ψυχικός
psychikós
G5591 attributive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Pertaining to the ψυχή (psychē), i.e., the life-force or animating principle associated with sentient, human, or animal existence as opposed to the divine or spiritual (πνευματικός). In broader contexts, 'belonging to the natural or unspiritual realm, characterized by ordinary human faculties and desires.' In some contexts, implies limited to or dominated by the instinctual, earthly, or non-spiritual dimension of human existence, in distinction from what is spiritual, divine, or transformed.
Semantic Range
belonging to the soul/life-principle, animated (vs. inanimate), natural (as contrasted with spiritual/divine), governed by mere human nature, unspiritual, limited to earthly existence; sometimes, sensual or driven by instinct
Root / Etymology
Formed from ψυχή (psychē, 'life,' 'soul,' 'animate self') and the adjectival suffix -ικός (denoting 'pertaining to'). It thus literally means 'pertaining to the psyche' or 'belonging to the soul/life principle.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, ψυχικός rarely occurs, but when it does, it relates to what belongs to the realm of living, sentient beings, often contrasted with physical or material (σωματικός) or spiritual (πνευματικός) categories. In post-classical and Koine Greek, and especially in Hellenistic philosophical traditions, ψυχικός comes to represent that which is governed by ψυχή in contrast to πνεῦμα (spirit) or σοφία (wisdom). In the Septuagint, the term is virtually absent; its New Testament usage (e.g., 1 Corinthians 2:14, 15:44, 46; James 3:15; Jude 19) targets the human being or way of life guided by ordinary human nature apart from divine transformation. The term is sometimes traditionally rendered 'natural' or 'sensual,' but such translations may not fully convey the nuance of dependence on merely human or unspiritual faculties. Contrasted especially with πνευματικός ('spiritual' or 'of the spirit'), indicating a qualitative difference between one who merely possesses life or existence and one transformed or led by the divine spirit. The term does not strictly correspond to later psychological or mental categories; instead, it denotes the whole person as animated by ψυχή, sometimes with the implication of limitation to this plane. Usage reflects a spectrum from neutral (animate, ensouled) to pejorative ('unspiritual,' 'of the flesh'). English translations often narrow the meaning, sometimes misleadingly as 'sensual.'
Translation Consistency
Psychikos contrasts with spiritual (pneumatikos) and most directly means ‘belonging to the soul’ or ‘governed by ordinary human nature.’ “Soulish” captures that full range (soul‑related, natural/unspiritual, sometimes sensual) in a single, consistent English adjective. It is more concise and flexible for consistent rendering than the hyphenated alternative “soul‑governed.”
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ψυχή; sensitive, i.e. animate (in distinction on the one hand from πνευματικός, which is the higher or renovated nature; and on the other from φυσικός, which is the lower or bestial nature):--natural, sensual.
Root Family
ψυχικός (psychikos) — soul, life, animate self
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5591-03 |
ψυχικόν | psuchikon | ADJ.A NOM N SG |
natural | soul-governed (neuter singular) | soulish (neuter singular) | 3 |
G5591-01 |
ψυχική | psuchike | ADJ.S NOM F SG |
sensual | soulish | soulish | 1 |
G5591-02 |
ψυχικοί | psuchikoi | ADJ.S NOM M PL |
sensual | soul-governed ones | soul-governed ones | 1 |
G5591-04 |
ψυχικὸς | psuchikos | ADJ.A NOM M SG |
natural | soulish | soulish | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5591-04 |
1 Corinthians 2:14 | ψυχικὸς | psuchikos | ADJ.A NOM M SG |
natural | soulish | soulish |
G5591-03 |
1 Corinthians 15:44 | ψυχικόν | psuchikon | ADJ.A NOM N SG |
natural | soul-governed (neuter singular) | soulish (neuter singular) |
G5591-03 |
1 Corinthians 15:44 | ψυχικόν | psuchikon-2 | ADJ.A NOM N SG |
natural | soul-governed (neuter singular) | soulish (neuter singular) |
G5591-03 |
1 Corinthians 15:46 | ψυχικόν | psuchikon | ADJ.S NOM N SG |
natural | soul-governed (neuter singular) | soulish (neuter singular) |
G5591-01 |
James 3:15 | ψυχική | psuchike | ADJ.S NOM F SG |
sensual | soulish | soulish |
G5591-02 |
Jude 1:19 | ψυχικοί | psuchikoi | ADJ.S NOM M PL |
sensual | soul-governed ones | soul-governed ones |