χοϊκός (choikos)
choikos
made of dust
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective choikos describes something that is earthy or composed of dust. Derived from the word for a lump or clod of earth, it carries a physical sense of being made from the ground rather than possessing a higher, spiritual nature. This term appears only three times in the New Testament, all within Paul’s discussion of resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15.
Paul uses choikos to contrast two types of bodies. He refers to the first man, Adam, as "earthly" or made of dust, highlighting his material origin. In contrast, he presents the second man, Jesus, as heavenly. The distinction is not merely about composition but about origin and destiny: one belongs to the soil, while the other belongs to the sky.
Translators typically render choikos as "earthly" or "of dust." This choice preserves the vivid imagery of Genesis 2:7, where humanity was formed from the ground. By using this specific term, Paul emphasizes that our current physical bodies share the same humble origin as Adam’s, awaiting transformation into a spiritual likeness.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word choikos reminds us that our current physical existence has a humble origin. It describes bodies made of dust, linking us directly to the earth and the first man, Adam. This is not a statement of shame but of shared human reality. We are grounded, finite, and dependent on God for breath and life.
Yet this earthly beginning is only part of the story. Paul uses this term to set up a beautiful contrast with Christ, who is from heaven. Because we share Adam’s dusty nature, we also carry his image. But the hope of the gospel is that we are called to bear the image of the heavenly Christ as well.
This transition offers great comfort. Our current struggles and limitations are real, but they are not final. The same God who formed us from dust has raised Jesus from the dead. We can trust that our fragile, earthly lives are held in hands that will one day transform us into something eternal and glorious.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- made of dust,2×
- of the earth,1×
- earthly,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- χοϊκός,2×
- χοϊκοῦ,1×
- χοϊκοί,1×
Key Verses
-
I Corinthians 15:47
The first man is of the earth, made of dust. The second man is the Lord from heaven.
This verse establishes the fundamental contrast between Adam's earthly origin and Christ's heavenly source, defining the two realms of human existence.
-
I Corinthians 15:48
As is the one made of dust, such are those who are also made of dust; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
Here the term shows that our current physical state mirrors Adam's, confirming that all humans share this same dust-born nature before transformation.
-
I Corinthians 15:49
As we have borne the image of those made of dust, let’s also bear the image of the heavenly.
The word highlights the starting point of our spiritual journey, inviting believers to actively bear the image of the heavenly Christ just as they already bear Adam's.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does choikos mean in the Bible?
Why does Paul use this word in 1 Corinthians 15?
Is being made of dust considered negative?
Every Occurrence (3 verses across 1 books)
I Corinthians 3 verses
The first man is of the earth, made of dust. The second man is the Lord from heaven.
I Corinthians 15:48As is the one made of dust, such are those who are also made of dust; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that…
I Corinthians 15:49As we have borne the image of those made of dust, let’s also bear the image of the heavenly.