Word Studies¶
pneuma (G4151) -- Spirit¶
Original: pneuma Transliteration: pneuma Pronunciation: pnyoo-mah Part of Speech: Neuter noun Definition: From pneo (to breathe); a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively, a spirit -- the rational soul; vital principle; mental disposition; (superhuman) an angel, demon, or (divine) God, Christ's spirit, the Holy Spirit. Occurrences: 342 (KJV), 385 (BLB)
Translations¶
| Translation | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Ghost | 85 | 24.9% |
| Spirit | 80 | 23.4% |
| spirit | 71 | 20.8% |
| the Spirit | 24 | 7.0% |
| spirits | 22 | 6.4% |
Key Verses in This Study¶
- ROM 8:1 -- "walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit"
- ROM 8:2 -- "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus"
- ROM 8:4 -- "walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit"
- ROM 8:5 -- "they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit"
- ROM 8:9 -- "if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you"
- ROM 8:13 -- "if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body"
- ROM 8:14 -- "as many as are led by the Spirit of God"
- GAL 5:16 -- "Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh"
- GAL 5:17 -- "the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh"
- GAL 5:18 -- "if ye be led of the Spirit"
- GAL 5:22 -- "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace"
- GAL 5:25 -- "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit"
- 2CO 3:3 -- "with the Spirit of the living God"
- 2CO 3:6 -- "the spirit giveth life"
- 2CO 3:17 -- "the Lord is that Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty"
- 2CO 3:18 -- "as by the Spirit of the Lord"
Significance¶
Pneuma is the central Greek word of this study. It appears in every major passage under investigation. Paul uses it consistently to refer to the Holy Spirit as the enabling power for Christian living and commandment-keeping. The contrast pneuma/sarx (Spirit/flesh) is the fundamental framework for understanding how believers fulfill the law.
pneumatikos (G4152) -- Spiritual¶
Original: pneumatikos Transliteration: pneumatikos Pronunciation: pnyoo-mat-ik-os Part of Speech: Adjective Definition: From pneuma; non-carnal, i.e. (humanly) ethereal (as opposed to gross), or (demoniacally) a spirit (concretely), or (divinely) supernatural, regenerate, religious. Occurrences: 26
Translations¶
| Translation | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| spiritual | 13 | 50.0% |
| spiritual things | 3 | 11.5% |
| is spiritual | 3 | 11.5% |
| a spiritual | 3 | 11.5% |
Key Verse¶
- ROM 7:14 -- "For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin."
Significance¶
This word establishes the character of the law itself -- it is pneumatikos, belonging to the Spirit's realm. The contrast in ROM 7:14 between the law being "spiritual" and the person being "carnal" (sarkikos) sets up the entire Spirit-flesh dynamic of Romans 8. The law is not the problem; the flesh is.
sarkikos (G4559) -- Carnal/Fleshly¶
Original: sarkikos Transliteration: sarkikos Pronunciation: sar-kee-kos Part of Speech: Adjective Definition: From sarx; pertaining to flesh, i.e. (by extension) bodily, temporal, or (by implication) animal, unregenerate. Occurrences: 11
Translations¶
| Translation | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| carnal | 5 | 45.5% |
| carnal things | 2 | 18.2% |
| fleshly | 2 | 18.2% |
Key Verses¶
- ROM 7:14 -- "the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin"
- 1CO 3:1 -- "could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal"
- 1CO 3:3 -- "for ye are yet carnal"
- 2CO 10:4 -- "the weapons of our warfare are not carnal"
Significance¶
Sarkikos describes the condition of the unregenerate or spiritually immature person. In ROM 7:14, it is the antithesis of pneumatikos -- the law is spiritual but the person trying to keep it without the Spirit is carnal. This word diagnoses the problem the Spirit solves.
