4985. sómatikós

Lexical Summary

sómatikós: Bodily, physical

Original Word: σωματικός
Part of Speech: Adverb
Transliteration: sómatikós
Pronunciation: so-mat-ee-KOS
Phonetic Spelling: (so-mat-ee-koce')
KJV: bodily
NASB: bodily form
Word Origin: [adverb from G4984 (σωματικός - bodily)]

1. corporeally or physically

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

bodily.

Adverb from somatikos; corporeally or physically -- bodily.

see GREEK somatikos

HELPS Word-studies

4985 sōmatikṓs (an adverb, derived from 4984 /sōmatikós which is an adjective derived from 4983 /sṓma, "body") – bodily (used only in Col 2:9). It refers to "Christ's complete embodiment of the plērōma ('fullness of God'), as contrasted with its supposed distribution through other intermediaries" (E. K. Simpson & F. F. Bruce, The Epistle to the Colossians, 232).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
adverb from sómatikos
Definition
bodily
NASB Translation
bodily form (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 4985: σωματικῶς

σωματικῶς, adverb, bodily, corporeally (Vulg.corporaliter), equivalent to ἐν σωματικῷ εἴδει, yet denoting his exalted and spiritual body, visible only to the inhabitants of heaven, Colossians 2:9, where see Meyer (cf. Lightfoot).

Topical Lexicon

Root Meaning within Biblical Thought

Derived from the noun “body” (sōma), the adverb points to an embodied, tangible mode of existence. It highlights that which is concrete rather than abstract, steering interpretation away from purely spiritualized notions of divine presence.

Biblical Usage

Colossians 2:9 stands alone in the New Testament for this term: “For in Him all the fullness of the Deity dwells bodily”. Paul compresses an entire Christology into a single phrase, asserting the total presence of God within the incarnate Christ in a real, physical manner.

Christological Significance

1. Fullness of Deity. The statement seals the confession that nothing of the divine essence is absent in Christ.
2. True Humanity. By adding “bodily,” Paul excludes docetic ideas and affirms a genuine human nature.
3. Hypostatic Union. Together with John 1:14, Philippians 2:6-8 and Hebrews 1:3, the verse locates divine fullness and human limitation in one Person without confusion or division.

Theological Implications

• Incarnation as Permanent. The present-tense “dwells” indicates ongoing embodiment after the resurrection (cf. Luke 24:39; Acts 1:11).
• Redemption Grounded in Reality. A bodily Savior secures bodily resurrection for believers (Romans 8:11).
• Sacramental Overtones. The tangible presence of grace in baptism and the Lord’s Supper reflects the same principle of embodied reality.

Historical Reception

Early apologists (Ignatius, Irenaeus) quoted Colossians 2:9 to refute Gnosticism. The Council of Chalcedon (A.D. 451) drew upon the verse when formulating the two-nature definition, safeguarding both full deity and full humanity.

Practical Ministry Application

• Pastoral Care. Emphasizes the value of the human body, informing ethics on sexuality, health and end-of-life issues.
• Worship. Encourages physical expressions—kneeling, singing, the laying on of hands—as fitting responses to an embodied Lord.
• Mission. Underscores holistic ministry that addresses physical needs alongside spiritual proclamation.

Doctrinal Safeguards

1. Avoid Spiritualizing Christ’s work to mere symbolism.
2. Resist reducing deity to an abstract force divorced from history.
3. Maintain the created goodness of the material world against dualistic worldviews.

Related Terms and Concepts

sōma (body), sarx (flesh), en-sarki (in flesh), theotēs (deity), plērōma (fullness).

Forms and Transliterations

σωματικως σωματικώς σωματικῶς somatikos somatikôs sōmatikōs sōmatikō̂s

Englishman's Concordance

Colossians 2:9 Adv
GRK: τῆς θεότητος σωματικῶς
NAS: of Deity dwells in bodily form,
KJV: the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
INT: of the Deity bodily

Strong's Greek 4985
1 Occurrence

σωματικῶς — 1 Occ.