Greek word · G5594

ψύχω

psychō

to cool

In classical Greek the root sense is 'breathe, blow', which extends to 'cool by blowing', 'make cold, chill' and, in the passive, 'become cold, grow cool' (LSJ). The word belongs to the same family as psychros ('cold', Rev 3:15–16) and anapsychō ('refresh, cool off').

Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ψύχω

[in LXX for קוּר, שָׁטַח ;]

to breathe, blow; hence, to make cool. Pass., to grow cool: metaphorically, Matthew 24:12.†

(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 Matthew 24:12

Range of meaning

In classical Greek the root sense is 'breathe, blow', which extends to 'cool by blowing', 'make cold, chill' and, in the passive, 'become cold, grow cool' (LSJ). The word belongs to the same family as psychros ('cold', Rev 3:15–16) and anapsychō ('refresh, cool off').

Against the English

Nearly every version says 'grow cold' (KJV 'wax cold'). That is accurate. The image of cooling is kept, but English readers may not notice that this is a rare, vivid word, used only here in the New Testament.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the LXX at Jeremiah 6:7, a cistern 'keeps its water cool' (psychei) as Jerusalem 'keeps cool' her wickedness. It is ordinary physical vocabulary for cooling, here turned into a metaphor. Greek writers often spoke of love and devotion as warmth or fire, and of its loss as cooling.

Similar words

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

  1. Matthew 24:12 ψυγήσεται will grow cold

    Because of the multiplication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.

    Here: 'Will be chilled, will grow cold'. This is the only place the verb appears in the New Testament. The image is warmth dying away, like a fire left to go out. It describes a gradual process, not a sudden switch to hatred.

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