### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **sōmatikós**, represented by `{{G4984}}`, is defined as **corporeal or physical**. Derived from the word for body, σῶμα, it is translated as **bodily**. It appears **2 times** in **2 unique verses**, where it serves to describe something in its physical or tangible form.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical usage, `{{G4984}}` provides a tangible quality to spiritual matters. It is used to describe the visible manifestation of the Holy Ghost, which "descended in a **bodily** shape like a dove" upon Jesus [[Luke 3:22]]. This usage grounds a divine event in physical reality. In contrast, it is also used to distinguish the physical from the spiritual, as when Paul notes that "**bodily** exercise profiteth little" compared to godliness, which is profitable for all things [[1 Timothy 4:8]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the contexts in which `{{G4984}}` is used:
* `{{G1129}}` **gymnasía** (training): This word for exercise is directly modified by **sōmatikós** in the phrase "**bodily** exercise," specifying a physical, rather than spiritual, form of training [[1 Timothy 4:8]].
* `{{G1491}}` **eîdos** (shape): Meaning a form or appearance, this word is paired with `{{G4984}}` to describe the "**bodily** shape" of the Holy Spirit's descent, emphasizing its visible and physical nature [[Luke 3:22]].
* `{{G2150}}` **eusébeia** (godliness): This term is set in direct contrast to "**bodily** exercise," highlighting the superior value of spiritual piety over physical discipline [[1 Timothy 4:8]].
* `{{G4151}}` **pneûma** (spirit): As the Holy Ghost or **Spirit**, this word represents the divine being that takes on a **bodily** form, showing a connection between the spiritual realm and physical manifestation [[Luke 3:22]].
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{G4984}}` lies in its ability to articulate the relationship between the physical and spiritual realms.
* **Physical Manifestation of the Divine:** The use of **sōmatikós** in [[Luke 3:22]] affirms that a spiritual being, the Holy Ghost `{{G4151}}`, can be manifested in a tangible, **corporeal or physical** form. This makes a pivotal theological event observable.
* **Prioritization of the Spiritual:** In [[1 Timothy 4:8]], the term establishes a clear distinction in value. While "**bodily** exercise" has limited, temporal benefit, it is contrasted with **godliness** `{{G2150}}`, which holds promise for both the current life and the one to come, underscoring the greater importance of spiritual devotion.
### Summary
In summary, `{{G4984}}` is a precise term that means **bodily** or **physical**. Though used only twice, it serves two crucial functions: it confirms that the divine can appear in a tangible, corporeal form, as with the Holy Ghost in [[Luke 3:22]], and it draws a sharp contrast between the limited worth of physical discipline and the eternal value of godliness in [[1 Timothy 4:8]]. The word thereby helps define the boundaries and intersections of the physical and spiritual worlds.
TRV