σάρξ
sarx
flesh
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Greek word σάρξ (sarx) is defined as "flesh," representing the physical body or material composition of humans. Its significance spans various aspects of life, as it is used 152 times in the Bible. In its broadest sense, "sarx" signifies the tangible and perishable aspects of human existence. It is often employed to contrast with the spiritual realm, as seen when it's paired with "pneuma" (spirit). This dichotomy underscores the tension between physical and non-physical aspects of human nature. The numerous occurrences of "sarx" in the Bible illustrate its diverse applications. It is used to describe both the body (1 Corinthians 6:19, "Your bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit") and physical desires (Romans 7:5, "the flesh with its passions and desires"). This multifaceted usage suggests the word is essential for understanding the relationships between human bodies, desires, and spiritual pursuits.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
152 total occurrences across the text — showing 50
Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 19:5and said, ‘For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh?’
Matthew 19:6So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, don’t let man tear apart.”
Matthew 24:22Unless those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved. But for the sake of the chosen ones, those days will be shortened.
Matthew 26:41Watch and pray, that you don’t enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Mark 10:8and the two will become one flesh, so that they are no longer two, but one flesh.
Mark 10:8and the two will become one flesh, so that they are no longer two, but one flesh.
Mark 13:20Unless the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh would have been saved; but for the sake of the chosen ones, whom he picked out, he shortened the days.
Mark 14:38Watch and pray, that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Luke 3:6All flesh will see God’s salvation.’ ”
Luke 24:39See my hands and my feet, that it is truly me. Touch me and see, for a spirit doesn’t have flesh and bones, as you see that I have.”
John 1:13who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 1:14The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 3:6That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
John 3:6That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
John 6:51I am the living bread which came down out of heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. Yes, the bread which I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
John 6:52The Jews therefore contended with one another, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”
John 6:53Jesus therefore said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you don’t have life in yourselves.
John 6:54He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:55For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
John 6:56He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me, and I in him.
John 6:63It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life.
John 8:15You judge according to the flesh. I judge no one.
John 17:2even as you gave him authority over all flesh, so he will give eternal life to all whom you have given him.
Acts 2:17‘It will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will dream dreams.
Acts 2:26Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced. Moreover my flesh also will dwell in hope;
Acts 2:30Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, he would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne,
Acts 2:31he foreseeing this spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that his soul wasn’t left in Hades, and his flesh didn’t see decay.
Romans 1:3concerning his Son, who was born of the offspring of David according to the flesh,
Romans 2:28For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh;
Romans 3:20Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight; for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.
Romans 4:1What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather, has found according to the flesh?
Romans 6:19I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh, for as you presented your members as servants to uncleanness and to wickedness upon wickedness, even so now present your members as servants to righteousness for sanctification.
Romans 7:5For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were through the law worked in our members to bring out fruit to death.
Romans 7:18For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing. For desire is present with me, but I don’t find it doing that which is good.
Romans 7:25I thank God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! So then with the mind, I myself serve God’s law, but with the flesh, sin’s law.
Romans 8:1There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
Romans 8:3For what the law couldn’t do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh;
Romans 8:3For what the law couldn’t do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh;
Romans 8:3For what the law couldn’t do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh;
Romans 8:4that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Romans 8:5For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
Romans 8:5For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
Romans 8:6For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace;
Romans 8:7because the mind of the flesh is hostile toward God; for it is not subject to God’s law, neither indeed can it be.
Romans 8:8Those who are in the flesh can’t please God.
Romans 8:9But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man doesn’t have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his.
Romans 8:12So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
Romans 8:12So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
Romans 8:13For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.