #3906 Paratereo / Close observation of symptoms of an illness / Mark 3:2
Gal 4:10
Luke 6:12** / Continued all night
Pass the whole night / #1273 Dianuktereuo / Medical term for illness or activities going through the night
Luke 6:18**
Also Acts 5:16 / Tormented/Vexed / #3791 Ochleo / Tormented or plagued by a disease
Luke 6:19
Also 16 others / Healed / #239 Iaomai / Medical term to heal vs be made well / 28 times NT
17 by Luke. Uses other terms but always with nature of the saving.
Luke 6:30**
Also 12:20 / To demand, recall, require back / #523 Apaiteo / Diseases demanding a particular kind of treatment
Luke 6:35** / To despair, renounce hope / #560 Apelpizo / Disease that is hopeless or desperate
Luke 6:38** / Press down
Make compact / #4085 Piezo / Pressing with some degree of force a part of the body. With negative to touch gently
Luke 6:44
Also 20:37; Acts 7:30,35 / Bramble bush / #942 Batos / Used extensively for medicinal purposes / Mat 7:16 uses thistles
Luke 6:48** / Flood / #4132 Plemmura / Used to express excess fluids of the body / Mat 7:27 uses non-medical term
Luke 6:48, 49** / Beat vehemently / #4366 Prosregnumi / Rupture or bursting of veins
Luke 6:49** / Ruin / #4485 Rhegma / Laceration or rupture
Chapter 7
Luke 7:10
Also 5:31 / Whole, Well
Completely healed / #5198 Hugiaino / To be in sound health. Not just cured but healthy / Only 3John 2 uses medical sense of word. Compare Mat/Mk
Luke 7:15**
Also Acts 9:40 / Sit up / #339 Anakathizo / Patients sitting up in bed
Luke 7:21
Also 11:26 / Wicked or evil applied to demons/spirits in disease / #4190 Poneros
#4191 Poneroteros / Active component of evil in disease; What spreads destruction (viper venom) / Only Luke uses with spirits except in Mat 12:45
Luke 7:36**
Also 9:14,15;14:8, 24:30 / Sit down / #2625 Kataklino / Laying a patient down in bed or for a procedure / Compare Mat, Mk, Jn
Luke 7:38, 44; 17:29 / Wash/wipe off / #1026 Brecho / Medical washing or cleansing / Matthew 5:45
James 5:17
Revelation 11:6
Luke 7:45** / Cease for a time
Intermit, Leave for an interval / #1257 Dialeipo / Disease or pulse to be intermittent; Discontinue therapy for a time
Chapter 8
Luke 8:6,8 / Sprang up / #5453 Phuo / Growth of disease or parts of the body / Only Heb 12:15
Compare diff words of Mat/Mk
Luke 8:6** / Moisture / #2429 Ikmas / Juices of body and plants / Compare diff words of Mat/Mk
Luke 8:7** / Sprang up with / #4855 Sumphuo / Closing of wounds/ulcers; Uniting of nerves and bones / Compare diff words of Mat/Mk
Luke 8:14** / Bring to perfection / #5052 Telesphoreo / Used in describing disease
Luke 8:23**
Also Lk 9:51; Acts 2:1 / To fill up
Fully come / #4845 Sumpleroo / Full of disease. Disease fully established etc
Luke 8:44 / To stop, staunched / #2476 Histemi / Usual term for stoppage of bodily discharges or bleeding / Many other uses in NT but not like this usage. Mat/MK use diff words
Luke 8:45** / Press / #598 Apothlibo / Press on or apply pressure medically / Compare 5:31
Chapter 9
Luke 9:7**
Also Luke 24:4; Acts 2:12; 5:24; 10:17 / Perplexed / #1280 Diaporeo / Perplexed state
Luke 9:11 / Healing
Household (non-med) / #2232 Therapia / Common medical term for medical treatment. Therapy / Also Rev 22:22
Luke 9:14,15**
Also 7:36,14:8, 24:30 / Sit down / #2625 Kataklino / Laying a patient down in bed or for a procedure / Compare
Mat, Mk, Jn
Luke 9:33** / Depart/Separation / #1316 Diachorizo / Disease leaving a patient
Luke 9:38 / Look upon / #1914 Epiblepo / Examine appearance & condition of a patient / Not in other 2acounts
Luke 9:39
Also Lk 2:13;
Acts 9:3 22:6 / Suddenly / #1810 Exaiphnes / Sudden crying out
Sudden attacks speechlessness, paroxysms, spasms / Only in Mk 13:36
Luke 9:39** / Foam / #876 Aphros / Human foam in disease, convulsions / Mark uses diff word for foam
Luke 9:39
Also Acts 13:13 / Depart / #672 Apochoreo / Disease leaving a person / Mat 7:23 non-medical. Only 3 uses.
