θανάσιμος (thanasimos)
thanasimos
deadly
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective thanasimos means something that causes death or is inherently lethal. In the New Testament, it appears only once, in the longer ending of Mark’s Gospel (16:18). Here, it describes snakes or poisonous substances as "deadly," emphasizing their capacity to inflict fatal harm.
This word is closely related to thanatos, which means death itself, but thanasimos focuses on the active quality of causing that end. While other terms might describe something as mortal or subject to dying, this adjective highlights the dangerous nature of the object or agent. Its single occurrence underscores the specific context of protection against lethal threats in early Christian tradition.
Translators typically render it simply as "deadly" or "poisonous," capturing its straightforward sense of fatal danger. The rarity of the word suggests it was not a common descriptor in everyday speech but served a precise purpose in this particular narrative detail about believers handling serpents without harm.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word thanasimos appears only once in the New Testament, found in Mark 16:18. It describes something deadly or poisonous, specifically referring to serpents or toxic substances that could cause fatal harm. This rare adjective highlights the severity of the threat believers might face, emphasizing that such dangers are real and lethal.
For your faith life, this verse offers a profound reminder of divine protection. It suggests that even when confronted with genuine peril, trust in God provides a safeguard that transcends natural laws. The promise is not that danger disappears, but that its ultimate power to destroy is broken through faith.
This assurance invites you to face life's uncertainties with calm confidence. Whether dealing with physical risks or spiritual challenges, the underlying truth remains that God’s care extends beyond human capability. You can rest in the knowledge that your safety rests in His hands, not in your own ability to avoid every harm.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- deadly1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- θανάσιμόν1×
Key Verses
-
Mark 16:18
they will take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it will in no way hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
This verse uses thanasimos to specify that even lethal threats like poison or venomous snakes will not harm believers, highlighting the extent of divine protection.