Lexical Summary haima: Blood Original Word: αἷμα Strong's Exhaustive Concordance blood. Of uncertain derivation; blood, literally (of men or animals), figuratively (the juice of grapes) or specially (the atoning blood of Christ); by implication, bloodshed, also kindred -- blood. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain origin Definition blood NASB Translation blood (94), hemorrhage* (3). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 129: αἷμααἷμα, (τος, τό, blood, whether of men or of animals: 1. a. simply and generally: John 19:34; Revelation 8:7; Revelation 11:6; Revelation 16:3f, 6{b} (on which passages cf. Exodus 7:20ff); b. As it was anciently believed that the blood is the seat of the life (Leviticus 17:11; (cf. Delitzsch, Biblical Psychol, pp. 238-247 (English translation, p. 281ff))), the phrase σάρξ καί αἷμα (וְדָם בָּשָׂר, a common phrase in rabbinical writers), or in inverse order αἷμα καί σάρξ, denotes man's living body compounded of flesh and blood, 1 Corinthians 15:50; Hebrews 2:14, and so hints at the contrast between man and God (or even the more exalted creatures, Ephesians 6:12) as to suggest his feebleness, Ephesians 6:12 (Sir. 14:18), which is conspicuous as respects the knowledge of divine things, Galatians 1:16; Matthew 16:17. c. Since the first germs of animal life are thought to be in the blood (Wis. 7:2; Eustathius ad Iliad 6, 211 (ii. 104, 2) τό δέ αἵματος ἀντί τοῦ σπέρματος φασίν οἱ σαφοὶ, ὡς τοῦ σπέρματος ὕλην τό αἷμα ἔχοντος), the word serves to denote generation and origin (in the classics also): John 1:13 (on the plural cf. Winer's Grammar, 177 (166)); Acts 17:26 (R G). d. It is used of those things which by their redness resemble blood: αἷμα σταφυλῆς the juice of the grape ('the blood of grapes,' Genesis 49:11; Deuteronomy 32:14), Sir. 39:26 Sir. 50:15; 1 Macc. 6:34, etc.; Achilles Tatius 2:2; reference to this is made in Revelation 14:18-20. εἰς αἷμα, of the moon, Acts 2:20 (Joel 2:31 ( 2. bloodshed or to be shed by violence (very often also in the classics); a.: Luke 13:1 (the meaning is, whom Pilate had ordered to be massacred while they were sacrificing, so that their blood mingled with the blood (yet cf. Winer's Grammar, 623 (579)) of the victims); αἷμα ἀθοῷν (or δίκαιον Tr marginal reading WH text) the blood of an innocent (or righteous) man viz. to be shed, Matthew 27:4; έ᾿κχειν and ἐκχύνειν αἷμα (דָּם שָׁפַך, Genesis 9:6; Isaiah 59:7, etc.) to shed blood, slay, Matthew 23:35; Luke 11:50; Acts 22:20; Romans 3:15; Revelation 16:6 (here Tdf. αἵματα); hence, αἷμα is used for the bloody death itself: Matthew 23:30, 35; Matthew 27:24; Luke 11:51; Acts ( b. It is used specially of the blood of sacrificial victims having a purifying or expiating power (Leviticus 17:11): Hebrews 9:7, 12f, 18-22, 25; Hebrews 10:4; Hebrews 11:28; Hebrews 13:11. c. Frequent mention is made in the N. T. of the blood of Christ (αἷμα τοῦ Χριστοῦ, 1 Corinthians 10:16; τοῦ κυρίου, The term frequently denotes the literal fluid that sustains earthly life. Jesus distinguished divine revelation from “flesh and blood” (Matthew 16:17), Paul reminded believers that “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 15:50), and warned against wrestling “against flesh and blood” (Ephesians 6:12). Such texts place humanity’s limitations in relief, underscoring the need for heavenly intervention. Blood Guilt, Innocence, and Judgment Scripture treats blood as the marker of moral accountability. Judas confessed, “I have betrayed innocent blood” (Matthew 27:4). Pilate washed his hands, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood” (Matthew 27:24), yet the crowd cried, “His blood be on us and on our children!” (Matthew 27:25). Paul could declare, after faithfully preaching, “I am innocent of the blood of all men” (Acts 20:26). The martyrs under the altar plead, “How long, O Lord… until You avenge our blood?” (Revelation 6:10), showing that shed blood cries out for divine justice (Genesis 4:10 echoed in Hebrews 12:24). Mosaic Sacrifice and Preparatory Shadows Under the Law “almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22). Animal sacrifices (Hebrews 9:13) and the sprinkled scroll and people (Hebrews 9:19-21) prefigured a better sacrifice. Yet “it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4); these rites served as types leading to Christ. Covenant Ratification Blood seals divine covenants. At Sinai Moses declared, “This is the blood of the covenant that God has commanded for you” (Hebrews 9:20). In the upper room Jesus applied those very words: “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you” (Luke 22:20; cf. Matthew 26:28; Mark 14:24). The new covenant thus rests upon the final, efficacious shedding of the Messiah’s blood. The Redemptive Blood of Christ Jesus’ blood alone accomplishes eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:12). Through it we have: The Lord’s Supper Believers perpetually proclaim this saving work in the cup. “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ?” (1 Corinthians 10:16). Partaking “in an unworthy manner” risks guilt “concerning the body and blood of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 11:27), so self-examination precedes communion. Sanctification and Daily Walk Christ’s blood not only secures positional righteousness but ongoing sanctification: “Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to sanctify the people by His own blood” (Hebrews 13:12). Believers “wash their robes and make them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:14), living in continual dependence on that cleansing flood. Prohibition of Blood Consumption and Idolatry Because life belongs to God, Gentile converts were instructed “to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from what has been strangled, and from blood” (Acts 15:20, 29; 21:25). The command respects the sanctity of life and separates Christian worship from pagan ritualism. Healing and Physical Life The flow of life and its disorders appear in miracle narratives. A woman suffering “a discharge of blood for twelve years… was healed immediately” upon touching Jesus’ garment (Mark 5:25-29; Luke 8:43-44). In Gethsemane His sweat “became like drops of blood falling to the ground” (Luke 22:44), foreshadowing the coming atonement. Martyrdom and Witness Stephen’s death (Acts 22:20) and the subsequent shedding of missionary blood fulfill Jesus’ prediction that some would “kill” His messengers (Matthew 23:34-35). Revelation envisions a harlot city “drunk with the blood of the saints” (Revelation 17:6), yet the final verdict is sure: “He has avenged on her the blood of His servants” (Revelation 19:2). Eschatological Judgments Cosmic upheavals turn creation itself into portents of blood: the moon becomes “like blood” (Acts 2:20; Revelation 6:12), seas and rivers become “blood like that of a dead man” (Revelation 16:3-4), and hail mixed with blood falls to the earth (Revelation 8:7-8). These plagues graphically announce divine wrath against persistent rebellion. Theological Synthesis Life, covenant, purification, forgiveness, fellowship, victory, and judgment all converge in this single word. Blood is the divinely appointed medium through which sin is exposed and expiated, mercy is granted, and God’s righteous reign is vindicated. To preach Christ crucified is therefore to proclaim the “precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot” (1 Peter 1:19). Ministry Implications 1. Proclamation: Center evangelism and teaching on the cross and its shed blood. Thus Strong’s Greek 129 threads through Scripture as the scarlet cord of redemption, from the first altar to the final triumph, declaring that “to Him who loves us and has released us from our sins by His blood… be glory and dominion forever and ever” (Revelation 1:5-6). Englishman's Concordance Matthew 16:17 N-NNSGRK: σὰρξ καὶ αἷμα οὐκ ἀπεκάλυψέν NAS: flesh and blood did not reveal KJV: flesh and blood hath not INT: flesh and blood not revealed [it] Matthew 23:30 N-DNS Matthew 23:35 N-NNS Matthew 23:35 N-GNS Matthew 23:35 N-GNS Matthew 26:28 N-NNS Matthew 27:4 N-ANS Matthew 27:6 N-GNS Matthew 27:8 N-GNS Matthew 27:24 N-GNS Matthew 27:25 N-NNS Matthew 27:49 N-NNS Mark 5:25 N-GNS Mark 5:29 N-GNS Mark 14:24 N-NNS Luke 8:43 N-GNS Luke 8:44 N-GNS Luke 11:50 N-NNS Luke 11:51 N-GNS Luke 11:51 N-GNS Luke 13:1 N-ANS Luke 22:20 N-DNS Luke 22:44 N-GNS John 1:13 N-GNP John 6:53 N-ANS Strong's Greek 129 |
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