πνευματικός
pneumatikós
G4152 substantive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Pertaining to spirit or the breath (πνεῦμα); possessing the qualities, sphere, or origin associated with spirit as distinct from the material or bodily (σῶμα, σάρξ); characterized by or derived from spirit. In certain contexts, describes beings, things, or realities that belong to the realm of spirit, as opposed to the natural or physical. Also refers to persons whose life, conduct, or insight is determined or influenced by the spirit, especially in ethical or religious sense. In Hellenistic and early Christian usage, often designates what is of divine origin—what is granted, inspired, or enabled by God's spirit.
Semantic Range
of or pertaining to spirit, spiritual in origin or character, determined by the spirit or Spirit, non-material (as opposed to physical or fleshly), endowed or affected by the spirit (divine or otherwise), having spiritual gifts or insight, relating to the realm or order of spirit
Root / Etymology
Derived from πνεῦμα (spirit, breath, wind) with the adjectival suffix -ικός, indicating 'pertaining to' or 'characterized by.' Cognate with other -ικός derivatives indicating attribution or relation to a root concept.
Historical & Contextual Notes
πνευματικός emerges principally in Hellenistic Greek, where -ικός adjectives multiplied. In earlier classical Greek, the term was exceedingly rare or unattested; its prominence rises in later Jewish-Greek (Septuagint) and especially in New Testament writings. The word's semantic field is shaped by the philosophical distinction between the 'spiritual' (πνευματικός) and the 'natural' or 'psychical' (ψυχικός) realms. In the Pauline epistles, πνευματικός can describe people guided by the divine spirit (contrasted with ψυχικός: one led only by natural soul-life), things inspired or empowered by the spirit (e.g., spiritual gifts), or even realities belonging to a spiritual order (e.g., the 'spiritual body' in 1 Cor 15:44). LXX usage sometimes aligns with later Christian senses but is less frequent. Standard English 'spiritual' often inadequately conveys the deep contrast to material/existential categories current in Greek philosophy and Second Temple thought. Note: πνευματικός does not inherently mean 'religious' as in modern English, nor is it strictly opposed to 'rational' or 'ethical.' The contrast with ψυχικός (soulish; natural) is vital to understanding its New Testament usage.
Translation Consistency
'Spiritual' is the common, natural English adjective that best captures the primary sense of πνευματικός across contexts—pertaining to spirit or the Spirit, non‑material or spirit‑governed, and used substantively for spirit‑led persons or things. It matches the dominant renderings in the data, is idiomatic, and covers the semantic range without awkward hyphenation or rare technical wording.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from πνεῦμα; non-carnal, i.e. (humanly) ethereal (as opposed to gross), or (dæmoniacally) a spirit (concretely), or (divinely) supernatural, regenerate, religious:--spiritual. Compare ψυχικός.
Root Family
πνευματικός (pneumatikos) — breath, spirit, wind; pertaining to spirit; characterized by spirit
Word Forms
9 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4152-08 |
πνευματικὸν | pneumatikon | ADJ.S ACC N SG |
spiritual | spirit-related thing | spiritual thing | 8 |
G4152-09 |
πνευματικός | pneumatikos | ADJ.P NOM M SG |
spiritual | spirit-pertaining | spiritual | 4 |
G4152-01 |
πνευματικὰ | pneumatika | ADJ.S ACC N PL |
spiritual | spirit-related things | spiritual things | 4 |
G4152-07 |
πνευματικοῖς | pneumatikois | ADJ.S DAT N PL |
spiritual | to spiritual things | to spiritual ones | 3 |
G4152-04 |
πνευματικῇ | pneumatike | ADJ.A DAT F SG |
spiritual | to a spiritual | spiritual | 2 |
G4152-02 |
πνευματικαῖς | pneumatikais | ADJ.A DAT F PL |
spiritual | to spiritual ones | spiritual | 2 |
G4152-06 |
πνευματικοὶ | pneumatikoi | ADJ.S NOM M PL |
spiritual | spirit-governed ones | spirit-governed ones | 1 |
G4152-03 |
πνευματικὰς | pneumatikas | ADJ.A ACC F PL |
spiritual | spirit-related | spiritual | 1 |
G4152-05 |
πνευματικῆς | pneumatikes | ADJ.S GEN F SG |
spiritual | of a spiritual one | spiritual | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
26 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4152-08 |
Romans 1:11 | πνευματικὸν | pneumatikon | ADJ.S ACC N SG |
spiritual | spirit-related thing | spiritual thing |
G4152-09 |
Romans 7:14 | πνευματικός | pneumatikos | ADJ.P NOM M SG |
spiritual | spirit-pertaining | spirit-pertaining |
G4152-07 |
Romans 15:27 | πνευματικοῖς | pneumatikois | ADJ.S DAT N PL |
spiritual | to spiritual things | to spiritual things |
G4152-07 |
1 Corinthians 2:13 | πνευματικοῖς | pneumatikois | ADJ.S DAT N PL |
spiritual | to spiritual things | to spiritual ones |
G4152-01 |
1 Corinthians 2:13 | πνευματικὰ | pneumatika | ADJ.S ACC N PL |
spiritual | spirit-related things | spiritual things |
G4152-09 |
1 Corinthians 2:15 | πνευματικὸς | pneumatikos | ADJ.S NOM M SG |
spiritual | spirit-pertaining | spirit-pertaining |
G4152-07 |
1 Corinthians 3:1 | πνευματικοῖς | pneumatikois | ADJ.S DAT M PL |
spiritual | to spiritual things | to spiritual ones |
G4152-01 |
1 Corinthians 9:11 | πνευματικὰ | pneumatika | ADJ.S ACC N PL |
spiritual things | spirit-related things | spiritual things |
G4152-08 |
1 Corinthians 10:3 | πνευματικὸν | pneumatikon | ADJ.A ACC N SG |
spiritual | spirit-related thing | spiritual thing |
G4152-08 |
1 Corinthians 10:4 | πνευματικὸν | pneumatikon | ADJ.A ACC N SG |
spiritual | spirit-related thing | spiritual thing |