Original Word: πτῶμα
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: ptóma
Pronunciation: PTO-mah
Phonetic Spelling: (pto'-mah)
Definition: Corpse, dead body, carcass
Meaning: a fall; a carcass, corpse, dead body.

dead body, carcass, corpse.

From the alternate of pipto; a ruin, i.e. (specially), lifeless body (corpse, carrion) -- dead body, carcase, corpse.

see GREEK pipto

Word Origin
from piptó
Definition
a fall, hence a misfortune, ruin
NASB Translation
body (3), corpse (1), dead bodies (3).

STRONGS NT 4430: πτῶμα

πτῶμα, πτώματος, τό (πίπτω, perfect πέπτωκα);

1. in Greek writings from Aeschylus down, a fall, downfall; metaphorically, a failure, defeat, calamity; an error lapse, sin.

2. that which is fallen; hence, with the genitive of a person or with νεκροῦ added, the (fallen) body of one dead or slain, a corpse, carcase; later also with νεκροῦ omitted (Polybius, the Sept., Philo, Joseph, Plutarch, Herodian), cf. Thomas Magister, p. 765 (edited by Ritschl, p. 290, 14); Phryn. ed. Lob., p. 375; (Winer's Grammar, 23), and so in the N. T.: Matthew 14:12 L T Tr WH; Mark 15:45 L T Tr WH; Matthew 24:28; τίνος, Mark 6:29; Revelation 11:8, 9.

Word Origin: Derived from the verb πίπτω (piptō), meaning "to fall."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • Strong's Hebrew 5038 (נְבֵלָה, nebelah): This Hebrew term is often used in the Old Testament to refer to a carcass or dead body, similar to the Greek "πτῶμα." It appears in contexts related to ritual purity and the handling of dead bodies.
• Strong's Hebrew 6297 (פֶּגֶר, peger): Another Hebrew word for a corpse or carcass, used in various contexts to describe the physical remains of a dead person or animal.

These Hebrew terms, like "πτῶμα," emphasize the physicality and impurity associated with death, while also pointing to broader theological themes of life, death, and resurrection.

Usage: The word "πτῶμα" appears in the New Testament to describe a lifeless body, often in contexts that emphasize the physical state of death or the aftermath of a fall leading to death.

Context: The Greek term "πτῶμα" is used in the New Testament to describe a dead body or corpse, highlighting the physical reality of death. It appears in several key passages, each providing insight into its contextual meaning and theological implications.

• Matthew 24:28 (BSB): "Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather." In this eschatological discourse, Jesus uses "πτῶμα" metaphorically to describe the inevitability and visibility of judgment, likening it to vultures gathering around a dead body. The imagery underscores the certainty and inescapability of divine judgment.

• Mark 6:29 (BSB): "When John's disciples heard about this, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb." Here, "πτῶμα" refers to the body of John the Baptist after his execution. The use of the term emphasizes the finality of John's earthly life and the respect shown by his disciples in providing a proper burial.

• Revelation 11:8-9 (BSB): "Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city... For three and a half days all peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will view their bodies and will not permit them to be laid in a tomb." In this apocalyptic vision, "πτῶμα" is used to describe the bodies of the two witnesses, symbolizing the world's rejection and disdain for God's messengers. The public display of their corpses serves as a testament to the hostility of the world towards divine truth.

Theologically, "πτῶμα" serves as a stark reminder of the reality of death and the transient nature of human life. It also points to the hope of resurrection, as the New Testament narrative consistently moves from death to the promise of new life in Christ.

πτωμα πτώμα πτῶμα πτωματα πτώματα πτώματι πτώματος ptoma ptôma ptōma ptō̂ma ptomata ptōmata ptṓmataInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts