4560. sarkinos

Lexical Summary

sarkinos: Fleshly, carnal, made of flesh

Original Word: σαρκινός
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: sarkinos
Pronunciation: sar-kee-nos'
Phonetic Spelling: (sar'-kee-nos)
KJV: fleshly
NASB: flesh, human, men of flesh, physical
Word Origin: [from G4561 (σάρξ - flesh)]

1. similar to flesh
2. (by analogy) soft

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

fleshly.

From sarx; similar to flesh, i.e. (by analogy) soft -- fleshly.

see GREEK sarx

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 4560 sárkinos (an adjective, derived from 4561 /sárks, "flesh") – properly, of flesh (human), which lacks the heavy derogatory sense of 4559 /sarkikós ("carnal"). See 4561 sarks ("flesh").

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from sarx
Definition
of the flesh
NASB Translation
flesh (1), human (1), men of flesh (1), physical (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 4560: σάρκινος

σάρκινος, σαρκίνη, σάρκινον (σάρξ) (Aristophanes, Plato, Aristotle, others), fleshy, Latincarneus, i. e.

1. consisting of flesh, composed of flesh (for proparoxytones ending in (ινος generally denote the material of which a thing is made, cf. Fritzsche, Ep. ad Romans, ii., p. 46f; (Donaldson, New Crat. § 258)); Vulg.carnalis: opposed to λίθινος, 2 Corinthians 3:3 (σάρκινος ἰχθύς, opposed to a fish of gold which has been dreamed of, Theocritus, id. 21, 66; the word is also found in Plato, Aristotle, Theophrastus, Plutarch; the Sept., others).

2. pertaining to the body (as earthly and perishable material, opposed to ζωή ἀκατάλυτος): Hebrews 7:16 G L T Tr WH (see σαρκικός, 2).

3. it is used where σαρκικός might have been expected: viz. by G L T Tr WH in Romans 7:14 and 1 Corinthians 3:1; in these passages, unless we decide that Paul used σαρκικός and σάρκινος indiscriminately, we must suppose that σάρκινος expresses the idea of σαρκικός with an emphasis: wholly given up to the flesh, rooted in the flesh as it were. Cf. Winer's Grammar, § 16, 3 γ.; Fritzsche as above; Reiche, Critical Commentary on the N. T., i., p. 138ff; Holsten, Zum Evang. des Paulus u. Petrus, p. 397ff. (Rostock, 1887); (Trench, Synonyms, § lxxii.).

Topical Lexicon

Usage in Scripture

σαρκινός (“made of flesh, fleshly”) appears four times in the Greek New Testament:

• Romans 7:14 – “For we know that the law is spiritual; but I am fleshly, sold under sin.”
• 1 Corinthians 3:1 – “Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as fleshly—mere infants in Christ.”
• 2 Corinthians 3:3 – “It is clear that you are a letter from Christ…written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.”
• Hebrews 7:16 – Christ is appointed “not on the basis of a law of fleshly command, but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life.”

Each occurrence contrasts what is “of flesh” with what is animated or governed by the Spirit, highlighting the tension between human limitation and divine enablement.

Old Testament Background

The term reflects the Hebrew conception of “flesh” (בָּשָׂר, basar) as frailty and mortality (Genesis 6:3; Psalm 78:39). Tablets of stone (Exodus 24:12) epitomized the external nature of the Mosaic covenant, whereas prophetic promises looked forward to a law written on the heart (Jeremiah 31:33; Ezekiel 36:26). By using σαρκινός, New Testament writers build on this trajectory, identifying the insufficiency of mere external observance and the need for inward renewal.

