Biblical Lexicon

διαφθείρω G1311

V-AIP-3P | 6× in 1 sense

To destroy, corrupt, ruin; to cause utter destruction or moral/physical decay.

Covers a broad range from physical destruction to moral corruption and organic decay—the common thread being thorough ruin. The prefix dia- intensifies the base phtheiro ('destroy, corrupt'), yielding a sense of complete, penetrating devastation. Paul contrasts the outward body that 'is wasting away' with the inner person being renewed daily (2 Cor 4:16), using the passive for the slow decay of mortal flesh. In 1 Timothy 6:5, people with 'corrupted minds' are morally ruined. Revelation deploys the active for catastrophic destruction: a third of the ships are destroyed (Rev 8:9), and God will 'destroy those who destroy the earth' (Rev 11:18)—a striking play on the word's active and participial forms. Spanish distinguishes 'destruir' (destroy) from 'corrompidos' (corrupted), mirroring the physical-moral polarity within this single lexeme.

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Senses

1. destroy, corrupt, ruin — To destroy utterly, corrupt, or cause to decay—encompassing physical ruin, moral corruption, and bodily deterioration. The passive in 2 Cor 4:16 describes the gradual 'wasting away' of the outer person, while 1 Tim 6:5 applies it to minds depraved and morally ruined. In Revelation the active voice depicts catastrophic destruction: a third of ships destroyed (Rev 8:9) and the eschatological promise that God will 'destroy those who destroy the earth' (Rev 11:18). Moths and vermin 'destroy' stored treasures in Luke 12:33. Spanish 'destruir' and 'corrompidos' capture the physical-moral range, while French 'corrompre' and 'détruire' likewise confirm the dual axis of corruption and annihilation. 6×

VIOLENCE_CONFLICT › Violence, Harm, Destroy, Kill › Loss and Destruction

AR["أَن-تُهلِكَ", "المُهلِكينَ", "تُفْسِدُ", "فاسِدي", "فَسَدَتْ", "يَفنى"]·ben["কলুষিত", "ক্ষয়-পেতে,", "ধ্বংস-করার", "ধ্বংস-হল।", "ধ্বংসকারীদের", "নষ্ট-করে"]·DE["verderben", "διαφθείρει"]·EN["destroying", "destroys", "is-decaying", "of-corrupted", "to-destroy", "were-destroyed"]·FR["corrompre", "détruire"]·heb["הַמַּשְׁחִיתִים", "הֻשְׁחֲתוּ", "לְ-הַשְׁמִיד", "מַשְׁחִית", "מֻשְׁחָתִים", "נִשְׁחָת"]·HI["क्षय-हो-रहा-है", "नष्ट-करता-है", "नष्ट-करने-का", "नष्ट-करनेवालों", "नष्ट-हो-गए।", "भरशत"]·ID["dihancurkan.", "merusak", "rusak", "untuk-membinasakan", "yang-membinasakan", "yang-rusak"]·IT["corrompere", "diaphtheirai", "diaphtheirei", "diaphtheirontas", "diephtharmenōn", "diephtharēsan"]·jav["dipunrisak", "karisak,", "ngrisak", "tiyang-rusak", "tiyang-tiyang-ingkang-ngrisak"]·KO["멸망시키는-자들을", "멸망시킬", "썼어진", "파괴되었느니라", "허물어져도", "허물지-않는다"]·PT["de-corrompidos", "destruindo", "foi-destruída", "para-destruir", "se-corrompa"]·RU["была-погублена.", "губящих", "испорченных", "погубить", "портит", "разрушается"]·ES["de-corrompidos", "destruir", "destruye", "fue-destruida", "que-destruyen", "se-corrompe"]·SW["anaharibika,", "haharibu", "kuwaangamiza", "wa-watu-walio-na-akili-zilizoharibika", "wanaoiharibu", "zikaharibika."]·TR["bozar", "bozulmuş", "yok-edenleri", "yok-edildi", "yok-etmek", "yıpranıyorsa"]·urd["برباد-کرنے-والوں", "برباد-کرنے-کا", "برباد-ہوتا-ہے", "تباہ-ہوئی", "خراب", "خراب-کرتا-ہے"]

Luke 12:33, 2 Cor 4:16, 1 Tim 6:5, Rev 8:9, Rev 11:18, Rev 11:18

BDB / Lexicon Reference

διαφθείρω, future -φθερῶRefs 5th c.BC+, Epic dialect -φθέρσωRefs 8th c.BC+: perfect διέφθαρκα Refs 5th c.BC+:— passive, future διαφθᾰρήσομαι Refs 5th c.BC+; Ionic dialect διαφθερέομαι Refs 5th c.BC+: 3rd.pers. plural pluperfect διεφθάρατο Refs:—destroy utterly, πόλιν Refs 8th c.BC+; make away with, kill, τινά Refs; destroy, ruin, ἥδ᾽ ἡμέρα φύσει σε καὶ διαφθερεῖ S.[same place]; τὴν τύχην Refs; δ.…