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ἀφθαρσία

aphtharsía

G861 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

State of not being subject to decay, destruction, or corruption; in extended contexts, imperishability, enduring or everlasting quality, and, by extension, moral incorruptibility or sincerity. The term primarily denotes exemption from physical decay or death, and in figurative context, unfailing authenticity or purity.

Semantic Range

incorruptibility, imperishability, immortality, unending existence, perpetual or undying quality, moral incorruptibility, sincerity, genuineness

Root / Etymology

From ἄφθαρτος ('imperishable, incorruptible'), which derives from the privative prefix ἀ- ('not') and φθαρτός ('perishable, destructible'), itself from the verb φθείρω ('to destroy, corrupt, perish'). Thus, ἀφθαρσία literally expresses the state or quality of being incorruptible or imperishable.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἀφθαρσία is relatively rare, with more common use of the adjectival form ἄφθαρτος. The term's semantic center is physical incorruptibility, often used in contrast with φθορά ('corruption, decay'). In the Hellenistic period, especially in philosophical and religious texts, ἀφθαρσία extends to denote immortality, an everlasting state of existence, and the divine nature of gods or the soul. In Septuagint and New Testament usage, ἀφθαρσία commonly refers to immortality or the unending nature of life, particularly in eschatological contexts. It may also refer to moral and ethical incorruptibility (e.g., sincerity, genuineness), especially in contrast with human frailty or insincerity. English Bible translations often narrow its scope to 'immortality' or 'incorruption,' but the original term has a broader semantic and philosophical range, encapsulating both literal and metaphorical imperishability. Related terms: φθορά (perishability, destruction), ἄφθαρτος (imperishable), φθείρω (to corrupt/destroy).

Translation Consistency

primary "incorruption" 5 occurrences

Incorruption directly captures the primary semantic range—being not subject to decay, destruction, or moral corruption—while matching historical and literal renderings (e.g., KJV) and fitting both physical/perishable and figurative senses. It is precise without being overly technical and will read naturally in the SIBI context.

Alternatives (2 occurrences):
"imperishability" (2x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἄφθαρτος; incorruptibility; genitive, unending existence; (figuratively) genuineness:--immortality, incorruption, sincerity.

Root Family

ἄφθαρσ- (aphtharsía) — to not perish, be imperishable, not to be corrupted

Root ἄφθαρσ- to not perish, be imperishable, not to be corrupted

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G861-02 ἀφθαρσίαν aphtharsian N ACC F SG immortality imperishability incorruption 5
G861-01 ἀφθαρσίᾳ aphtharsia N DAT F SG incorruptibility in imperishability imperishability 2

Occurrences in Scripture

7 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G861-02 Romans 2:7 ἀφθαρσίαν aphtharsian N ACC F SG immortality imperishability incorruption
G861-01 1 Corinthians 15:42 ἀφθαρσίᾳ aphtharsia N DAT F SG incorruption in imperishability imperishability
G861-02 1 Corinthians 15:50 ἀφθαρσίαν aphtharsian N ACC F SG incorruption imperishability incorruption
G861-02 1 Corinthians 15:53 ἀφθαρσίαν aphtharsian N ACC F SG imperishability imperishability incorruption
G861-02 1 Corinthians 15:54 ἀφθαρσίαν aphtharsian N ACC F SG incorruption imperishability incorruption
G861-01 Ephesians 6:24 ἀφθαρσίᾳ aphtharsia N DAT F SG incorruptibility in imperishability imperishability
G861-02 2 Timothy 1:10 ἀφθαρσίαν aphtharsian N ACC F SG immortality imperishability incorruption
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