Lexical Summary diaphtheiró: To destroy, to corrupt, to ruin, to spoil Original Word: διαφθείρω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance corrupt, destroy, perish. From diaballo and phtheiro; to rot thoroughly, i.e. (by implication) to ruin (passively, decay utterly, figuratively, pervert) -- corrupt, destroy, perish. see GREEK diaballo see GREEK phtheiro HELPS Word-studies 1311 diaphtheírō (from 1223 /diá, "thoroughly," which intensifies 5351 /phtheírō, "defile, corrupt") – properly, thoroughly corrupt, totally degenerate (disintegrate); waste away by the decaying influence of moral (spiritual) impurity; "utterly corrupt"; becoming thoroughly disabled (morally depraved), "all the way through" ("utterly decayed"). [Vine, Unger, White (NT, 130), "1311 (diaphtheírō) comes from dia, 'through,' 'intensive,' to corrupt utterly, through and through." The noun form, 1312 (diaphthorá), likewise means "thorough decay."] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom dia and phtheiró Definition to destroy utterly, to spoil, corrupt NASB Translation decaying (1), depraved (1), destroy (2), destroyed (1), destroys (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1311: διαφθείρωδιαφθείρω; 1 aorist διεφθειρα; passive (present διαφθείρομαι); perfect participle διεφθαρμενος; 2 aorist διεφθαρην; the Sept. very often for שִׁחֵת, occasionally for חִבֵּל; in Greek writings from Homer down; 1. to change for the worse, to corrupt: minds, morals; τήν γῆν, i. e. the men that inhabit the earth, Revelation 11:18; διεφθαρμένοι τόν νοῦν, 1 Timothy 6:5 (τήν διάνοιαν, Plato, legg. 10, p. 888 a.; τόν γνώμην, Dionysius Halicarnassus Antiquities 5, 21; τούς ὀφθαλμούς, Xenophon, an. 4, 5, 12). 2. to destroy, ruin, (Latinperdere); a. to consume, of bodily vigor and strength: ὁ ἔξω ἡμῶν ἄνθρωπος διαφθείρεται (is decaying), 2 Corinthians 4:16; of the worm or moth that eats provisions, clothing, etc. Luke 12:33. b. to destroy (Latindelere): Revelation 8:9; to kill, διαφθείρειν τούς, etc. Revelation 11:18. The verb conveys the idea of ruin brought about by internal corruption or external destruction. It spans material decay (as in ships and bodies), moral degeneration (as in minds and doctrines), and the final judgment of God upon unrepentant opposition. Occurrence in the New Testament 1. Luke 12:33 – “Provide purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.” Historical Background Classical usage includes agricultural blight, rotting wood, or the collapse of civic order. In Scripture the word inherits these layers but adds definitive moral and eschatological weight: the decay of a fallen creation under sin and the decisive intervention of God to halt it. Moral and Spiritual Corruption Paul applies the verb to false teachers (1 Timothy 6:5) whose minds are “depraved.” Here corruption is not merely doctrinal error; it is an inward disintegration that manifests in greed and contention (1 Timothy 6:4-10). The Church must therefore guard her teaching ministry, lest spiritual corrosion spread (compare 2 Timothy 2:17). Physical Decay and Bodily Frailty In 2 Corinthians 4:16, the wasting-away of the “outer self” underscores humanity’s mortality. Yet the present continuous tense of “being renewed” affirms that believers participate in resurrection life before the resurrection day arrives. Suffering does not negate hope; it amplifies the contrast between temporal decay and eternal glory. Eschatological Destruction John’s visions widen the scope from individual ruin to cosmic judgment. Revelation 8:9 pictures maritime commerce crippled, symbolizing the undoing of earthly security. Revelation 11:18 escalates from ecological harm (“those who destroy the earth”) to divine recompense. The verb thus brackets the entire age: mankind corrupts creation; God eradicates the corrupters. Stewardship of Creation Because God vows to “destroy those who destroy the earth,” believers recognize environmental care as a moral issue. While Scripture rejects nature‐worship, it insists that humanity’s dominion is accountable dominion (Genesis 2:15). Christian stewardship resists the twin errors of exploitation and idolatry. Ministry Application • Teaching: Uphold pure doctrine; corruption of truth leads to corrosion of souls. Connection to the Old Testament The Septuagint uses the same verb for the flood victims who “were corrupted” on the earth (Genesis 6:11-12 LXX). The New Testament thus echoes primeval patterns: widespread corruption invites comprehensive judgment, yet God preserves a righteous remnant. Summary The verb encapsulates the account of sin and salvation: corruption enters, spreads, and corrodes; Christ interrupts the decay, renewing believers now and promising a renovated cosmos. Every occurrence of the word in the New Testament, whether moth-eaten garments, perishing ships, or depraved minds, ultimately drives the reader to the hope of “new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13). Englishman's Concordance Luke 12:33 V-PIA-3SGRK: οὐδὲ σὴς διαφθείρει NAS: nor moth destroys. KJV: neither moth corrupteth. INT: nor moth destroy 2 Corinthians 4:16 V-PIM/P-3S 1 Timothy 6:5 V-RPM/P-GMP Revelation 8:9 V-AIP-3P Revelation 11:18 V-ANA Revelation 11:18 V-PPA-AMP Strong's Greek 1311 |
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