The term “dropsy” is an ancient medical description for a condition characterized by the abnormal accumulation of fluid within the body’s tissues. Found in texts from antiquity, including the Bible, this historical diagnosis refers to a visible symptom rather than a specific disease, signifying a profound internal imbalance. Exploring the context of “dropsy” reveals an intersection of ancient medicine, biblical scholarship, and contemporary physiology.
The Historical Meaning of Dropsy
The word “dropsy” is an English abbreviation of the Greek term hydrops, which literally translates to “water” or “waterlogged.” This etymology highlights the condition’s defining characteristic: excessive fluid retention leading to swelling, or edema. Ancient and pre-modern physicians, including Hippocrates, understood dropsy as a debilitating affliction that often presented with swelling in the legs, abdomen, or generalized throughout the entire body (anasarca).
In the humoral theory that dominated ancient medicine, dropsy was linked to an imbalance, specifically an excess of phlegm, one of the four principal bodily fluids. This theory proposed that disease resulted from disharmony among the humors. Since diagnostic tools were non-existent, “dropsy” served as a broad, symptom-based description encompassing various forms of internal fluid accumulation, such as fluid in the chest (hydrothorax) or the abdominal cavity (ascites).
Dropsy in the New Testament
The term “dropsy” appears only once in the New Testament, specifically in the Gospel of Luke (Luke 14:2). This single mention is significant because Luke is traditionally identified as a physician, suggesting his attention to medical detail. The passage describes Jesus attending a Sabbath meal at the house of a prominent Pharisee, where a man afflicted with dropsy was present.
The man’s presence has been interpreted as a test, a deliberate attempt by the Pharisees to challenge Jesus’ interpretation of the Sabbath law. Jewish traditions permitted healing on the Sabbath only if the patient was in imminent danger of death; dropsy was not typically considered an immediate emergency. Jesus framed the situation by asking if it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath, contrasting the man’s suffering with the accepted practice of rescuing a fallen animal. By healing the man, Jesus asserted the authority of compassion over a rigid interpretation of the law.
Modern Medical Interpretation
In contemporary medicine, the term “dropsy” is obsolete, replaced by the precise physiological term edema. Edema describes the swelling caused by fluid leaking from blood vessels into the interstitial spaces between the body’s cells. This fluid accumulation is not a disease itself but a symptom indicating a serious failure in the body’s fluid management systems.
The severe, generalized swelling described as dropsy typically points to major organ dysfunction. Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is a common cause, as insufficient heart pumping leads to pressure backup in the veins and subsequent fluid leakage. Severe renal failure, or kidney disease, also causes edema because the kidneys fail to excrete adequate sodium and water. Liver failure, often from cirrhosis, disrupts the production of blood proteins necessary for fluid balance, leading to widespread fluid retention, particularly ascites.