ὑγῐ-αίνω G5198
To be sound or healthy; of doctrine, to be wholesome and free from error; of persons, to be physically well.
A medical term that the Pastoral Epistles brilliantly repurpose as a theological metaphor. In its figurative sense, 'sound' teaching is teaching that produces spiritual health — free from the infection of false doctrine. Paul and Titus use the participle hygiainon repeatedly to qualify 'words,' 'teaching,' and 'faith' (1 Tim 1:10; 6:3; 2 Tim 1:13; 4:3; Titus 1:9, 13; 2:1–2). The Spanish sanas ('healthy, wholesome') and the medical etymology make the metaphor vivid: bad theology is a disease. In its literal sense the word describes physical health, as when Jesus declares that 'those who are well have no need of a physician' (Luke 5:31), or the centurion's servant is found 'healthy' (Luke 7:10), or the father celebrates that his prodigal son has returned 'safe and sound' (Luke 15:27).
Senses
1. sound, healthy (doctrine) — Metaphorically sound or healthy, said of doctrine, teaching, words, or faith that are theologically correct and spiritually wholesome. A hallmark of the Pastoral Epistles (1 Tim 1:10; 6:3; 2 Tim 1:13; 4:3; Titus 1:9, 13; 2:1–2), where the medical metaphor implies that false teaching is a contagion and sound doctrine promotes spiritual vitality. Spanish sanas/de-sanas and the consistent pairing with 'words' or 'teaching' confirm this as a semi-technical Pastoral term. 8×
AR["-الصَّحيحِ", "أَصِحّاءَ", "التَّعْليمِ-الصَّحيحِ", "الصَّحيحَ", "الصَّحيحَةِ", "الصَّحيحِ", "يَصِحّوا"]·ben["সুস্থ", "সুস্থ-থাকতে", "সুস্থ-হয়"]·DE["ὑγιαίνοντας", "ὑγιαίνουσιν", "ὑγιαίνωσιν", "ὑγιαινούσης", "ὑγιαινούσῃ", "ὑγιαινόντων"]·EN["of-sound", "sound", "they-may-be-sound"]·FR["ὑγιαίνοντας", "ὑγιαίνουσιν", "ὑγιαίνωσιν", "ὑγιαινούσης", "ὑγιαινούσῃ", "ὑγιαινόντων"]·heb["בְּרִאִים", "בְּרִיאִים", "בְּרִיאָה", "הַבְּרִיאָה", "יִהְיוּ-בְרִאִים"]·HI["स्वस्थ", "स्वस्थ,", "स्वस्थ-होन"]·ID["mereka-sehat", "sehat", "sehat,", "yang-sehat"]·IT["sano"]·jav["saras", "saras,", "saé"]·KO["건강하도록", "건전한", "건전한-자들"]·PT["de-sãs", "estejam-sãos", "sã", "sã,", "sãos", "sãs"]·RU["здравого", "здравом", "здравому", "здравым", "здравыми", "здравыми-были", "здравых"]·ES["a-sanas", "de-sanas", "estén-sanos", "sana", "sanos"]·SW["mafundisho-yenye-afya", "wawe-na-afya", "wenye-afya", "ya-maneno-yenye-afya", "yenye-afya"]·TR["sağlam", "sağlıklı", "sağlıklı,", "sağlıklı-olsunlar"]·urd["صحیح", "صحیح-ہوں"]
2. healthy, well (physical) — Literally healthy, well, or physically sound, describing the bodily condition of a person. Jesus uses it in his physician proverb — 'those who are healthy have no need of a doctor' (Luke 5:31). The centurion's servant is found hygiainonta, 'in good health' (Luke 7:10), and the father rejoices that his prodigal son has come back hygiainonta, 'safe and sound' (Luke 15:27). John's wish for Gaius's physical health (3 John 1:2) rounds out this literal usage. Arabic أَصِحّاءُ and Hebrew בָּרִיא both confirm the straightforward medical register. 4×
AR["أَصِحّاءُ", "أَن-تَصِحَّ", "سليمًا", "سَالِمًا"]·ben["সুস্থ", "সুস্থ-হতে", "সুস্থদের", "সুস্থে"]·DE["ὑγιαίνειν", "ὑγιαίνοντα", "ὑγιαίνοντες"]·EN["being-healthy", "healthy", "to-be-healthy"]·FR["en-bonne-santé", "ὑγιαίνειν"]·heb["בְּרִאִים", "בָּרִיא", "לִהְיוֹת־בָּרִיא"]·HI["स्वस्थ", "स्वस्थ-रहे,", "स्वस्थ-होकर", "स्वस्थों-को"]·ID["sehat"]·IT["sano", "ugiainonta", "ugiainontes"]·jav["ingkang-sehat", "saras", "sehat", "wilujeng"]·KO["건강하기를", "건강한", "건강한-사람들이"]·PT["com-saúde", "são", "tenhas-saúde,"]·RU["здоровые", "здоровым", "здравствовать"]·ES["que-están-sanos", "sano", "tengas-salud"]·SW["mzima", "uwe-na-afya", "wenye-afya"]·TR["sağlıklı", "sağlıklı-olmanı,", "sağlıklı.", "sağlıklıların"]·urd["تندرست", "صحت-مند-ہونے،"]
Related Senses
H7200 1. Qal: to see, perceive (1257×)G4771 2. you (singular address) (1077×)H8085 1. Qal: hear, perceive aurally (921×)H0859a 1. you (2nd person masculine singular pronoun) (743×)H0398 1. eat (consume food) (697×)H4191 1. die (Qal: natural/general death) (645×)G3708 1. see, perceive visually (419×)G0191 1. hear, perceive sound (360×)H???? 3. (352×)G3708 2. behold, look (exclamatory) (256×)H7272 1. foot (body part) (236×)H8354 1. drink, consume liquid (209×)H3205 1. Qal active: bear/give birth (female subject) (204×)H3205 2. Qal active: beget/father (male subject) (198×)H2421 1. Qal: live, be alive (177×)H8085 2. Qal: listen, heed, pay attention (172×)H2416a 1. alive, living (state/attribute) (146×)H2416e 1. life, lifespan, lifetime (145×)G2198 1. be alive, have life (133×)H8193 1. lip, lips (body part) (123×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ὑγῐ-αίνω, Refs 6th c.BC+: future -ᾰνῶRefs 5th c.BC+: aorist ὑγίᾱνα Refs 4th c.BC+, Ionic dialect ὑγίηνα Refs 5th c.BC+. [ῠ, but ῡ in augmented tenses, Refs:—to be sound, healthy, or in health, Refs 6th c.BC+; opposed to νοσεῖν, κάμνειν, Refs 5th c.BC+; participle ὑγιαίνων, ={ὑγιής},{δυνάμενος}, Refs 5th c.BC+healthy, Refs 1st c.AD+, compare 43b; ὄψα τῶν λιτῶν καὶ ὑ. Refsto be in a certain state…