4984. sómatikos
Lexical Summary
sómatikos: Bodily, corporeal

Original Word: σωματικός
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: sómatikos
Pronunciation: so-mat-ee-kos'
Phonetic Spelling: (so-mat-ee-kos')
KJV: bodily
NASB: bodily
Word Origin: [from G4983 (σῶμα - body)]

1. corporeal or physical

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
bodily.

From soma; corporeal or physical -- bodily.

see GREEK soma

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from sóma
Definition
of the body
NASB Translation
bodily (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 4984: σωματικός

σωματικός, σωματική, σωματικον (σῶμα), from Aristotle down, "corporeal (Vulg.corporalis), bodily;

a. having a bodily form or nature": σωματικῷ εἴδει, Luke 3:22 (opposed to ἀσώματος, Philo de opif. mund. § 4).

b. pertaining to the body: γυμνασία, 1 Timothy 4:8 (ἕξις, Josephus, b. j. 6, 1, 6: ἐπιθυμίαι σωματικαί, 4 Macc. 1:32; (ἐπιθυμίαι καί ἡδοναι, Aristotle, eth. Nic. 7, 7, p. 1149b, 26; others; ἀπέχου τῶν σαρκικῶν καί σωματικῶν σπιθυμιων, 'Teaching' etc. 1, 4 [ET])).

Topical Lexicon
Overview

Strong’s Greek 4984 (σωματικός, sōmatikos) appears only twice in the New Testament yet frames a robust biblical theology of embodiment. Luke employs it to describe the Spirit’s visible descent upon Jesus; Paul uses it to weigh bodily exercise against the lasting value of godliness. Together the occurrences uphold the goodness of the physical realm while stressing its subordinate place to spiritual realities.

Occurrences in Scripture

Luke 3:22 — “and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.’”
1 Timothy 4:8 — “For physical exercise is of limited value, but godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for the present life and for the life to come.”

Embodied Revelation (Luke 3:22)

• The phrase “in bodily form” stresses the tangible manifestation of the Spirit, countering any notion that God’s presence is confined to the immaterial.
• The Triune revelation—Father’s voice, Son’s baptism, Spirit’s descent—occurs within real space-time, anchoring salvation history in observable reality.
• Early Church writers used this text to rebut Gnostic claims that matter is inherently evil and to affirm that grace sanctifies creation rather than escaping it.

Physical Training Versus Godliness (1 Timothy 4:8)

• Paul acknowledges limited benefit in caring for the body; stewardship is good, idolatry of fitness is not.
• “Promise for the present life” recognizes temporal blessings from wise bodily habits, while “life to come” establishes eternal priorities.
• The verse counters both ascetic extremes (Colossians 2:20-23) and indulgent misuse of the body (1 Corinthians 6:13).

Theology of the Body

• Creation: Humanity’s bodily form is declared “very good” (Genesis 1:31).
• Incarnation: “The Word became flesh” (John 1:14), dignifying physical existence.
• Redemption: Christ reconciles believers “by His physical body through death” (Colossians 1:22).
• Resurrection: The hope of a glorified body (1 Corinthians 15:42-44) completes salvation.
• Sanctification: “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice” (Romans 12:1) integrates physical life with worship.

Christological Significance

• Luke’s “bodily form” foreshadows the bodily resurrection and ascension, reinforcing that Jesus remains fully human.
• The reality of His flesh guards against docetism and informs sacramental theology: “This is My body” (Luke 22:19).
• The descent of the Spirit upon a real, human Messiah assures believers of the Spirit’s work within their own bodily existence.

Discipleship and Ministry Implications

• Balanced Discipline: Christians are free to enjoy athletics and health pursuits as means of stewardship, not as ultimate goals.
• Integrated Worship: Prayer, fasting, and rest involve the body and nurture godliness.
• Pastoral Counseling: Addressing body image, addiction, or laziness draws on 1 Timothy 4:8 to set eternal perspective.
• Baptismal Liturgy: Luke 3:22 shapes Trinitarian confession and underscores a public, embodied faith.

Historical Reception

• Ante-Nicene fathers cited Luke 3:22 to defend the Spirit’s full deity and personal activity.
• Monastic writers appealed to 1 Timothy 4:8 to temper rigorous asceticism with the pursuit of charity and prayer.
• Reformers used the term to affirm bodily resurrection against spiritualized eschatologies.

Related Themes and Texts

• Temple of the Holy Spirit — 1 Corinthians 6:19
• Discipline for Holiness — Hebrews 12:11
• Balance of Body and Spirit — 1 Thessalonians 5:23
• Manifest Glory — Exodus 40:34-35; Acts 2:3-4
• Eternal Reward Versus Temporal Crowns — 1 Corinthians 9:25

Forms and Transliterations
σωματικη σωματική σωματικὴ σωματικω σωματικώ σωματικῷ somatike somatikḕ sōmatikē sōmatikḕ somatiko sōmatikō somatikôi sōmatikō̂i
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Luke 3:22 Adj-DNS
GRK: τὸ ἅγιον σωματικῷ εἴδει ὡς
NAS: descended upon Him in bodily form
KJV: Ghost descended in a bodily shape like
INT: Holy in a bodily form as

1 Timothy 4:8 Adj-NFS
GRK: ἡ γὰρ σωματικὴ γυμνασία πρὸς
NAS: for bodily discipline
KJV: For bodily exercise profiteth
INT: the indeed bodily exercise for

Strong's Greek 4984
2 Occurrences


σωματικὴ — 1 Occ.
σωματικῷ — 1 Occ.

4983
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