sarx (G4561) -- Flesh¶
Original: sarx Transliteration: sarx Pronunciation: sarx Part of Speech: Feminine noun Definition: Probably from the base of saroo; flesh (as stripped of the skin); by extension, the body (as opposed to the soul); by implication, human nature (with its frailties), or a human being. Occurrences: 128 (KJV), 151 (BLB)
Translations¶
| Translation | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| flesh | 73 | 57.0% |
| the flesh | 35 | 27.3% |
| to the flesh | 5 | 3.9% |
Key Verses¶
- ROM 7:18 -- "in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing"
- ROM 8:3 -- "weak through the flesh... condemned sin in the flesh"
- ROM 8:4 -- "who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit"
- ROM 8:5 -- "they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh"
- ROM 8:7 -- "the carnal [flesh] mind is enmity against God: not subject to the law"
- ROM 8:12 -- "we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh"
- GAL 5:16 -- "Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh"
- GAL 5:17 -- "the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh"
- GAL 5:19 -- "the works of the flesh are manifest"
- GAL 5:24 -- "they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh"
Significance¶
Sarx in Paul's ethical usage denotes not merely the physical body but the principle of human nature opposed to God. The sarx cannot submit to God's law (ROM 8:7). The sarx produces works that are commandment violations (GAL 5:19-21). Only the Spirit can overcome the sarx and enable law-keeping.
hupakoe (G5218) -- Obedience¶
Original: hupakoe Transliteration: hupakoe Pronunciation: hoop-ak-o-ay Part of Speech: Feminine noun Definition: From hupakouo; attentive hearkening, i.e. (by implication) compliance or submission. Occurrences: 15
Key Verses¶
- ROM 1:5 -- "for obedience to the faith among all nations"
- ROM 5:19 -- "by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous"
- ROM 6:16 -- "servants to obey... whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness"
- ROM 16:26 -- "made known to all nations for the obedience of faith"
- 1PE 1:2 -- "sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience"
- 1PE 1:22 -- "purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit"
Significance¶
The connection between Spirit and obedience is explicit in 1PE 1:2 -- sanctification of the Spirit is "unto obedience." Obedience is the goal/result of the Spirit's sanctifying work. ROM 1:5 and 16:26 frame Paul's entire epistle as being about "obedience of faith" -- faith that produces obedience through the Spirit.
hupakouo (G5219) -- To Obey¶
Original: hupakouo Transliteration: hupakouo Pronunciation: hoop-ak-oo-o Part of Speech: Verb Definition: From hupo and akouo; to hear under (as a subordinate), i.e. to listen attentively; by implication, to heed or conform to a command or authority. Occurrences: 21
Key Verses¶
- ROM 6:16 -- "servants to obey... of obedience unto righteousness"
- ROM 6:17 -- "ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine"
- PHP 2:12 -- "ye have always obeyed... work out your own salvation"
- HEB 5:9 -- "he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him"
Significance¶
The verb form emphasizes active obedience. ROM 6:17 is particularly relevant: obedience comes "from the heart" -- connecting to the heart-writing promise of Jer 31:33 and Eze 36:26-27. The obedience is not external conformity but heart-originated response, enabled by the Spirit.
hagiasmos (G38) -- Sanctification¶
Original: hagiasmos Transliteration: hagiasmos Pronunciation: hag-ee-as-mos Part of Speech: Masculine noun Definition: From hagiazo; properly, purification, i.e. (the state) purity; concretely (by Hebrew) a purifier. Occurrences: 10
Translations¶
| Translation | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| holiness | 5 | 50.0% |
| sanctification | 5 | 50.0% |
Key Verses¶
- ROM 6:19 -- "yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness"
- ROM 6:22 -- "ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life"
- 1TH 4:3 -- "this is the will of God, [even] your sanctification"
- 2TH 2:13 -- "chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit"
- 1PE 1:2 -- "through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience"
Significance¶
The 50/50 split between "holiness" and "sanctification" shows these are conceptually identical. The explicit linkage to the Spirit (2TH 2:13; 1PE 1:2) and to obedience (1PE 1:2) makes hagiasmos a bridge concept: the Spirit sanctifies, and sanctification produces obedience.
hagiazo (G37) -- To Sanctify¶
Original: hagiazo Transliteration: hagiazo Pronunciation: hag-ee-ad-zo Part of Speech: Verb Definition: From hagios; to make holy, i.e. (ceremonially) purify or consecrate; (mentally) to venerate. Occurrences: 25 (KJV), 29 (BLB)
Key Verses¶
- JHN 17:17 -- "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth"
- 1CO 6:11 -- "ye are sanctified... by the Spirit of our God"
- 1TH 5:23 -- "the very God of peace sanctify you wholly"
- HEB 2:11 -- "he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one"
- HEB 10:10 -- "we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ"
- HEB 10:14 -- "he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified"
qadash (H6942) -- To Sanctify (Hebrew)¶
Original: qadash Transliteration: qadash Pronunciation: kaw-dash Part of Speech: Verb Definition: A primitive root; to be (causatively, make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally). Occurrences: 186 (KJV), 172 (BLB)
Key Verses¶
- EXO 20:8 -- "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy" (qadash)
- EXO 31:13 -- "I am the LORD that doth sanctify you"
- LEV 20:7 -- "Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy"
- EZK 36:23 -- "I will sanctify my great name"
- EZK 37:28 -- "the LORD do sanctify Israel"
Significance¶
The OT sanctification vocabulary establishes that God is the one who sanctifies. EZK 37:28 explicitly states the LORD sanctifies Israel -- the same context as the Spirit-promise of Eze 36:27. The sanctifying work is God's action through His Spirit, not human self-effort.
ruach (H7307) -- Spirit/Wind/Breath¶
Original: ruach Transliteration: ruach Pronunciation: roo-akh Part of Speech: Feminine noun Definition: From ruach; wind; by resemblance breath; figuratively, life, anger; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being. Occurrences: 434 (KJV), 378 (BLB)
Translations¶
| Translation | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| the spirit | 53 | 12.2% |
| spirit | 39 | 9.0% |
| wind | 30 | 6.9% |
| the Spirit | 22 | 5.1% |
| my spirit | 20 | 4.6% |
| breath | 8 | 1.8% |
Key OT Spirit Passages¶
- EZK 36:26 -- "a new spirit will I put within you"
- EZK 36:27 -- "I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes"
- EZK 37:14 -- "shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live"
- ISA 11:2 -- "the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom"
- ISA 32:15 -- "Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high"
- ISA 44:3 -- "I will pour my spirit upon thy seed"
- JOL 2:28 -- "I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh"
- PSA 51:10 -- "renew a right spirit within me"
- PSA 51:11 -- "take not thy holy spirit from me"
- ZEC 12:10 -- "the spirit of grace and of supplications"
Significance¶
Ruach is the Hebrew counterpart to pneuma. In Ezekiel's promises, ruach is explicitly the agent that causes obedience (36:27). The word's semantic range (wind, breath, spirit) captures both the invisible power and the life-giving nature of the Spirit's work.
karpos (G2590) -- Fruit¶
Original: karpos Transliteration: karpos Pronunciation: kar-pos Part of Speech: Masculine noun Definition: Probably from the base of harpazo; fruit (as plucked), literally or figuratively. Occurrences: 49 (KJV), 66 (BLB)
Translations¶
| Translation | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| fruit | 37 | 75.5% |
| fruits | 9 | 18.4% |
Key Verses¶
- GAL 5:22 -- "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith"
- EPH 5:9 -- "the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth"
- PHP 1:11 -- "filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ"
- JHN 15:4 -- "the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine"
- JHN 15:5 -- "He that abideth in me...the same bringeth forth much fruit"
- JAS 3:17,18 -- "the wisdom that is from above... full of good fruits... the fruit of righteousness"
Significance¶
Karpos is singular in GAL 5:22 -- "the fruit" (not "fruits"), suggesting a unified cluster of virtues produced by one source (the Spirit), not independent achievements. The contrast with "works" (erga) of the flesh (5:19) is deliberate: works are what the flesh produces through effort; fruit is what the Spirit produces organically through indwelling.
berith (H1285) -- Covenant¶
Original: berith Transliteration: berith Pronunciation: ber-eeth Part of Speech: Feminine noun Definition: From barah (in the sense of cutting); a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh). Occurrences: 317 (KJV), 284 (BLB)
Key New Covenant Passages¶
- JER 31:31 -- "I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel"
- JER 31:33 -- "this shall be the covenant... I will put my law in their inward parts"
- EZK 37:26 -- "I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant"
diatheke (G1242) -- Covenant/Testament¶
Original: diatheke Transliteration: diatheke Pronunciation: dee-ath-ay-kay Part of Speech: Feminine noun Definition: From diatithemai; properly, a disposition, i.e. (specially) a contract (especially a devisory will). Occurrences: 33
Key Verses¶
- HEB 8:10 -- "this is the covenant... I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts"
- HEB 10:16 -- "this is the covenant... I will put my laws into their hearts"
- 2CO 3:6 -- "ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit"
- 2CO 3:14 -- "the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ"
Significance¶
The translation oscillation between "covenant" and "testament" in the KJV reflects the dual meaning. In 2CO 3, Paul uses diatheke in the context of Spirit vs. letter -- the "new testament/covenant" is characterized by the Spirit, not the letter. The content (law/commandments) remains; the mode of administration changes from stone to heart, from letter to Spirit.
