σήπω (sēpō)
sēpō
to rot
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb sēpō describes a process of decay or corruption, meaning to rot, become putrid, or perish. In the New Testament, it appears only once, in James 5:2, where it is used in the perfect tense to describe wealth that has deteriorated over time. The image evoked is not merely of something old, but of material that has actively spoiled and lost its value.
Its usage highlights the transient nature of earthly riches. When James writes that gold and silver have corroded, he uses a word that implies an irreversible change in state. This decay serves as a stark contrast to spiritual permanence, illustrating how material possessions can turn against their owners when hoarded rather than shared.
The term’s sole occurrence underscores the biblical warning against trusting in temporary security. By choosing a word associated with physical rot, the text emphasizes that wealth stored up selfishly does not just sit idle; it actively degrades, becoming a witness against those who possess it.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word sēpō describes a process of decay or corruption, meaning to rot, become putrid, or perish. In the New Testament, it appears only once, in James 5:2, where it is used in the perfect tense to describe wealth that has deteriorated over time. The image evoked is not merely of something old, but of material that has actively spoiled and lost its value.
Its usage highlights the transient nature of earthly riches. When James writes that gold and silver have corroded, he uses a word that implies an irreversible change in state. This decay serves as a stark contrast to spiritual permanence, illustrating how material possessions can turn against their owners when hoarded rather than shared.
The term’s sole occurrence underscores the biblical warning against trusting in temporary security. By choosing a word associated with physical rot, the text emphasizes that wealth stored up selfishly does not just sit idle; it actively degrades, becoming a witness against those who possess it.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- have rotted1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- σέσηπεν1×
Key Verses
-
James 5:2
Your riches are corrupted and your garments are moth-eaten.
The perfect tense of sēpō here indicates that the riches have already rotted and remain in that state, serving as a tangible sign of God's judgment on hoarded wealth.