Word Study for G5351 (φθείρω)

phtheírō /fthi'-ro/ Ask about this word

Rootprobably strengthened from (to pine or waste) · properly, to shrivel or wither, i.e. to spoil (by any process) or (generally) to ruin (especially figuratively, by moral influences, to deprave)

KJV usagecorrupt (self), defile, destroy.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of phtheírō — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word phtheírō, represented by G5351, is a term for corruption and ruin. Its base definition is to shrivel or wither, but it extends to spoiling by any process or, more generally, to ruin. Figuratively, it signifies moral depravity. It appears 9 times across 7 unique verses, highlighting its specific but significant role in describing decay and destruction.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical text, G5351 is used to describe different forms of corruption. It can refer to the tainting of good character, as seen in the warning that "evil communications corrupt good manners" 1 Corinthians 15:33. The term is also used for the spiritual corruption of the mind, with Paul expressing fear that believers' minds would be corrupted from the simplicity in Christ, just as the serpent beguiled Eve 2 Corinthians 11:3. A stark dual usage appears where the word means both to defile and to destroy; if any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy 1 Corinthians 3:17.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the nature and source of the corruption described by G5351:

G1818 exapatáō (to seduce wholly): This word is used to describe the serpent's action to beguile Eve, which serves as a parallel for how the Corinthians' minds could be corrupted 2 Corinthians 11:3.
G2556 kakós (worthless, depraved): This term describes the evil communications that are said to corrupt good manners, pointing to the injurious and depraved quality of the influence 1 Corinthians 15:33.
G539 apátē (delusion): This word points to the source of internal corruption, where the "old man" is described as corrupt according to deceitful lusts Ephesians 4:22.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G5351 is significant, highlighting the relationship between sin, defilement, and judgment.

The Principle of Reciprocal Destruction: The word establishes a direct divine consequence for defilement. God promises to destroy G5351 anyone who dares to defile G5351 His holy temple, which believers are 1 Corinthians 3:17.
Corruption through Ungodly Influence: The term is used to warn against the decay of both mind and morals. This can happen through external forces like evil communications 1 Corinthians 15:33 or through internal forces like the deceitful lusts of the "old man" Ephesians 4:22.
Self-Inflicted Ruin: In some contexts, corruption is a self-inflicted state. Jude describes those who, like brute beasts, corrupt themselves in the things they know naturally, leading to their own ruin Jude 1:10.

Summary

In summary, G5351 is a potent term that conveys more than physical decay. It encapsulates the process of moral and spiritual ruin, whether caused by external deception, internal lusts, or self-destructive behavior. Its usage demonstrates a clear biblical principle: the act of corrupting sacred things, like the mind or the community of believers, invites a corresponding judgment of destruction from God.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 9 occurrences, inflected in 9 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

2nd Aorist Passive Subjunctive 3rd Singular 1×
2nd Future Passive Indicative 3rd Plural 1×
Aorist Active Indicative 1st Plural 1×
Future Active Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
Imperfect Active Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
Present Active Indicative 3rd Plural 1×
Present Active Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
Present Passive Indicative 3rd Plural 1×
Present Passive Participle Accusative Singular Masculine 1×

Accusative: The direct object of the verb.
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
1st: First person — the speaker ("I"/"we").
2nd: Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Present: Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
Imperfect: Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
Future: Action yet to take place.
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Passive: The subject is acted upon.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Subjunctive: Possibility or purpose — "might", "should".
Participle: A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 7 verses across 5 of the 27 books. Most frequent in 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians (2 verses each); never once in the other 22.

1 Corinthians

2 Corinthians

Ephesians

Jude

Revelation

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.