engrapho (G1449) -- To Engrave/Write In¶
Original: engrapho Transliteration: engrapho Pronunciation: eng-graf-o Part of Speech: Verb Definition: From en and grapho; to "engrave", i.e. inscribe. Occurrences: 2 (only!)
Key Verses¶
- 2CO 3:2 -- "Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men"
- 2CO 3:3 -- "manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart"
- LUK 10:20 -- "rejoice, because your names are written in heaven"
Significance¶
This extremely rare word (only 2 NT occurrences) is theologically loaded. In 2CO 3:2-3, Paul uses engrapho to describe the Spirit's work of writing on hearts -- directly echoing Jer 31:33 (law in inward parts, written on hearts) and Eze 36:26-27 (new heart, Spirit causes obedience). The word en-grapho (write-in) parallels the Hebrew kathab (to write) used in JER 31:33. The agent of writing shifts from the "finger of God" on stone (EXO 31:18) to "the Spirit of the living God" on hearts (2CO 3:3).
peripateo (G4043) -- To Walk¶
Original: peripateo Transliteration: peripateo Pronunciation: per-ee-pat-eh-o Part of Speech: Verb Definition: From peri and pateo; to tread all around, i.e. walk at large (especially as proof of ability); figuratively, to live, deport oneself, follow (as a companion or votary). Occurrences: 67 (KJV), 96 (BLB)
Translations¶
| Translation | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| walk | 14 | 20.9% |
| walking | 9 | 13.4% |
| to walk | 5 | 7.5% |
| walked | 4 | 6.0% |
Key Spirit-Walking Verses¶
- ROM 6:4 -- "we also should walk in newness of life"
- ROM 8:1 -- "who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit"
- ROM 8:4 -- "who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit"
- ROM 13:13 -- "Let us walk honestly, as in the day"
- GAL 5:16 -- "Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh"
- EPH 2:10 -- "good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them"
- EPH 4:1 -- "walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called"
- EPH 5:2 -- "walk in love"
- EPH 5:8 -- "walk as children of light"
- COL 1:10 -- "walk worthy of the Lord"
- 1JN 1:7 -- "if we walk in the light"
- 1JN 2:6 -- "ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked"
Significance¶
Peripateo is the NT equivalent of halak (H1980), the standard Hebrew word for "walking" with God. Paul uses it as the primary metaphor for Spirit-enabled daily living. The phrase "walk in the Spirit" (GAL 5:16) and "walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit" (ROM 8:1,4) make peripateo the practical verb of Spirit-enabled commandment-keeping. Walking is not a single act but a continuous lifestyle -- consistent with the Spirit's ongoing enabling role.
halak (H1980) / yalak (H3212) -- To Walk (Hebrew)¶
halak: 534 occurrences; to walk in a great variety of applications yalak: 1203 occurrences; to walk, go, come
Key "Walking with God" Passages (halak)¶
- GEN 5:24 -- "Enoch walked with God"
- GEN 6:9 -- "Noah walked with God"
- DEU 28:9 -- "if thou shalt keep the commandments... and walk in his ways"
- PSA 1:1 -- "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly"
- PSA 119:3 -- "They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways"
- EZK 11:20 -- "That they may walk in my statutes"
- EZK 18:9 -- "Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments"
- EZK 37:24 -- "they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes"
Significance¶
The Hebrew walking vocabulary (halak/yalak) provides the OT foundation for the NT peripateo. The phrase "walk in my statutes" (EZK 36:27) uses halak -- the same verb used for Enoch and Noah walking with God. The Spirit's promise in EZK 36:27 is to "cause you to walk (halak) in my statutes" -- the Spirit empowers the same quality of walk that characterized the patriarchs. The NT peripateo inherits this covenantal meaning.