A Brighter Day Begins with His Word.

BIBLE DICTIONARY + WORD STUDY

Flesh

Original Hebrew / Aramaic / Greek connected to this term

How to read this: there is rarely one magic “true meaning” hidden behind an English word. A lexicon records a word’s semantic range. The intended meaning is narrowed by grammar, sentence, author, historical usage and context.

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H1320

בָּשָׂר

ba.sar — flesh

1) flesh 1a) of the body 1a1) of humans 1a2) of animals 1b) the body itself 1c) male organ of generation (euphemism) 1d) kindred, blood-relations 1e) flesh as frail or erring (man against God) 1f) all living things 1g) animals 1h) mankind Aramaic equivalent: be.shar (בְּשַׁר "flesh" H1321)

219 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G4561

σάρξ

sarx — flesh

σάρξ, σαρκός, ἡ [in LXX chiefly for בָּשָׂר ;] flesh; 1. as in cl. generally, (a) prop., of the soft substance of the animal body: 1Co.15:39, 2Co.12:7, Gal.6:13, al.; σ. καὶ αἷμα, 1Co.5:50; σ. καὶ ὀστέα, Luk.24:39; pl., of the flesh of many or parts of the flesh of one (cl.), Rev.17:16 19:18; φαγεῖν, Re, ll. with (cf. κατεσθίειν, 4Ki.9:36, al., and βιβρώσκειν, frequently in l.); metaphorically, Jas.5:3; mystically, φ. (τρώγειν) τὴν σ. τοῦ υἱοῦ τ. ἀνθρώπου, Jhn.6:52-56; (b) Of the whole substance of the body, = σῶμα: Act.2:26 (LXX), 31, 2Co.12:7, Gal.4:14, Eph.5:29; μία σ., Mrk.10:8; εἰς σ. μίαν (Gen.2:24), Mat.19:5, Mrk.10:8, 1Co.6:16, Eph.5:31; hence, of the material as opposite to the immaterial part of man (cf. Lft., Notes, 88): opposite to πνεῦμα, 1Co.5:5, 2Co.7:1, Col.2:5, 1Pe.3:18, 4:6; to ψύχη, Act.2:31, Rec.; of the present life, ἐν (τῇ) σ., Rom.7:5, Gal.2:20, Php.1:22, 24 1Pe.4:2; of Christ's life on earth, αἱ ἡμέραι τ. σαρκὸς αὐτοῦ, Heb.5:7; of things pertaining to the body, ἐν (τῇ) σ., Gal.6:12, 13 Php.3:3, 4. 2. As in Heb. idiom, (a) of a living creature: πᾶσα σ. (Heb. כָּל־בָּשָׂר; cf. Bl., §47, 9), Mat.24:22, Mrk.13:20, 1Pe.1:24; esp. of man and his mortality (Psa.55 (56):5, Sir.28:5, al.), Jhn.1:14; πᾶσα σ. (see supr.), Luk.3:6, Jhn.17:2, Act.2:17, ἐν σ., 1Jo.4:2, 1Ti.3:16; (b) of natural origin and relationship (Gen.2:24, Isa.58:7, al.): τέκνα τῆς σ., Rom.9:8; κατὰ σάρκα, ib. 3, 5, 1Co.10:18, Gal.4:23, 29; ἡ σ. μου, Rom.11:14 (cf. Jdg.9:2, 2Ki.5:1, al.). 3. Of the physical nature as subject to sensation and desire (Plut.), (a) without any ethical disparagement: Rom.7:18 13:14; opposite to πνεῦμα, Mat.26:41, Mrk.14:38; τ. θέλημα τῆς σ., Jhn.1:13; ἡ ἐπιθυμία τῆς σ., 1Jn.2:16; pl., 2Pe.2:18; παθεῖν σαρκί, 1Pe.4:1; (b) in ethical sense, esp. in Pauline Epp., of the flesh as the seat and vehicle of sinful desires: opposite to νοῦς, Rom.7:25; to πνεῦμα, Rom.8:4-9, 12, 13, Gal.5:16, 17 19 6:8 (cf. DB, ii, 14f.; iv, 165f.; Cremer, 844ff.). (AS)

126 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H7607

שְׁאֵר

she.er — flesh

1) flesh, food, body, near kin, near kinswoman 1a) flesh 1a1) as food 1a2) for physical power (fig) 1b) flesh relation, blood relation 1c) self Also means: sha.a.rah (שַׁאֲרָה "kinswomen" H7608)

