φθαρτός (phthartos)
phthartos
perishable
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective phthartos describes anything subject to decay, corruption, or destruction. In the New Testament, it stands in direct contrast to what is imperishable and eternal. Paul uses it to describe human beings as created in the image of a perishable man rather than the imperishable God (Romans 1:23), highlighting the inherent fragility of earthly existence.
This word appears frequently in discussions about resurrection and inheritance. In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul argues that the current physical body must put on immortality, as the perishable cannot inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 15:53-54). Similarly, Peter contrasts the fleeting nature of earthly redemption with the imperishable seed of the word (1 Peter 1:23), while Paul notes that an earthly crown is temporary compared to the eternal reward awaiting believers (1 Corinthians 9:25).
The term carries a theological weight by defining the boundary between the created order and the divine. It is not merely about physical death but about ontological instability. Where God is defined by His unchanging nature, creation is defined by its capacity to fade. This distinction prepares readers for the promise that what is broken and temporary will be transformed into something permanent.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word phthartos reminds us that our current physical existence is temporary. It describes anything subject to decay or destruction, contrasting sharply with God’s eternal nature. This truth can feel unsettling, yet it offers a profound hope: what fades now will be transformed into something permanent.
In 1 Corinthians 15:53, Paul explains that our perishable bodies must put on immortality. This promise assures us that death is not the end. Instead, it is a transition from fragility to glory. The imperishable life we receive through Christ outlasts every earthly crown or treasure.
When you face loss or aging, remember that your true inheritance is secure. Peter notes in 1 Peter 1:23 that we are born again through an incorruptible seed. This living word remains forever, offering stability when everything else changes. Your hope rests not in what decays, but in the One who never does.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- perishable3×
- of mortal1×
- by perishable things —1×
- a perishable1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- φθαρτὸν3×
- φθαρτῆς1×
- φθαρτοῦ1×
- φθαρτοῖς,1×
Key Verses
-
I Corinthians 15:53
For this perishable body must become imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.
This verse directly links the concept of perishability to the future resurrection, promising that our current fragile state will be replaced by immortality.
-
Romans 1:23
and traded the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, four-footed animals, and creeping things.
Here the word highlights human limitation by contrasting created man with the incorruptible God, showing why we cannot find ultimate glory in ourselves.
-
I Peter 1:23
having been born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which lives and remains forever.
Peter uses this term to distinguish between temporary earthly things and the eternal spiritual rebirth that comes through God's living word.