2348. thnéskó

Lexical Summary

thnéskó: to die, to be dead

Original Word: θνῄσκω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: thnéskó
Pronunciation: thnay'-sko
Phonetic Spelling: (thnay'-sko)
KJV: be dead, die
NASB: dead, died
Word Origin: [a strengthened form of a simpler primary thano than'-o (which is used for it only in certain tenses)]

1. to die
{literally or figuratively}

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

be dead, die.

A strengthened form of a simpler primary thano than'-o (which is used for it only in certain tenses); to die (literally or figuratively) -- be dead, die.

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 2348 thnḗskō (the root of thanatos, "death") – to die (spiritually or physically); subject to death.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from a prim. root than-
Definition
to die
NASB Translation
dead (7), died (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 2348: θνῄσκω

θνῄσκω: perfect τέθνηκα, infinitive τεθνάναι and L T Tr WH τεθνηκέναι (in Acts 14:19), participle τεθνηκώς; pluperfect 3 person singular ἐτεθνήκει (John 11:21 Rec.); (from Homer down); the Sept. for מוּת; to die; perfect to be dead: Matthew 2:20; Mark 15:44; Luke 7:12 (L brackets); ; John 11:21, Rec. in and ; John 12:1 (T WH omit; L Tr brackets); John 19:33; Acts 14:19; Acts 25:19; metaph, of the loss of spiritual life: ζῶσα τέθνηκε, i. e. κἄν δοκῇ ζῆν ταύτην τήν αἰσθητην ζωήν, τέθνηκε κατά πνεῦμα (Theoph.): 1 Timothy 5:6 (Philo de secular § 10 ζῶντες ἔνιοι τεθνήκασι καί τεθνηκότες ζῶσι). (Compare: ἀποθνῄσκω, συναποθνῄσκω.)

Topical Lexicon

Range of Occurrence

The word translated “has died / were dead” appears nine times in the Greek New Testament. It is used by Matthew 2:20; Mark 15:44; Luke 7:12; Luke 8:49; John 11:44; John 19:33; Acts 14:19; Acts 25:19; and 1 Timothy 5:6. All but one instance concern physical death; the sole metaphorical use, 1 Timothy 5:6, applies the idea of death to spiritual condition.

Narratives of Physical Death

1. Deliverance of the Messiah (Matthew 2:20)

An angel informs Joseph, “those seeking the child’s life are dead.” The completed state of death underscores God’s sovereign protection and timing.
2. Compassionate Miracles (Luke 7:12; Luke 8:49; John 11:44)

– At Nain, “a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother” (Luke 7:12).

– Jairus’s daughter is reported, “Your daughter has died” (Luke 8:49).

– Lazarus, four days in the tomb, comes forth, “the man who had died came out” (John 11:44).

Each scene magnifies Christ’s authority to reverse death.
3. The Passion (Mark 15:44; John 19:33)

Pilate learns Jesus “had already died” (Mark 15:44). Soldiers confirm that He “was already dead” (John 19:33). The perfect tense stresses the completed, undeniable reality of His death, forming the basis for the resurrection witness.
4. Apostolic Suffering (Acts 14:19)

Paul is stoned and dragged outside Lystra, the crowd “supposing him to be dead.” His subsequent recovery demonstrates divine preservation of His servant.
5. Legal Testimony before Rome (Acts 25:19)

Festus recounts Jewish accusations “about a certain Jesus who had died, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.” The term frames the resurrection as the central dispute before imperial authorities.

Spiritual Death and Moral Warning

1 Timothy 5:6 applies the verb to a pleasure-seeking widow: “she who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.” Physical life can coexist with spiritual death, anticipating the final judgment. The perfect tense indicates a settled state, urging repentance and holy living.

Theological Significance

• Finality: The perfect aspect expresses death as an accomplished, lasting condition, heightening the wonder whenever Christ reverses it.
• Verification: In the Passion narrative, the word guarantees Jesus truly died, safeguarding the gospel from claims of mere swoon.
• Contrast: The vocabulary allows Scripture to juxtapose physical demise with spiritual vitality, or vice versa, clarifying that true life is found only in union with Christ.
• Eschatology: Because Christ “has died” and risen, believers possess assurance that death’s apparent finality is temporary (compare 1 Thessalonians 4:14).

