Brief Overview of διαφθορά (G1312: diaphthorá)

Word Details

• Transliteration: διαφθορά (diaphthorá) [dee-ahf-tho-RAH]
• Etymology: Derived from the root words διά (G1223: diá) meaning through and φθείρω (G5351: phtheírō) meaning to destroy or corrupt. The compound form suggests a state of thorough corruption or complete decay.
• Part of Speech: Noun (feminine)
• The F.O.G Word Choice: Coming Soon

Primary Meanings

• Corruption or decay: Refers to the process of something becoming morally or physically tainted, leading to its degradation or destruction.
• Destruction or ruin: Implies the complete downfall or annihilation of something, either in a literal or figurative sense.
• Moral decay: Often used to describe the degeneration of ethical or moral standards within an individual or society.

Further Insights

• Gender: Feminine
• Number: Singular
• Case: Nominative, Genitive, Dative, Accusative

Further Insights Explained:

• διαφθορά is a feminine noun, typically found in the singular form, and it can appear in various cases depending on its role in a sentence. The term emphasizes the concept of thorough corruption or decay, whether physical, moral, or spiritual. The nominative case indicates the subject, the genitive indicates possession or relation, the dative indicates the indirect object, and the accusative indicates the direct object of the action.

Disclaimer: The morphological details provided above reflect the typical forms and uses of διαφθορά. The specific form and meaning in a sentence may vary depending on the grammatical context and surrounding words.

Lexicon Descriptions

BDAG (Bauer, Danker, Arndt, and Gingrich):

• διαφθορά is defined as corruption, decay, or destruction, with a focus on the complete and thorough nature of the process. It is often used in contexts where moral or physical decay leads to ultimate ruin.
• Scripture References: Acts 2:27, Acts 13:34-37

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Thayer’s Greek Lexicon:

• Thayer describes διαφθορά as meaning decay, corruption, or destruction, particularly in the sense of a process that leads to the disintegration or dissolution of something. The term is often associated with moral or physical degradation.
• Scripture References: Acts 2:27, Acts 13:34-37

Vine’s Expository Dictionary:

• Vine’s explains that διαφθορά refers to corruption or decay, especially with regard to moral or spiritual decline. The term emphasizes the inevitable destruction that follows such a process.
• Scripture References: Acts 2:27, Acts 13:34-37

LSJ (Liddell, Scott, Jones):

• LSJ defines διαφθορά as corruption, decay, or destruction, highlighting the thorough and often irreversible nature of the process. It is used both literally (in terms of physical decay) and metaphorically (in terms of moral or ethical decline).
• Scripture References: Acts 2:27, Acts 13:34-37

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance:

• Strong’s defines διαφθορά as a compound noun from διά (G1223: diá) and φθείρω (G5351: phtheírō), meaning corruption or decay. It is used to describe states of moral, physical, or spiritual degradation leading to destruction.
• Scripture References: Acts 2:27, Acts 13:34-37

Usage in Classical Greek Literature

• Herodotus, Histories: Herodotus uses διαφθορά to describe the physical decay and destruction of cities and empires, emphasizing the inevitable decline that follows corruption or moral decay.
• Plato, Republic: Plato employs the term in discussions about the moral decay of individuals and states, suggesting that corruption at the personal or societal level inevitably leads to destruction and chaos.
• Homer, Iliad: Homer uses διαφθορά metaphorically to describe the decay of honor and virtue among warriors, leading to their downfall and the ultimate destruction of their legacy.

Summary

διαφθορά (G1312: diaphthorá) is a Greek noun that primarily means corruption, decay, or destruction. Derived from διά (through) and φθείρω (to destroy or corrupt), the term emphasizes the thorough and often irreversible nature of decay, whether it be physical, moral, or spiritual. In the New Testament, διαφθορά is used to describe the process of decay leading to destruction, particularly in a moral or spiritual context, as seen in Acts 2:27 and Acts 13:34-37. The word is also prevalent in classical Greek literature, where it describes both physical decay (such as the destruction of cities) and moral decay (such as the degeneration of ethical standards). Overall, διαφθορά captures the concept of inevitable decline and destruction that follows corruption, making it a significant term for understanding the consequences of moral and physical degradation in both ancient and biblical Greek thought.