5356. phthora

Strong's Lexicon

phthora: Corruption, decay, destruction

Original Word: φθορά
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: phthora
Pronunciation: fthor-ah'
Phonetic Spelling: (fthor-ah')
Definition: Corruption, decay, destruction
Meaning: corruption, destruction, decay, rottenness, decomposition.

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek verb φθείρω (phtheirō), meaning "to destroy" or "to corrupt."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Hebrew equivalent often associated with the concept of corruption is שָׁחַת (shachath), Strong's Hebrew 7845, which means "to destroy" or "to ruin."

Usage: In the New Testament, "phthora" primarily refers to the concept of corruption or decay, both in a physical and moral sense. It is used to describe the perishable nature of the world and the moral decay that results from sin. The term often contrasts the imperishable nature of the divine and the eternal life promised to believers.

Cultural and Historical Background: In the Greco-Roman world, the idea of corruption was not only a physical phenomenon but also a moral and philosophical concept. The physical world was seen as subject to decay and change, while the spiritual realm was considered eternal and unchanging. This duality is reflected in the New Testament's use of "phthora" to highlight the transient nature of earthly life and the enduring nature of spiritual truths.

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 5356 phthorá (from 5351 /phtheírō) – destruction from internal corruption (deterioration, decay); "rottenness, perishableness, corruption, decay, decomposition" (Souter). See 5351 (phteírō).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from phtheiró
Definition
destruction, corruption
NASB Translation
corruption (4), destruction (1), killed (1), perish (1), perishable (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 5356: φθορά

φθορά, φθορᾶς, ἡ (φθείρω), from Aeschylus and Herodotus down:

1. corruption, destruction, perishing (opposed to γένεσις, origin, often in Plato, Aristotle, Plutarch; opposed to σωτηρία, Plato, Phileb., p. 35 e.; for שַׁחַת, Psalm 102:4 (); Jonah 2:7): Romans 8:21 (on which see δουλεία); 2 Peter 2:12a (some (cf. R. V. marginal reading) take φθορά here actively: εἰς φθοράν, to destroy); ἐν φθορά, in a state of corruption or decomposition (of the body at burial), 1 Corinthians 15:42; by metonymy, that which is subject to corruption, what is perishable, opposed to ἀφθαρσία, 1 Corinthians 15:50; in the Christian sense, the loss of salvation, eternal misery (which elsewhere is called ἀπώλεια), Colossians 2:22 (see ἀπόχρησις); opposed to ζωή αἰώνιος, Galatians 6:8, cf. Schott ad loc. 2. in the N. T. in an ethical sense, corruption i. e. moral decay: 2 Peter 1:4; 2 Peter 2:12{b} (some take the word here actively (R. V. text in their destroying), others refer it to 1 above), 2 Peter 2:19; with τῆς ζωῆς added, Wis. 14:12.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

corruption, destroy, perish.

From phtheiro; decay, i.e. Ruin (spontaneous or inflicted, literally or figuratively) -- corruption, destroy, perish.

see GREEK phtheiro

Forms and Transliterations

φθορα φθορά φθορὰ φθορᾷ φθοραν φθοράν φθορὰν φθορας φθοράς φθορᾶς phthora phthorà phthorā̂i phthoran phthorán phthoràn phthoras phthorâs

Englishman's Concordance

Romans 8:21 N-GFS
GRK: δουλείας τῆς φθορᾶς εἰς τὴν
NAS: from its slavery to corruption into the freedom
KJV: the bondage of corruption into
INT: bondage of decay into the

1 Corinthians 15:42 N-DFS
GRK: σπείρεται ἐν φθορᾷ ἐγείρεται ἐν
NAS: It is sown a perishable [body], it is raised
KJV: in corruption; it is raised
INT: It is sown in decay it is raised in

1 Corinthians 15:50 N-NFS
GRK: οὐδὲ ἡ φθορὰ τὴν ἀφθαρσίαν
NAS: nor does the perishable inherit
KJV: doth corruption inherit
INT: nor the decay the immortality

Galatians 6:8 N-AFS
GRK: σαρκὸς θερίσει φθοράν ὁ δὲ
NAS: reap corruption, but the one who sows
KJV: reap corruption; but
INT: flesh will reap decay the [one who] however

Colossians 2:22 N-AFS
GRK: πάντα εἰς φθορὰν τῇ ἀποχρήσει
NAS: all [refer] [to] things destined to perish with use)--
KJV: are to perish with the using;) after
INT: all unto decay in the using

2 Peter 1:4 N-GFS
GRK: ἐν ἐπιθυμίᾳ φθορᾶς
NAS: having escaped the corruption that is in the world
KJV: having escaped the corruption that is in
INT: through lust decay

2 Peter 2:12 N-AFS
GRK: ἅλωσιν καὶ φθοράν ἐν οἷς
NAS: to be captured and killed, reviling
KJV: be taken and destroyed, speak evil of
INT: capture and destruction in what

2 Peter 2:12 N-DFS
GRK: ἐν τῇ φθορᾷ αὐτῶν καὶ
NAS: they have no knowledge, will in the destruction of those
KJV: in their own corruption;
INT: in the destruction of them also

2 Peter 2:19 N-GFS
GRK: ὑπάρχοντες τῆς φθορᾶς ᾧ γάρ
NAS: are slaves of corruption; for by what
KJV: the servants of corruption: for
INT: being of corruption by what indeed

Strong's Greek 5356
9 Occurrences

φθορᾷ — 3 Occ.
φθοράν — 3 Occ.
φθορᾶς — 3 Occ.