Luke 9:41
Also Acts 16:20; 27:27 / Bring him / #4317 Prosago / Term to bring patients to a doctor / Compare Mat/Mk
Luke 9:41
Also Luke 23:2
Acts 13:8, 13:10, 20:30 / Perverting / #1294 Diastrepho / Used to describe a distortion or twisting in medical descriptions / Only 2 other places
Matt 17:17
Phil 2:15
Luke 9:51**
Also Lk 8:23; Acts 2:1 / To fill up
Fully come / #4845 Sumpleroo / Full of disease. Disease fully established etc
Luke 9:51** / Be received up / #354 Analepsis / Taking up an arm into sling for recovery and full restoration to former power / Lord taken up and restored to former power!
Chapter 10
Luke 10:11
Also 15:15; Acts 5:13, 8:29, 9:26, 10:28, 17:34 / Cling, Cleave, Stick / #2853 Kollao / Cling, Join etc in medical usages / 7 Luke 3 rest NT
Luke 10:11** / Wash off/wipe / #631 Apomasso / Medical washing or cleansing
Luke 10:30,36
Also Acts 27:31 / Fell among, Fell into hands of / #4045 Peripipto / Uncertain exact usage but word very common in medical usage / James 1:2
Luke 10:30** / Half dead / #2253 Hemithanes / Unconscious. Severely injured.
Luke 10:34** / Bound up. Bandage / #2611 Katadeo / To Apply a thorough medical dressing to a wound.
Luke 10:34** / Wounds / #5134 Trauma / Trauma / Our word trauma
Luke 10:34** / Pour into / #2022 Epicheo / Infuse or apply medical antiseptic or other remedy
Luke 10:34 / Oil & wine / #1637 Elaion
#3631 Oinos / Common medicinal uses
Luke 10:34,35 / Take care of / #1959 Epimeleomai / Physicians taking care of sick / 1 Tim 3:5 non-medical
Luke 10:40** / Distracted, Encumbered / #4049 Perispao / Commonly used in medical writing
Chapter 11
Luke 11:5
Also Acts 16:25, 20:7 / Midnight / #3317 Mesonuktion / Term used to describe time of seeing patient, disease abatement etc. / Only Mark 13:35
Luke 11:17** / Thoughts / #1270 Dianoema / Whims & fancies of the sick / Compare Mat 12:24
Luke 11:41** / Things that you have / #1751 Eneimi / Things within vessel, container, or heart
Luke 11:46** / Touch lightly / #4379 Prospsauo / Feeling very gently the pulse or tender parts of body
Chapter 12
Luke 12:5** / Cast/Throw / #1685 Emballo / Putting dislocated joint into place; Casting ingredients into mixture / #306 anaballo: to cast back only in Acts 24:22 = put off medical treatment
Luke 12:16** / Bring forth plentifully / #2164 Euphoreo / Various uses
Luke 12:20**
Also 6:30 / To demand, recall, require back / #523 Apaiteo / Diseases demanding a particular kind of treatment
Luke 12:29** / Anxious mind, worry, fluctuating mind / #3349 Meteorizo / Anxiety states etc
Chapter 13
Luke 13:11 / Infirmity/Crippled / #769 Aesthenia / Muscle weakness disease / Today’s
Myasthenia gravis
Luke 13:11** / Bowed together / #4794 Sugkupto / Abnormal posture from muscular/spinal disease
Luke 13:12 / Loose, free, heal / #630 Apoluo / Releasing from disease, relaxing tendons/membranes, taking off bandages / Only time in NT used for disease.
Luke 13:13
Also Acts 15:16 / To make straight or upright, set up / #461 Anorthoo / Straighten vertebrae of spine
Straighten broken bone or dislocation / “Orthopedics”
Also Heb 12:12
Luke 13:25** / Shut, close / #608 Apokleio / Shut/close orifice
Luke 13:32**
Also Acts 4:22, 30 / Healing, cure / #2319 Iasis / Healing cure
Luke 13:33 / Cannot be / #1735 Endechomai / Used in medicine to describe what is not possible
Chapter 14
Luke 14:1
Also Lk 6:7; 20:20 / Watch carefully / #3906 Paratereo / Close observation of symptoms of an illness / Mark 3:2
Gal 4:10
Luke 14:2** / Dropsy / # 5203 Hudropikos / Fluid accumulation in body often legs (sign CHF)
Luke 14:5**
Also Acts 11:10 / Pull out / #385 Anaspao / Pulling things out in medical practice.
