νεκρός (nekros)

The Greek word nekros denotes a state of being lifeless or without vitality. In its most literal sense, it refers to a corpse or one who has breathed their last, as seen when Jesus describes Lazarus as "dead" in John 11:14 or when the angel announces that Jesus is no longer among the dead but has risen (Luke 24:5). This physical reality forms the baseline for its broader usage across the New Testament.

Beyond the biological sense, nekros carries significant metaphorical weight. It describes spiritual death, where individuals are separated from God by sin, a condition Paul highlights in Ephesians 2:1 when he writes that believers were once "dead in trespasses." The term also applies to faith or works that lack power and effectiveness, as James argues in 2:17 that faith without deeds is dead. This usage extends to the collective group of those who have passed away, frequently appearing in discussions about the resurrection of the dead.

A striking feature of this word is its application to things deemed inactive or devoid of force. It is not limited to human beings but can describe abstract concepts like faith or works that fail to produce life. The sources note that translators often render it simply as "dead," yet the Greek encompasses a spectrum from physical decay to spiritual inoperability, emphasizing a total lack of the life-giving power found in God.