Greek word · G5593

ψυχρός

psychros

cold

Cold, cool: of water, wind, weather, food and drink. Used figuratively in Greek for something dull, flat or 'frigid' (for example a weak joke or a lifeless speech), and sometimes for a person lacking warmth or zeal.

Appears 4 times in 3 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ψυχρός, -ά, -όν

(ψύχω), [in LXX: Proverbs 25:25 (קַר), Sirach 43:20, 4Ma.11:26 * ;]

cold: sc. ὕδωρ (cf. Theogn., 263; Hdt., ii, 37), Matthew 10:42; metaphorically, of indifferent persons, Revelation 3:15-16 †

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Revelation 3:15

Range of meaning

Cold, cool: of water, wind, weather, food and drink. Used figuratively in Greek for something dull, flat or 'frigid' (for example a weak joke or a lifeless speech), and sometimes for a person lacking warmth or zeal.

Against the English

English 'cold' in church use almost automatically means 'spiritually dead, hostile or indifferent to God'. The Greek word in a drinking context (v.16 is about spitting out a drink) carried no such sense. Cold water was valued.

How it drifted

Reading the verse as a scale of spiritual temperature (cold = unbeliever, hot = zealous, lukewarm = halfhearted) goes back at least to the Middle Ages and was popularized in Protestant revival preaching. English idioms like 'grown cold' made it feel natural.

Used elsewhere in the period

Matt 10:42: 'a cup of cold water' (potērion psychrou) given to a disciple is a rewarded kindness. Prov 25:25 LXX: 'like cold water (hydōr psychron) to a thirsty soul is good news.' Against this, Matt 24:12 uses the related verb psychō for love 'growing cold', so a negative figurative sense was also available to Christian readers.

From the study of Revelation 3:16

Range of meaning

psychros means cold or cool. Cold water was a valued refreshment in a hot climate (compare Matt 10:42, 'a cup of cold water'). zestos means boiling or hot, from zeō. Hot water was valued for drinks mixed at meals and for bathing and healing.

Against the English

English 'cold' in religious talk suggests hostility, indifference or spiritual deadness ('cold-hearted', 'gone cold'), and 'hot' suggests zeal. That makes the verse sound as though Christ would rather they were openly hostile than half-hearted.

How it drifted

Reading the pair as a spiritual thermometer is old and was popularised in later preaching. Romans 12:11 uses zeō for being 'fervent in spirit', which encouraged the reading. But that verse uses the verb, not this image, and it has no 'cold' opposite.

Used elsewhere in the period

Both temperatures appear as desirable in ancient banquet customs: hosts served drinks mixed with hot water and drinks chilled with snow. The Lycus valley was known for contrasting waters, with hot springs at Hierapolis (Strabo, Geography 13.4.14, on its petrifying hot waters) and cooler streams elsewhere.

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

  1. Matthew 10:42 ψυχροῦ of cold [water]

    And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is My disciple, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.”

    Here: 'Of cold': 'water' is understood. Cold water meant fresh water from a spring or deep well, which a thirsty traveller would want. It cost nothing but the effort of drawing it.

Revelation · 3

  1. Revelation 3:15 ψυχρὸς ψυχρὸς cold

    I know your deeds; you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were one or the other!

    Here: Literally cold, as of water or drink. In the drink picture of v.16, cold is something good: refreshing, like the 'cup of cold water' of Matt 10:42.

  2. Revelation 3:16 ψυχρός, cold,

    So because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to vomit you out of My mouth!

    Here: Cold, cool, as of water. In verse 15 Christ also wishes they were this, so cold is a good state, not the worst one.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.