βιωτικός
biōtikós
G982 substantive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Relating to everyday life, material existence, or the necessities and affairs connected with living (as distinct from spiritual or transcendent concerns); concerned with matters necessary for ordinary, physical life such as sustenance, shelter, or daily affairs. The term can also denote things associated with livelihood or the routine of existence.
Semantic Range
pertaining to daily living, connected with material existence, related to livelihood, worldly or secular matters, affairs of ordinary life
Root / Etymology
From βίος ('life, means of living, livelihood'), with the adjectival suffix -ικός indicating 'pertaining to.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, βίος refers to the course or manner of life, especially material or outward life (contrasted with spiritual or contemplative aspects, such as ζωή which can also mean 'life'). βιοτικός and βιωτικός became adjectives used to denote things relating to ordinary, sustaining life or livelihood. In the Hellenistic and Koine periods, βιωτικός was primarily used for the practical or material aspects of life — food, clothing, property, or means of subsistence — as opposed to higher, philosophical, or spiritual pursuits. In the New Testament (e.g., Luke 21:34, 1 Corinthians 6:3-4), βιωτικός refers specifically to the matters, affairs, or disputes pertaining to daily life or physical existence and is contrasted with matters of a spiritual or eschatological nature. The English phrase 'of this life' in traditional translations captures only part of the term's scope, as the stress falls on the practical, sometimes mundane or secular, nature of the things referenced. The word is rare in extant Greek literature and functions mainly in legal and practical contexts rather than spiritual discourse.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from a derivative of βιόω; relating to the present existence:--of (pertaining to, things that pertain to) this life.
Root Family
βιωτικός (biōtikos) — life, means of subsistence, livelihood
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G982-01 |
βιωτικά | biotika | ADJ.S ACC N PL |
matters of this life | everyday life matters | everyday life matters | 2 |
G982-02 |
βιωτικαῖς | biotikais | ADJ.A DAT F PL |
of this life | to everyday-life affairs | with everyday-life affairs | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G982-02 |
Luke 21:34 | βιωτικαῖς | biotikais | ADJ.A DAT F PL |
of this life | to everyday-life affairs | with everyday-life affairs |
G982-01 |
1 Corinthians 6:3 | βιωτικά | biotika | ADJ.S ACC N PL |
matters of this life | everyday life matters | everyday life matters |
G982-01 |
1 Corinthians 6:4 | βιωτικὰ | biotika | ADJ.S ACC N PL |
matters pertaining to this life | everyday life matters | everyday life matters |