Brief Overview of νεκρόω (Strong’s G3499: nekroō)

Unveiling the Word

Understanding Greek words like νεκρόω (nekroō) is essential for delving deeper into biblical texts. This word, which appears in Romans 4:19, is significant in New Testament studies due to its metaphorical use to describe a state of “lifelessness” or “being dead” in various aspects—both physical and spiritual. The term nekroō carries strong theological implications, especially in contexts where Paul uses it to describe the deadening of faculties or the weakening of life. Its relevance stretches beyond the New Testament into classical Greek literature, providing a richer understanding of ancient Greek culture and the use of metaphor to describe human experiences.

Necessary Information

Greek Word: νεκρόω (nekroō), pronounced neh-kro’-o.

Etymology: Derived from the Greek root word nekros (G3498), meaning “dead,” nekroō builds on this root by functioning as a verb. Its meaning extends beyond simple physical death to signify a weakening, numbing, or deadening effect on life, vitality, or function.

Part of Speech: Verb. In its various forms, nekroō describes an action that renders something lifeless or ineffective, whether in a physical or metaphorical sense.

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Defining Meanings

1. Physical Death or Weakening: Nekroō is used to describe a literal process where something or someone becomes lifeless or is rendered powerless. In Romans 4:19, Paul refers to Abraham’s body as being “as good as dead” (νεκρωθέντα), indicating the physical weakening that comes with old age.

2. Metaphorical Death (Moral/Spiritual): In passages such as Colossians 3:5, nekroō is used in a moral or spiritual context, commanding believers to “put to death” (νεκρώσατε) sinful practices. This figurative use emphasizes the need to cut off sinful behaviors and live in righteousness, reflecting an inner transformation.

3. Inactivity or Ineffectiveness: The term can also refer to something that has lost its power or effectiveness, as in cases where faculties or functions are “deadened” or rendered useless due to external circumstances or conditions.

Exploring Similar Words

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1. ἀποθνῄσκω (apothnēskō) [pronunciation: apo-thnay-sko]: This verb refers to the act of dying, often used in a literal sense of passing away. While nekroō focuses on a state of deadness or weakening, apothnēskō describes the process leading to that state.

2. θανάτος (thanatos) [pronunciation: than-a-tos]: This noun represents the state or event of death itself, often used metaphorically to describe spiritual death or separation from God. Thanatos emphasizes the finality of death, while nekroō focuses on the action of causing something to become dead or inactive.

Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Tense, Voice, Mood: As a verb, nekroō appears in various tenses, voices, and moods, depending on its usage in Scripture. In Romans 4:19, it appears in the aorist passive participle form (νεκρωθέντα), emphasizing an action done to Abraham’s body (his body being weakened).

• Present: νεκρόω (I deaden or I weaken).

• Aorist: ἐνέκρωσα (I deadened or I weakened).

• Perfect: νεκρώθηκα (I have been deadened or I have been weakened).

Person and Number: The verb can be conjugated in different persons and numbers, reflecting the subject’s action or the action being done to the subject.

Person/Number Present Indicative Aorist Indicative

1st Singular νεκρόω ἐνέκρωσα

2nd Singular νεκροῖς ἐνέκρωσας

3rd Singular νεκροῖ ἐνέκρωσεν

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Studying Lexicon Insights

Lexicons such as BDAG, Thayer’s, and Vine’s suggest that nekroō extends beyond physical death to describe a spiritual and moral deadening. In New Testament contexts, the word often reflects an ethical dimension, where believers are called to “put to death” sinful practices. Classical usage aligns with this, where the word was employed to describe things that lost their power or function. It was used metaphorically to signify a reduction in vitality, whether of body, mind, or soul.

This overview synthesizes insights from BDAG, Thayer’s, LSJ, Vine’s, Strong’s, LEH, and Moulton and Milligan.

Tracing Related Scriptures

1. Romans 4:19 – “Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead [νεκρωθέντα]—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.”

2. Colossians 3:5 – “Put to death [νεκρώσατε], therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.”

Analyzing Classical Usage

In classical Greek, nekroō often described the literal act of deadening or reducing something to a lifeless state. Here are examples:

Author Name of Work Text with νεκρόω

Plato Republic “The argument was deadened [νεκρωθέν].”

Homer Iliad “His hand, lifeless [νεκρωθεῖσαν], let go of the sword.”

Herodotus Histories “The once powerful city now deadened [νεκρωθεῖσα].”

Noteworthy Summary

The Greek word νεκρόω (G3499), meaning “to deaden” or “to render lifeless,” is a powerful term that appears in the New Testament, particularly in the writings of Paul. Its usage is both literal and metaphorical, applying to physical deadness, as well as spiritual and moral weakness. Understanding nekroō enhances one’s comprehension of key biblical concepts regarding life, death, and transformation. In both classical and New Testament contexts, nekroō emphasizes the process of losing vitality or function, making it a vital term in theological discussions about spiritual renewal and overcoming sin.

Did You Know?

1. Nekroō is the verb form of nekros, which means “dead.” The difference lies in nekroō signifying the process of becoming dead or weakened.

2. In Romans 4:19, nekroō describes Abraham’s faith in God, despite his body being physically “dead” in its ability to produce offspring.

3. The word nekroō also appears in medical contexts in Greek literature, referring to the deadening of body parts, similar to how we use the term “necrosis” today.