Luke 14:8**
Also 7:36, 9:14, 24:30 / Sit down / #2625 Kataklino / Laying a patient down in bed or for a procedure / Compare Mat, Mk, Jn
Luke 14:10** / Go up / #4320 Prosanabaino / Used in anatomical descriptions
Luke 14:10 / Higher / #511 Anoteros / Used to describe position of limbs & parts of human body / Also Heb 10:8
Luke 14:13,21** / Maimed / #376 Anaperos / Disabled/Lost in a limb
Luke 14:19**
Also Lk 2:24 / Five yoke (pairs) / #2201 Zeugos / Term for pair arteries, veins, nerves or muscles
Chapter 15
Luke 15:8,9** / Piece of silver / #1406 Drachme / Greek silver coin =1/4 shekel
This weight was commonly used in measuring prescriptions
Luke 15:8** / Diligent, Careful / #1960 Epimelos / Careful medical examination & history taking
Luke 15:15
Also 10:11; Acts 5:13, 8:29, 9:26, 10:28, 17:34 / Cling, Cleave, Stick / #2853 Kollao / Cling, Join etc in medical usages / 7 Luke 3 rest NT
Chapter 16
Luke 16:1** / Falsely accused / #1225 Diaballo
Luke 16:9
Also 22:32 / Fail; Reliquish / #1587 Ekleipo / Pulse or disease leaving a person / Also Heb 1:12
Only 3 total in NT
Luke 16:20** / Full of sores / #1669 Helkoo / To cause to ulcerate
Luke 16:21 / Sores / #1668 Helkos / Ulcer, sore, wound / Only Rev 16:2,11
Luke 16:24** / Cool, refresh / #2711 Katapsucho
Luke 16:24,25**
Also Lk 2:48;Acts 20:38 / Tormented, suffer / #3600 Odunao / To be in pain
Luke 16:26** / Gulf, chasm / #5490 Chasma / Cavities of body, yawning
Luke 16:26 / Fixed / #4741 Sterizo / A pain or disease fixed or deep seated in body; weapon firmly implanted in wound
Chapter 17
Luke 17:2** / To be better for him, / #3081 Lusiteleo / Term used frequently in medical writing.
Luke 17:5
3:20, 12:25, 12:31, 19:11 (also Acts 2:41, 2:47, 5:14, 11:24, 12:3, 13:36) / Added / #4369 Prostheso / Application of remedies to body: wet sponges to head (Hippocrates) or concoction of acorns (Galen)Prosthesis / Luke 11 times
Rest NT 5 times
Luke 17:6** / Sycamine tree
Mulberry tree / #4807 Sukaminos / Only Luke distinguishes from sycamore tree since both used medicinally see Luke 19:4
Luke 17:20** / Observation / #3907 Parateresis / Medical careful observation
Luke 17:33
Also Acts 7:19 / Shall preserve it (life) / #2225 Zoogoneo / Producing life, Enduing with life / 1 Tim 6:13
Chapter 18
Luke 18:25** / Eye of / #5168 Trumalia / Medical perforation of any kind / Compare Mat,Mk
Luke 18:25** / Needle / ? Belovn / Surgical needle / Compare Mat,Mk
Luke 18:40 also 9:41 / Brought unto Him / #71,#4314, #86 / Bringing sick to a physician
Chapter 19
Luke 19:4** / Sycamore tree / #4809 Sukmoraia / Only Luke distinguishes from sycamore tree since both used medicinally see Luke 17:6
Luke 19:11
3:20, 12:25, 12:31, 17:5(also Acts 2:41 2:47, 5:14, 11:24, 12:3, 13:36) / Added / #4369 Prostheso / Application of remedies to body: wet sponges to head (Hippocrates) or concoction of acorns (Galen); Prosthesis / Luke 11 times
Rest NT 5 times
Luke 19:13** / Occupy, Do business / #4231 Pragmateuomai / Physician using his utmost skill and attention in a case of sickness
Luke 19:15** / Gained by trading / #1281 Diapragmateuomai
Luke 19:36** / Spread under / #5291Huppostronnuo / Spreading cushions under a person before procedure. Describe underlying position of membranes and tendons / Compare Mat 21:8; Mk 11:8
Luke 19:37** / The descent; going down; lower part / #2600 Katabasis / Used in anatomical description
Luke 19:48** / Very attentive / #1582 Ekkremamai / To pay close attention in medical practice/examination
Luke 19:13,16,18,20,24,25** / Pounds; Mina / #3414 Mna / Weight of silver = 100 Drachma
This weight was commonly used in measuring prescriptions
Chapter 20
Luke 20:20
Also Lk 14:1; 6:6 / Watch carefully / #3906 Paratereo / Close observation of symptoms of an illness / Mark 3:2
Gal 4:10
Chapter 21
Luke 21:11** / Fearful sights / #5400 Phobetron / Fearful objects that come in imagination of the sick
Luke 21:21** / Depart/leave / #1633 Eckchoreo / Disease leaving person?