16 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G3588

ho — the/this/who

ὁ, ἡ, τό, the prepositive article (ἄρθρον προτακτικόν), originally a demonstr. pron. (so usually in Hom.), in general corresponding to the Eng. definite article. I. As demonstr. pron. 1. As frequently in Hom., absol., he (she, it), his (etc.): Act.17:28 (quoted from the poet Aratus). 2. Distributive, ὁ μὲν . . . ὁ δέ, the one . . . the other: 1Co.7:7, Gal.4:22; pl., Act.14:4, 17:32, Php.1:16, al.; οἱ μὲν . . . ἄλλοι δέ, Mat.16:14, Jhn.7:12; οἱ μεν̀ . . . ὁδέ, Heb.7:21, 23. 3. In narration (without ὁ μὲν preceding), ὁ δέ, but he: Mat.2:14, Mrk.1:45, Luk.8:21, Jhn.9:38, al. mult. II. As prepositive article, the, prefixed, 1. to nouns unmodified: ὁ θεός, τὸ φῶς, etc.; to abstract nouns, ἡ σοφία, etc., to pl. nouns which indicate a class, οἱ ἀλώπεκες, foxes, Mat.8:20, al.; to an individual as representing a class, ὁ ἐργάτης, Luk.10:7; with nom. = voc. in addresses, Mat.11:26, Jhn.19:3, Jas.5:1, al.; to things which pertain to one, ἡ χεῖρ, his hand, Mrk.3:1; to names of persons well known or already mentioned; usually to names of countries (originally adjectives), ἡ Ἰουδαία, etc. 2. To modified nouns: with of person(s) pron. genitive, μοῦ, σοῦ, etc.; with poss. pron., ἐμός, σός, etc.; with adj. between the art. and the noun, ὁ ἀγαθὸς ἄνθρωπος, Mat.12:35; the noun foll, by adj., both with art., ὁ ποιμὴν ὁ καλός, Jhn.10:11 (on ὁ ὄχλος πολύς, Jhn.12:9, see M, Pr., 84); before adjectival phrases, ἡ κατ᾽ ἐκλογὴν πρόθεσις, Rom.9:11. 3. To Other parts of speech used as substantives; (a) neuter adjectives: τ. ἀγαθόν, etc.; (b) cardinal numerals: ὁ εἶς, οἷ δύο, etc.; (with) participles: ὁ βαπτίζων (= ὁ Βαπτιστής, Mat.14:2), Mrk.6:14; πᾶς ὁ, with ptcp., every one who, etc.; (d) adverbs: τὸ πέραν, τὰ νῦν, ὁ ἔσω ἄνθρωπος; (e) infinitives: nom., τὸ θέλειν, Rom.7:18, al.; genitive, τοῦ, after adjectives, ἄξιον τοῦ πορεύεσθαι, 1Co.16:4; verbs, ἐλαχεν τοῦ θυμιᾶσαι, Luk.1:9; and frequently in a final sense, ἐξῆλθεν ὁ σπείρειν, Mat.13:3 (on the artic. inf., see Bl., §71). 4. In the neut. to sentences, phrases or single words treated as a quotation: τὸ Ἐι δύνῃ, Mrk.9:23; τὸ ἔτι ἅπαξ, Heb.12:27; τὸ ἀνέβη, Eph.4:9, al. 5. To prepositional phrases: οἱ ἀπὸ Ἰταλίας, Heb.13:24; οἱ ἐκ νόμου, Rom.4:14; neut. accusative absol., in adverbial phrases, τὸ καθ᾽ ἡμέραν, daily, Luk.11:3; τὸ κατὰ σάρκα, as regards the flesh, Rom.9:5. 6. To nouns in the genitive, denoting kinship, association, etc.: ὁ τοῦ, the son of (unless context indicates a different relationship), Mat.10:2, al.; τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ, the things that pertain to God, Mat.16:23; τὰ τῆς εἰρήνης, Rom.14:19 (cf. M, Pr., 81ff.; Bl, §§46, 47). (AS)

6942 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H398

אָכַל

a.khal — to eat

1) to eat, devour, burn up, feed 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to eat (human subject) 1a2) to eat, devour (of beasts and birds) 1a3) to devour, consume (of fire) 1a4) to devour, slay (of sword) 1a5) to devour, consume, destroy (inanimate subjects - ie, pestilence, drought) 1a6) to devour (of oppression) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be eaten (by men) 1b2) to be devoured, consumed (of fire) 1b3) to be wasted, destroyed (of flesh) 1c) (Pual) 1c1) to cause to eat, feed with 1c2) to cause to devour 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to feed 1d2) to cause to eat 1e) (Piel) 1e1) consume Aramaic equivalent: a.khal (אֲכַל "to devour" H0399)

643 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H7390

רַךְ

rakh — tender

1) tender, soft, delicate, weak 1a) tender, delicate (of flesh) 1b) weak of heart, timid 1c) soft (of words) 1c1) gentle words (subst)

15 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H4241

מִחְיָה

mich.yah — recovery

1) preservation of life, sustenance 1a) preservation of life 1b) sustenance 1c) reviving 1d) the quick of the flesh, live flesh, tender or raw flesh

