Biblical Lexicon

φθορ-ά G5356

N-GFS | 9× in 2 senses

Corruption, decay, destruction; the state of perishability or moral ruin, and the active process of being destroyed.

The noun form of phtheirō (G5351), spanning the full range from perishability to active destruction. Paul contrasts what is 'sown in corruption' with what is 'raised in incorruption' (1 Cor 15:42), and warns that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom because they belong to the realm of phthora (1 Cor 15:50). In 2 Peter, the word intensifies toward active destruction: false teachers promise freedom but are themselves 'slaves of corruption' (2 Pet 2:19), and believers are called to escape 'the corruption that is in the world through lust' (2 Pet 1:4). German 'Verwesung' (decomposition) captures the physical decay, while Spanish 'destrucción' highlights the catastrophic end.

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Senses

1. corruption — The state or process of corruption, decay, perishability—the natural condition of the mortal body and fallen creation. Paul pairs it with resurrection glory: the body is sown in phthora but raised in aphtharsia (1 Cor 15:42). Creation itself groans under 'bondage to corruption' awaiting liberation (Rom 8:21). Sowing to the flesh reaps corruption (Gal 6:8). Col 2:22 references things 'destined for corruption' through use. The emphasis is on inherent perishability and progressive decay. 5×

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

AR["الْفَسَادِ", "فَسادًا", "فَسادٍ", "فَسادُ", "فَنَاءٍ"]·ben["ক্ষয়,", "ক্ষয়ে,", "ধ্বংস", "ধ্বংস;", "ধ্বংসের"]·DE["Verwesung"]·EN["corruption"]·FR["corruption"]·heb["כִּלָּיוֹן", "כִּלָּיוֹן;"]·HI["क्षय", "नश;", "नाशवान", "नाशवान-में", "विनश"]·ID["kebinasaan", "kebinasaan,"]·IT["corruzione"]·jav["-rusak", "karisakan", "karusakan;", "rusak"]·KO["멸망에", "썩음", "썩음;", "썩음이", "썼어지는-것의"]·PT["corrupção,", "destruição"]·RU["-славы", "гибели", "тление", "тлении"]·ES["corrupción"]·SW["kuharibika", "uharibifu"]·TR["bozulmaya", "çürüme", "çürüme-", "çürümenin"]·urd["فنا", "فنا-کی", "فناہ", "فناہ-میں"]

Rom 8:21, 1 Cor 15:42, 1 Cor 15:50, Gal 6:8, Col 2:22

2. destruction — Active destruction, ruin brought about by moral depravity or divine judgment. In 2 Peter this sense dominates: false teachers are 'slaves of corruption' (2:19) who will be 'destroyed in their own destruction' (2:12, using both verb and noun forms together for devastating emphasis). Believers must escape 'the corruption that is in the world through lust' (1:4). Spanish 'destrucción' and French 'corruption' both serve here, though the Greek conveys a deeper entanglement between moral ruin and its catastrophic consequences. 4×

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

AR["الفَسادِ", "فَسادِهِم"]·ben["ধ্বংস"]·DE["Verwesung"]·EN["corruption", "destruction"]·FR["corruption"]·heb["הַשְׁחָתָה", "לְהַשְׁחָתָה"]·HI["नाश", "नाश-होना", "विनाश-के", "विनाश-से"]·ID["kebinasaan", "kebinasaan,", "kebinasaan."]·IT["corruzione"]·jav["karisakan", "karisakan.", "rusak,"]·KO["썩어짐을.", "썼어짐", "썼어짐,", "썼어짐-의."]·PT["corrupção", "destruição"]·RU["растления", "уничтожении", "уничтожения"]·ES["corrupción", "destrucción"]·SW["kuangamizwa", "uharibifu"]·TR["yok-edilmede", "yok-edilmeye", "çürümeden", "çürümenin"]·urd["بگاڑ-سے۔", "بگاڑ-کے۔", "تباہی-میں", "تباہی-کے،"]

2 Pet 1:4, 2 Pet 2:12, 2 Pet 2:12, 2 Pet 2:19

BDB / Lexicon Reference

φθορ-ά, Ionic dialect φθορή, ἡ, (φθείρω) destruction, ruin, Refs 5th c.BC+, etc.; of persons, death, especially by some general visitation, as pestilence, Refs 5th c.BC+ __b of animals, loss by death, Refs 2nd c.AD+ __2 Philos., passing out of existence, ceasing to be, γενομένῳ παντὶ φ. ἐστι Refs 5th c.BC+; ἡ φ. μεταβολή τίς ἐστι τῶν φθειρομένων εἰς τοὐναντίον ἑκάστῳ Refs 5th c.BC+ __3…