Luke 21:25** / Perplexity / #640 Aporia / Perplexed state
Luke 21:26** / Hearts failing / #674 Apopsucho / The expectation of a fatal ending, illness, or pain.
Luke 21:30** / Shoot forth/budding / #4261 Proballo / Common medical term many uses / Compare Mat 5:13
Luke 21:34** / Overcharged or weighed down / #925 Baruno / Common medical term many uses
Chapter 22
Luke 22:41** / Stones casts, throw, distance / #1000 Bole / Throwing a bandage around limb
Impulse sends food down to stomach:peristalsis
Luke 22:43**
Also Acts 9:19 / Strengthen / #1765 Enischuo / Strengthen a person physically, mentally etc / Only Hippocrates uses this tense
Luke 22:44** / Agony / #74 Agonia / Common description in medical language for suffering. Agony / Used to describe pain of kidney stone.
Luke 22:44** / Sweat / #2402 Hidros / Sweat was closely observed by ancient physicians
Luke 22:44** / Great drops of blood / #2361 Thrombos / Clot of coagulated blood / Thrombus
Luke 22:44 / Falling down / #2597 Katabaino / Used to describe descent of humors from upper to lower parts of the body
Luke 22:45 / Sorrow/Anxiety / #3077 Lupe / Medical writers often linked sleep disturbances with anxiety / Only Luke gives cause
Luke 22:56
Also 4:20; Acts 1:10; 3:4,12; 6:15; 7:55; 10:4; 11:6; 13:9; 14:9; 23:1 / Eyes fixed on / #816 Atenizo / Peculiar fixed look in some patients / Only in 2 Cor 3:7,13
Compare Mk 14:66-67
Luke 22:59**
Also Acts 12:15 / Confidently affirmed / #1340 Diischurizomai / To gain strength in health / Compare Mat 26:73; Mk 14:70
Luke 22:59**
Also Lk 24:51, Acts 27:28 / Space of; To part from / #1339 Diistemi / Space of time between medicines or paroxysms of disease. Violent separation of a limb
Chapter 23
Luke 23:2
Also Luke 9:41
Acts 13:8, 13:10, 20:30 / Perverting / #1294 Diastrepho / Used to describe a distortion or twisting in medical descriptions / Only 2 other places
Matt 17:17
Phil 2:15
Luke 24:31** / Green, wet moist / #5200 Hugros / Frequent medical adjective
Luke 24:48** / Sight, viewing / #2335 Theoria / Medical theory;
Anatomical view of body
Luke 23:56
Also 29 other times / Return; Turn back / #5290 Hupostrepho / Medical term for relapse / Only 3 others in NT
Gl 1:17;Hb 7:1;2Pt 2:21
Chapter 24
Luke 24:1
Also Acts 5:21 / Early Morning
Daybreak / #3722 Orthros / Term used to describe time of seeing patient, disease abatement. / Only John 8:2
Luke 24:4**
Also Luke 9:7; Acts 2:12; 5:24; 10:17 / Perplexed / #1280 Diaporeo / Perplexed state
Luke 24:11** / Idle talk, tales / #3026 Leros / Wild talk of those in delirium
Luke 24:14,15**
Also Acts 20:11, 24:26 / Commune, converse or talk together / #3656 Homileo / Used in medicine to associate things together
Luke 24:17** / To cast from one to another / #474 Antiballo
Luke 24:22** / Early (meaning morning) / #3721 Orthrios / Term used to describe time of seeing patient, disease abatement.
Luke 24:29**
Also Acts 4:3, 28:23 / Evening / #2073 Hespera
Luke 24:29**
Also Acts 6:15 / Constrain, press, persuade / #3849 Parabiazomai / Frequent verb used in many senses
Luke 24:30**
Also 7:36, 9:14, 14:8 / Sit down / #2625 Kataklino / Laying a patient down in bed or for a procedure / Compare
Mat, Mk, Jn
Luke 24:33**
Also Acts 12:12; 19:25 / Gather together / #4867 Sunathroizo / Common verb used
Luke 24:42** / Broiled / #3702 Optos / Used to describe diet of the sick
Luke 24:42** / Honeycomb / #2781 Kerion / Frequent use in med preparations
Luke 24:51**
Also Lk 22:59,Act 27:28 / To part from / #1339 Diistemi / Violent separation of a limb
**Luke does not also use some language that others do for illness because they are not medical words: malakia, & basanesein**