The Greek verb helkoo means to wound or cover with sores β the verbal form of helkos. It appears only once in the New Testament, in Luke 16:20, describing the condition of Lazarus.
The passive participle heilkomenos β 'having been covered with sores' β describes Lazarus's condition in Luke 16:20. The perfect passive form suggests a lasting, ongoing condition of suffering. This word deepens our understanding of Lazarus's plight: he was not merely unfortunate but physically afflicted with festering wounds, laid at the rich man's gate, in a condition of extreme vulnerability. The juxtaposition with the rich man's luxury makes the contrast stark. Jesus's choice of this specific detail underscores that He sees and names the suffering of the most broken β and that their condition is not hidden from God. The one whose wounds were visible to all, but ignored by the wealthy, was seen by heaven and honored at death.