1373. dipsos
Lexical Summary
dipsos: Thirst

Original Word: δίψος
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: dipsos
Pronunciation: DIP-sos
Phonetic Spelling: (dip'-sos)
KJV: thirst
NASB: thirst
Word Origin: [of uncertain affinity]

1. thirst

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
thirst.

Of uncertain affinity; thirst -- thirst.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from the same as dipsaó
Definition
thirst
NASB Translation
thirst (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 1373: δίψος

δίψος, διψηος (δίψους), τό, thirst: 2 Corinthians 11:27. (From Thucydides down, for the older δίψα.)

Topical Lexicon
Definition in Context

Strong’s Greek 1373 designates literal, bodily thirst. Whereas other Greek terms extend the idea to spiritual longing, this specific noun appears only once in the New Testament and speaks of the physical deprivation of water.

Scriptural Occurrence

2 Corinthians 11:27 stands as the sole New Testament witness: Paul recalls serving Christ “in hunger and thirst”. The apostle’s mention locates thirst among a catalog of afflictions endured for the gospel.

Paul’s Testimony of Suffering

• In the larger passage (2 Corinthians 11:23-29) Paul answers critics by listing hardships that verify his apostleship.
• “Thirst” is paired with “hunger,” “cold,” and “exposure,” showing a life marked by repeated physical lack, not mere occasional inconvenience.
• The confession underscores the costliness of authentic ministry and authenticates Paul’s love for the churches (compare 2 Corinthians 12:15).

Historical Background

• Journeys over the arid stretches of Asia Minor and the Middle East exposed travelers to dehydration.
• Roman roads offered milestones and occasional watering points, yet mission routes often deviated into sparsely populated regions.
• The apostolic band had no guarantee of hospitality (3 John 8-9 hints at refusal), making thirst a predictable hazard.

The Broader Biblical Motif

Although 1373 refers to physical thirst, Scripture frequently layers spiritual significance onto the same theme:
Psalm 63:1 – “My soul thirsts for You … in a dry, weary land without water.”
Isaiah 55:1 – “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters.”
John 7:37 – “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.”
Revelation 21:6 – “To the one who thirsts I will give freely from the spring of the water of life.”
Matthew 5:6 – “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

Ministry Significance

1. Identification with Christ

 • Jesus cried, “I thirst” (John 19:28), sharing humanity’s frailty. Paul’s thirst follows the same path of sacrificial obedience.
2. Authentic Apostolic Credentials

 • Material hardships confirm sincerity (1 Thessalonians 2:9). Modern servants likewise validate their witness when willing to endure discomfort for Christ.
3. Compassionate Outreach

 • Awareness of bodily thirst in Scripture grounds the church’s historic concern for clean-water projects and relief work (Matthew 25:35).
4. Warning against Prosperity-Only Expectations

 • Paul’s experience refutes any teaching that faithful service guarantees physical comfort (Acts 14:22).

Pastoral and Devotional Applications

• Personal Self-Examination: Does my discipleship embrace sacrifice or shrink from it?
• Intercession: Pray for missionaries laboring in climates where thirst remains a daily danger.
• Evangelism: Use the universal longing for water as a bridge to present Christ as “living water” (John 4:14).

Related Terms

• Strong’s Greek 1372 (verb “to thirst”) broadens the topic, appearing in passages of spiritual longing.
• Hebrew צָמָא (tsama) expresses similar realities in the Old Testament (Exodus 17:3; Psalm 42:2).

Summary

Strong’s Greek 1373 captures one stark word—“thirst.” In Paul’s life it signals the grittiness of apostolic service, reminding believers that the gospel advanced through genuine deprivation. Physical thirst in Scripture never stands alone; it presses the church to both meet human need and proclaim the One who forever satisfies.

Forms and Transliterations
δίψαν διψει δίψει δίψη δίψους dipsei dípsei
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
2 Corinthians 11:27 N-DNS
GRK: λιμῷ καὶ δίψει ἐν νηστείαις
NAS: in hunger and thirst, often
KJV: hunger and thirst, in fastings
INT: hunger and thirst in fastings

Strong's Greek 1373
1 Occurrence


δίψει — 1 Occ.

1372
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