Greek word · G5448

φυσιόω

physioō

to inflate

To inflate or blow up, from physa, "bellows" or "a breath". Figuratively, in the passive: to be puffed up, conceited, swollen with self-importance.

Appears 7 times in 7 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

φυσιόω, -ῶ

(φῦσα, bellows), = cl. φυσάω,

to puff or blow up, inflate. Metaphorical, to puff up, make proud: 1 Corinthians 8:1. Pass., to be puffed up with pride: 1 Corinthians 4:18-19 5:2 13:4; before ὑπό, Colossians 2:18; before ὑπὲρ . . . κατά, 1 Corinthians 4:6 (on the form of the subjc., see M, Pr., 54; Bl., § 22, 3).†

(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 1 Corinthians 13:4

Range of meaning

To inflate or blow up, from physa, "bellows" or "a breath". Figuratively, in the passive: to be puffed up, conceited, swollen with self-importance.

Against the English

KJV, YLT "is not puffed up" keep the picture. ESV and NASB "is not arrogant" give the sense well. BSB, NIV and WEB "is not proud" are weaker, because modern "proud" is often a good thing ("proud of my daughter").

How it drifted

Modern English uses "proud" for healthy satisfaction or dignity, so "love is not proud" can be misheard as "love takes no pleasure in achievements".

Used elsewhere in the period

The word is almost entirely Paul's, and almost entirely aimed at Corinth. It appears six times in 1 Corinthians (4:6, 18, 19; 5:2; 8:1; 13:4) and elsewhere in the New Testament only at Col 2:18. The closest parallel is 1 Cor 8:1: "knowledge puffs up (physioi), but love builds up."

From the study of 1 Corinthians 4:6

Range of meaning

Literally 'to blow up, inflate', from φῦσα (bellows) and φυσάω ('blow'). Figuratively, to make or become swollen with self-importance or conceit: puffed up, arrogant.

Against the English

KJV/YLT/WEB: 'puffed up'. ESV: 'puffed up'. NASB: 'become arrogant'. BSB: 'take pride'. 'Take pride in' is accurate but mild. Modern English 'pride' can sound like healthy satisfaction, while the Greek pictures something bloated and hollow.

Used elsewhere in the period

A rare word, but a favourite of Paul's in this letter. Six of its seven NT uses are in 1 Corinthians (4:6, 18, 19; 5:2; 8:1 'knowledge puffs up, but love builds up'; 13:4 'love is not puffed up'). The only other NT use is Col 2:18. The related noun φυσίωσις appears in 2 Cor 12:20.

From the study of 1 Corinthians 8:1

Range of meaning

To blow up, inflate, puff up. Used figuratively for being conceited or arrogant, with a self-importance that has no substance behind it.

Against the English

'Puffs up' keeps the picture. NLT's 'makes us feel important' explains the meaning but loses the image of being filled with air.

Used elsewhere in the period

Rare outside the New Testament, and related to physaō, 'to blow'. Of its 7 New Testament uses, 6 are in 1 Corinthians (4:6, 18, 19; 5:2; 8:1; 13:4); the other is Colossians 2:18. It is plainly Paul's diagnosis of the Corinthian problem.

Similar words

Where it appears

1 Corinthians · 6

  1. 1 Corinthians 4:6 φυσιοῦσθε you be puffed up

    Brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written. Then you will not take pride in one man over another.

    Here: Literally 'blown up' like bellows or a bladder. It means swollen with self-importance. The present tense pictures an ongoing state. The form looks indicative, but in Greek of this period -όω verbs often used this form as a subjunctive after hina.

  2. 1 Corinthians 4:18 ἐφυσιώθησάν were puffed up

    Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you.

  3. 1 Corinthians 4:19 πεφυσιωμένων puffed up

    But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only what these arrogant people are saying, but what power they have.

    Here: 'Those who have become inflated'. The tense describes a settled state they are now in, not a single outburst. It is the same word as in v.18 and one of the letter's key words for Corinthian self-importance.

  4. 1 Corinthians 5:2 πεφυσιωμένοι puffed up

    And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have been stricken with grief and have removed from your fellowship the man who did this?

  5. 1 Corinthians 8:1 φυσιοῖ, puffs up,

    Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

    Here: Literally 'blows up' like a bellows or a bladder. It is Paul's signature word for Corinthian arrogance (4:6, 18, 19; 5:2; 13:4). Something swollen with air looks bigger than it is and has no substance inside.

  6. 1 Corinthians 13:4 φυσιοῦται, is puffed up,

    Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

    Here: "Is inflated", like a pair of bellows full of air: swollen with self-importance. Bragging is what the windbag says. Being puffed up is the swollen inner state behind it. The word is Paul's signature charge against the Corinthians.

Colossians · 1

  1. Colossians 2:18 φυσιούμενος being puffed up

    Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you with speculation about what he has seen. Such a person is puffed up without basis by his unspiritual mind.

    Here: A present participle, "being puffed up": a continuing state of swelled self-importance. It is a pointed irony beside his professed "lowliness."

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