Pastoral and Missional Implications

• Comfort in Bereavement: The New Testament records of the widow’s son, Jairus’s daughter, and Lazarus offer hope that the One who conquers death cares personally for suffering families.
• Evangelistic Certainty: Apostolic preaching in Acts anchors the gospel on the historical fact that Jesus “had died” and now lives, providing a factual basis for faith.
• Ethical Wake-Up Call: 1 Timothy 5:6 warns that self-indulgence leads to a living death, calling the church to pursue godliness.

Historical Witness

Early Christian testimony portrayed Jesus’ death as incontrovertible. Roman officials (Pilate, Festus), hostile crowds (Lystra), and grieving families all affirm the reality of death, setting the stage for the early proclamation of resurrection power.

Doctrinal Connections

The occurrences of this verb intertwine with doctrines of:
• Incarnation and Atonement – Jesus truly died in the flesh.
• Resurrection – His victory over death validates the gospel.
• Regeneration – Spiritual death yields to new life through faith.
• Perseverance and Hope – Physical death is not the end for believers, but a gateway to resurrection glory.

Forms and Transliterations

ετεθνήκει θανείται τεθνάναι τεθνήκασι τεθνηκασιν τεθνήκασιν τέθνηκε τεθνήκει τεθνηκεν τέθνηκεν τεθνηκεναι τεθνηκέναι τεθνηκός τεθνηκοτα τεθνηκότα τεθνηκότας τεθνηκότες τεθνηκότι τεθνηκοτος τεθνηκότος τεθνηκότων τεθνηκως τεθνηκώς τεθνηκὼς τενηκώς tethnekasin tethnēkasin tethnḗkasin tethneken tethnēken téthneken téthnēken tethnekenai tethnekénai tethnēkenai tethnēkénai tethnekos tethnekṑs tethnēkōs tethnēkṑs tethnekota tethnekóta tethnēkota tethnēkóta tethnekotos tethnekótos tethnēkotos tethnēkótos

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 2:20 V-RIA-3P
GRK: γῆν Ἰσραήλ τεθνήκασιν γὰρ οἱ
NAS: the Child's life are dead.
KJV: for they are dead which
INT: [the] land of Israel they have died indeed who

Mark 15:44 V-RIA-3S
GRK: εἰ ἤδη τέθνηκεν καὶ προσκαλεσάμενος
NAS: if He was dead by this time,
KJV: he were already dead: and calling
INT: if already he were dead and having called to [him]

Luke 7:12 V-RPA-NMS
GRK: ἰδοὺ ἐξεκομίζετο τεθνηκὼς μονογενὴς υἱὸς
NAS: of the city, a dead man was being carried
KJV: there was a dead man carried out,
INT: behold was being carried out [one] who had died only begotten son

Luke 8:49 V-RIA-3S
GRK: λέγων ὅτι Τέθνηκεν ἡ θυγάτηρ
NAS: Your daughter has died; do not trouble
KJV: Thy daughter is dead; trouble not
INT: saying Has died the daughter

John 11:44 V-RPA-NMS
GRK: ἐξῆλθεν ὁ τεθνηκὼς δεδεμένος τοὺς
NAS: The man who had died came forth, bound
KJV: And he that was dead came forth, bound
INT: came forth he who had been dead bound the

John 19:33 V-RPA-AMS
GRK: ἤδη αὐτὸν τεθνηκότα οὐ κατέαξαν
NAS: that He was already dead, they did not break
KJV: that he was dead already,
INT: already he was dead not they did break

Acts 14:19 V-RNA
GRK: νομίζοντες αὐτὸν τεθνηκέναι
NAS: supposing him to be dead.
KJV: supposing he had been dead.
INT: supposing him to have died

Acts 25:19 V-RPA-GMS
GRK: τινος Ἰησοῦ τεθνηκότος ὃν ἔφασκεν
NAS: religion and about a dead man, Jesus,
KJV: one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul
INT: a certain Jesus who is dead whom affirmed

1 Timothy 5:6 V-RIA-3S
GRK: σπαταλῶσα ζῶσα τέθνηκεν
NAS: But she who gives herself to wanton pleasure is dead even while she lives.
KJV: she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
INT: lives in self-indulgence living is dead

Strong's Greek 2348
9 Occurrences

τεθνήκασιν — 1 Occ.
τέθνηκεν — 3 Occ.
τεθνηκέναι — 1 Occ.
τεθνηκὼς — 2 Occ.
τεθνηκότα — 1 Occ.
τεθνηκότος — 1 Occ.