σάρξ

sarx

is flesh

probably from the base of σαρόω; flesh (as stripped of the skin), i.e. (strictly) the meat of an animal (as food), or (by extension) the body (as opposed to the soul (or spirit), or as the symbol of what is external, or as the means of kindred), or (by implication) human nature (with its frailties (physically or morally) and passions), or (specially), a human being (as such):--carnal(-ly, + -ly minded), flesh(-ly).

G4561

John 3:6 · Word #6

Lexicon G4561

Lemmaσάρξ
Transliterationsárx
Strong'sG4561
In-contextis flesh
Literalflesh

Morphology N NOM F SG All morphology codes

Part of Speech N — Noun — A person, place, thing, or idea
Case NOM — Nominative — The subject of the sentence
Gender F — Feminine — Grammatical feminine
Number SG — Singular — One

Lexical Info

Lemmaσάρξ
Strong'sG4561

SIBI-P1 G4561-06

the flesh

Rootσάρξ (sarx)
Core Meaningsflesh, meat, body, physical substance, human nature, mortal frailty
Semantic Rangeliteral flesh or meat; the physical body; embodied existence; kinship (one’s own flesh); human mortality and weakness; fallen or morally frail human nature in contrast to spirit.
Conceptual SignificanceIn biblical theology, σάρξ often contrasts with πνεῦμα (spirit), highlighting human limitation, mortality, and susceptibility to sin. It can denote both the goodness of embodied creation and the weakness of fallen humanity, making it central to discussions of incarnation, sanctification, and the tension between physical and spiritual life.
Morphological NotesGr,N,,,,,NFS — noun, nominative case, feminine gender, singular number; functioning as the subject or predicate nominative in a clause.
Rendering Rationale"The flesh" preserves the concrete, physical sense of σάρξ while allowing for its extended meaning of embodied human nature. The nominative singular form is reflected as a singular subject noun, and although English does not mark grammatical gender, the rendering maintains the definite, singular force of the feminine nominative form (NFS).

AI-generated (openai/gpt-5.2-chat-latest)

Words from Root σάρξ (flesh, meat, body, physical substance, human nature, mortal frailty)

SILEX Code Transliteration SIBI-P1
G4561-01 sarka the flesh (as direct object)
G4561-03 sarki in flesh
G4561-04 sarkon of fleshes

Word Usage (147 occurrences of G4561)

Location Form Transliteration Meaning
Matthew 16:17 σὰρξ sarx
Matthew 19:5 σάρκα sarka
Matthew 19:6 σὰρξ sarx