← G5448 G5450 →

φύσις

phýsis

G5449 noun

SILEX Entry

Root φύ- to bring forth, grow, originate

Definition

Basic meaning: nature, inherent quality, or essential character of a person or thing. In usage, φύσις denotes the innate disposition, constitution, or natural state of an organism, person, group, or thing—what it is by virtue of birth, origin, or inward properties, not by external teaching or habit. It refers to what is considered inborn, native, or arising spontaneously from one's being or function. In extended senses, it can also refer to the kind, species, or class—what is proper to the sort of thing something is; and in human contexts, it is used for native inclination, physical nature, or even lineage.

Semantic Range

nature, inherent quality, essential character, innate disposition, physical constitution, natural order, kind/class/species, lineage or descent, native inclination

Root / Etymology

From the verb φύω ('to bring forth, produce, grow, originate'), φύσις is a noun formation first attested in classical Greek. The root idea relates to birth, production, and the intrinsic process of coming into being.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek (e.g., Herodotus, Plato, Aristotle), φύσις is foundational for understanding what something is by its inherent makeup, in contrast to νόμος ('law, custom') or τέχνη ('art, craft'). In Hellenistic and philosophical Greek, especially Stoic and Peripatetic schools, φύσις became central for theories of nature, order, and being. In the Septuagint, it rarely occurs and when it does, often aligns with the idea of natural processes or conditions (e.g., wisdom, generation). In the New Testament, φύσις can denote human nature (Romans 1:26; 2:14; 2 Peter 1:4), what is native or natural to a person or people group (Galatians 2:15; 'by nature Judeans'), or the created order, sometimes contrasting what is 'natural' (by birth or disposition) versus what is acquired, taught, imposed, or supernatural. English translations often use 'nature,' but this can obscure how φύσις refers to both inner character and essential state, as well as lineage or class. The concept of 'natural order' in later philosophy is also rooted here. Never strictly a synonym for 'kind' or 'race,' but may be used in reference to species, type, or stock in biology or genealogy. Not to be confused with φύσμα ('offspring'), nor is it limited to modern concepts of biology or genetics.

Translation Consistency

primary "nature" 14 occurrences

φύσις primarily denotes the inherent character, essential quality, or kind of a person or thing. English 'nature' is the most natural, versatile single-word equivalent that covers innate disposition, physical constitution, species/kind, and the idea of what something is by birth or origin. It is simple, common, and fits all typical usages in the SILEX semantic range better than adjectival alternatives like 'inherent.'

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from φύω; growth (by germination or expansion), i.e. (by implication) natural production (lineal descent); by extension, a genus or sort; figuratively, native disposition, constitution or usage:--(man-)kind, nature(-al).

Root Family

φύσις (physis) — nature, inherent quality, essential character, innate disposition, natural constitution

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G5449-01 φύσει phusei N DAT F SG by nature by inherent nature by inherent nature 5
G5449-03 φύσιν phusin N ACC F SG nature inherent nature inherent nature 5
G5449-02 φύσεως phuseos N GEN F SG nature of inherent nature of nature 2
G5449-04 φύσις phusis N NOM F SG kind inborn nature nature 2

Occurrences in Scripture

14 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G5449-03 Romans 1:26 φύσιν phusin N ACC F SG nature inherent nature inherent nature
G5449-01 Romans 2:14 φύσει phusei N DAT F SG by nature by inherent nature by inherent nature
G5449-02 Romans 2:27 φύσεως phuseos N GEN F SG nature of inherent nature of nature
G5449-03 Romans 11:21 φύσιν phusin N ACC F SG natural inherent nature inherent nature
G5449-03 Romans 11:24 φύσιν phusin N ACC F SG nature inherent nature inherent nature
G5449-03 Romans 11:24 φύσιν phusin-2 N ACC F SG nature inherent nature inherent nature
G5449-03 Romans 11:24 φύσιν phusin-3 N ACC F SG branches inherent nature inherent nature
G5449-04 1 Corinthians 11:14 φύσις phusis N NOM F SG nature inborn nature nature
G5449-01 Galatians 2:15 φύσει phusei N DAT F SG by nature by inherent nature by inherent nature
G5449-01 Galatians 4:8 φύσει phusei N DAT F SG by nature by inherent nature by inherent nature
← G5448 Greek Lexicon G5450 →