Greek word · G2349

θνητός

thnētos

mortal

θνητός: 'mortal, subject to death', the opposite of 'immortal'. σῶμα: 'body'. It can mean the physical body, and in Paul it often means the whole person as a bodily being who acts, relates and belongs in the world.

Appears 6 times in 6 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

θνητός, -ή, -όν

(θνήσκω), [in LXX: Proverbs 3:13 20:24 (אָדָם), Job 30:23 (חַי), Isaiah 51:12 (מוּת), Wisdom of Solomon 9:14 15:17, 2Ma.9:12, 3Ma.3:29 * ;]

subject to death, mortal: Romans 6:12 8:11, 1 Corinthians 15:53-54, 2 Corinthians 4:11 5:4.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Romans 6:12

Range of meaning

θνητός: 'mortal, subject to death', the opposite of 'immortal'. σῶμα: 'body'. It can mean the physical body, and in Paul it often means the whole person as a bodily being who acts, relates and belongs in the world. Paul separates σῶμα (body, neutral and redeemable) from σάρξ ('flesh', often human life ranged against God).

Against the English

'Mortal body' is an accurate translation. The risk is the assumption behind it. Readers shaped by the old split between soul and body may hear 'the body, the sinful part of me'. Paul does not say the body is sinful. He says it is mortal, still headed for death, and so still open to Sin's claim. In 8:11 the same 'mortal bodies' will be given life by the Spirit.

Used elsewhere in the period

Paul uses 'mortal' in Rom 8:11, 1 Cor 15:53–54 ('this mortal must put on immortality'), 2 Cor 4:11 and 5:4. Compare Wisdom of Solomon 9:15: 'a perishable body weighs down the soul'. Paul does not take up that idea. He keeps the body inside God's plan of redemption ('the redemption of our bodies', 8:23).

From the study of Romans 8:11

Range of meaning

Mortal, subject to death, perishable. Describes living beings that can and will die, as opposed to the immortal (athanatos). It does not mean 'already dead' (nekros).

Against the English

Most versions: 'mortal'. YLT: 'dying', which catches the process of decay but could suggest people at death's door.

Used elsewhere in the period

A standard Greek word distinguishing humans from the immortal gods. In Paul: 'let not sin reign in your mortal body' (Romans 6:12); 'this mortal must put on immortality' (1 Corinthians 15:53–54); 'that the life of Jesus may be revealed in our mortal flesh' (2 Corinthians 4:11); 'that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life' (2 Corinthians 5:4).

Where it appears

Romans · 2

  1. Romans 6:12 θνητῷ mortal

    Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires.

    Here: The body is still liable to death. Believers have died with Christ and will be raised, but their bodies have not yet been raised. That gap is why the command is needed. The word means 'death-bound', not 'evil'.

  2. Romans 8:11 θνητὰ mortal

    And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.

    Here: 'Mortal': liable to die, not yet dead. It covers the bodies believers live in now, which will either die or be changed (1 Corinthians 15:53).

1 Corinthians · 2

  1. 1 Corinthians 15:53 θνητὸν mortal

    For the perishable must be clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.

    Here: 'Able to die, bound to die.' In Greek, mortals (thnētoi) were the standard opposite of the deathless gods. Paul uses it of the human body as it now is (compare Rom 6:12; 8:11).

  2. 1 Corinthians 15:54 θνητὸν mortal

    When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come to pass: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

    Here: Said of the body that can and will die. It narrows "perishable" from decay in general to death in particular.

2 Corinthians · 2

  1. 2 Corinthians 4:11 θνητῇ mortal

    For we who are alive are always consigned to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal body.

    Here: "Subject to death, able to die." The adjective comes from the same root as thanatos (death). Life is displayed in the very thing death is claiming.

  2. 2 Corinthians 5:4 θνητὸν mortal

    For while we are in this tent, we groan under our burdens, because we do not wish to be unclothed but clothed, so that our mortality may be swallowed up by life.

    Here: 'What is mortal'. This is our present bodily existence, which is liable to die, and not an abstract 'mortality rate'. Compare 4:11, 'our mortal flesh'.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.