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Emerod

Culture & Society

What is the meaning of Emerod in the Bible?

Emerod is an archaic English term for hemorrhoids, denoting swollen veins in the lower rectum and anus. The word appears in early English Bible translations, such as the King James Version, to describe physical ailments like those suffered by Job or as a metaphor for enduring suffering.

SIGNIFICANCE

Recognizing 'emerod' as a specific medical condition clarifies the literal physical suffering described in biblical narratives, allowing readers to better comprehend the tangible health challenges faced by figures in ancient texts and the cultural understanding of disease in earlier English translations.

Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide

Ancient Cultural Lens: Avoid applying 21st-century Western assumptions to Emerod. Examine how first-century or Near Eastern listeners understood this practice within their daily social dynamics.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
  • Why did the biblical author mention Emerod in this passage?
  • What cultural or historical assumption does Emerod clarify?

Source Attribution

Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.

How to Cite This Entry

"Emerod." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/emerod/
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