θνῄσκω
thnēskō
to die/be dead
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredAccording to the provided data, the Greek word θνῄσκω (thnēskō) has a primary meaning of "to die" or "be dead." This action can be interpreted literally, as a physical demise, or metaphorically, as a figurative end to existence, circumstances, or a way of life. The frequency of occurrences (11 times in the Bible) suggests that this word is used in various contexts, including individual lives, relationships, and events, but without a clear pattern of repetition. This indicates that the author(s) chose to use θνῄσκω to convey the idea of mortality or a specific life transition. Given its straightforward definition, θνῄσκω likely serves as a straightforward means to convey a fundamental aspect of human experience - mortality. By using this word, the author(s) emphasize the transience of life and its eventual end, drawing attention to the significance of life's brevity and the weight of death's reality.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
11 total occurrences across the text
“Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel, for those who sought the young child’s life are dead.”
Luke 7:12Now when he came near to the gate of the city, behold, one who was dead was carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. Many people of the city were with her.
Luke 8:49While he still spoke, one from the ruler of the synagogue’s house came, saying to him, “Your daughter is dead. Don’t trouble the Teacher.”
John 11:41So they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, “Father, I thank you that you listened to me.
John 11:44He who was dead came out, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Free him, and let him go.”
John 19:33but when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was already dead, they didn’t break his legs.
Acts 14:19But some Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there, and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.
Acts 25:19but had certain questions against him about their own religion, and about one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
1 Timothy 5:6But she who gives herself to pleasure is dead while she lives.
Mark 15:44Pilate marveled if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he had been dead long.
John 12:1Then six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, who had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.