8 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G4559

σαρκικός

sarkikos — fleshly

σαρκικός, -ή, -όν (σάρξ) (seel. for σάρκινος, Arist., H.A., x, 2, 7) = Lat. carnalis, i.e. (a) associated with or pertaining to the flesh, fleshly, carnal: Rom.15:27, 1Co.9:11; (b) in a more ethical sense, of the nature of the flesh, under the control of its appetites, fleshly, carnal, sensual (but including more than mere sensuality; cf. Hort, 1Pe., 133): 1Co.3:3, 2Co.1:12 10:4, 1Pe.2:11.† SYN.: σάρκινος (which see), ψυχικός; cf. Tr., Syn., §§ LXXi, LXXii; Lft., Notes, 184 f.; Vau. on Rom.7:14 (AS)

6 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G4560

σάρκινος

sarkinos — fleshly

σάρκινος, -η, -ον (σάρξ), [in LXX: 2Ch.32:8, Eze.11:19 36:26 (בָּשָׂר), Est.4:17, Pro.24:23 (Pro.29:27) * ;] = Lat. carneus (the termination -ινος denoting the substance or material of a thing; see Tr., Syn., § LXXii; Lft., Notes, 184; and for illustrations from π., see MM, xxii), of the flesh, of flesh, fleshy (Plat., Arist., Plut., al.): Rom.7:14, 1Co.3:1, 2Co.3:3, Heb.7:16. (Rec. has -ικός in all these passages except 2Co.3:3, but the evidence is decisive against it.)† SYN.: σαρκικός, q.v (AS)

4 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G2907

κρέας

kreas — meat

κρέας, -έως, pl., κρέα [in LXX for בָּשָׂר (freq.) ;] flesh, meat: Rom.14:21, 1Co.8:13.† (AS)

2 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G4140

πλησμονή

plēsmonē — gratification

πλησμονή, -ῆς, ἡ (πίμπλημι), [in LXX chiefly for שָׂבֵעַ and cognate forms ;] a filling up, satiety: πρὸς π. σαρκός (RV, against the indulgence of the flesh; but ICC, in l, for the full satisfaction of the flesh, op. cit., 276 ff.), Col.2:23.† (AS)

1 tagged verse occurrence · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G20626

κωλῆ

kōlē — membrum virile

the thigh-bone with the flesh on it, the ham , especially of a swine, (Aristophanes Comicus) (ML)

0 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G6772

γυμνόω

gumnoō — be naked

to strip naked , (Sophocles Tragicus); τὰ ὀστέα τῶν κρεῶν γ. to strip the bones of their flesh, (Herdotus Historicus):—;in Pass., of warriors, to be left naked or exposed , (Homer); so, τεῖχος ἐγυμνώθη the wall was left bare , i. e. defenceless , (Iliad by Homer): but also to strip oneself naked or to be stript naked , (Odyssey by Homer); with genitive, ἐγυμνώθη ῥακέων he stript himself of his rags, (Odyssey by Homer); so later, γυμνωθὲν ξίφος (Herdotus Historicus) (ML)

0 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G7734

ἰσχίον

ischion — a hip

1. the hip-joint , (Homer) 2. in plural the fleshy parts round the hip-joint, the haunches, hams , (Iliad by Homer) derivation uncertain (ML)

0 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G8091

κρεανομέω

kreanomeō — to dress meat

to distribute flesh, to divide the flesh of a victim among the guests, (Lucian):—;Mid. to divide among themselves , (Theocritus Poeta Bucolicus) (ML)

0 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

Historical dictionary entry

In the Old Testament denotes (1) a particular part of the body of man and animals (Gen. 2:21; 41:2; Ps. 102:5, marg.); (2) the whole body (Ps. 16:9); (3) all living things having flesh, and particularly humanity as a whole (Gen. 6:12, 13); (4) mutability and weakness (2 Chr. 32:8; comp. Isa. 31:3; Ps. 78:39). As suggesting the idea of softness it is used in the expression “heart of flesh” (Ezek. 11:19). The expression “my flesh and bone” (Judg. 9:2; Isa. 58:7) denotes relationship. In the New Testament, besides these it is also used to denote the sinful element of human nature as opposed to the “Spirit” (Rom. 6:19; Matt. 16:17). Being “in the flesh” means being unrenewed (Rom. 7:5; 8:8, 9), and to live “according to the flesh” is to live and act sinfully (Rom. 8:4, 5, 7, 12). This word also denotes the human nature of Christ (John 1:14, “The Word was made flesh.” Comp. also 1 Tim. 3:16; Rom. 1:3).

Scripture references

Source: Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897). Historical dictionary wording reflects the scholarship and language of its era.

Compare other reference traditions

Look up Flesh in Smith’s Bible Dictionary and ISBE →