New Covenant Application

1. Romans 7:14 presents the believer’s struggle: the Law is “spiritual,” yet the believer remains “fleshly,” demonstrating ongoing dependence on grace for sanctification.
2. 1 Corinthians 3:1 exposes immaturity in a congregation boasting of giftedness yet manifesting jealousy and division—proof that spiritual status is measured by likeness to Christ, not by charismatic endowments.
3. 2 Corinthians 3:3 celebrates the Spirit’s transformative work in writing Christ’s epistle on “tablets of human hearts,” fulfilling the prophetic promise of an internalized covenant.
4. Hebrews 7:16 contrasts the Levitical priesthood, rooted in “a law of fleshly command,” with Christ’s eternal priesthood after the order of Melchizedek, grounded in resurrection power.

Doctrinal Significance

• Anthropology: Human nature, though created good, became dominated by sin; “fleshly” underscores weakness apart from the Spirit.
• Soteriology: Conversion involves transition from external conformity to internal regeneration; the Spirit transforms the fleshly heart into a vessel of righteousness.
• Ecclesiology: A church may possess true faith yet act “fleshly,” calling for pastoral labor toward maturity (Ephesians 4:11-16).
• Christology: Hebrews 7:16 presents Jesus as transcending fleshly ordinances; His priesthood is grounded in divine life, guaranteeing a perfect salvation (Hebrews 7:25).

Practical Ministry Implications

1. Discipleship must move believers from infancy to maturity, replacing fleshly attitudes with the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
2. Preaching should expose reliance on human effort (“tablets of stone”) and direct hearers to the Spirit’s inward work.
3. Pastoral care recognizes the reality of ongoing fleshly struggle while fostering hope through the Spirit’s sanctifying power (Romans 8:13).
4. Church leadership models dependence on the indestructible life of Christ rather than fleshly credentials or traditions.

Historical Reception

Early church fathers linked σαρκινός to the battle between the “old man” and the “new man.” Augustine cited Romans 7:14 to defend the necessity of grace against Pelagian claims of inherent human ability. The Reformers emphasized 2 Corinthians 3:3 to uphold justification by faith and the Spirit’s role in writing the law on the heart, in contrast to external sacramentalism.

Related Terms and Concepts

σαρκικός (Strong’s 4559) often denotes behavior characterized by the flesh; σαρκινός stresses constitution (“made of flesh”). Both stand opposite πνευματικός (“spiritual”). Together they frame the New Testament’s dichotomy between life governed by fallen human nature and life empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Summary

Strong’s Greek 4560 accents human frailty and the insufficiency of external religion. In Christ, the fleshly heart is inscribed by the Spirit, transforming believers and securing an everlasting covenant grounded in the resurrected life of the perfect High Priest.

Forms and Transliterations

σαρκιναις σαρκιναίς σαρκίναις σαρκίνην σαρκινης σαρκίνης σαρκινοις σαρκίνοις σαρκινος σάρκινός sarkinais sarkínais sarkines sarkinēs sarkínes sarkínēs sarkinois sarkínois sarkinos sárkinós

Englishman's Concordance

Romans 7:14 Adj-NMS
GRK: ἐγὼ δὲ σάρκινός εἰμι πεπραμένος
NAS: but I am of flesh, sold
INT: I however fleshly am having been sold

1 Corinthians 3:1 Adj-DMP
GRK: ἀλλ' ὡς σαρκίνοις ὡς νηπίοις
NAS: to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants
INT: but as to fleshly as to little children

2 Corinthians 3:3 Adj-DFP
GRK: πλαξὶν καρδίαις σαρκίναις
NAS: but on tablets of human hearts.
KJV: but in fleshy tables of the heart.
INT: tablets of hearts human

Hebrews 7:16 Adj-GFS
GRK: νόμον ἐντολῆς σαρκίνης γέγονεν ἀλλὰ
NAS: of a law of physical requirement,
INT: law of commandment fleshly has been constituted but

Strong's Greek 4560
4 Occurrences

σαρκίναις — 1 Occ.
σαρκίνης — 1 Occ.
σαρκίνοις — 1 Occ.
σάρκινός — 1 Occ.