διαφθείρω
diaphtheírō
G1311 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To cause to spoil, ruin, or decay; to destroy physically, morally, or socially. In Koine Greek contexts, διαφθείρω primarily means to cause corruption or decay, whether literal (as with physical matter or materials) or figurative (as with individuals, groups, or customs). The semantic range encompasses both active and passive senses, from the act of causing ruin to the state of being utterly destroyed or morally debased.
Semantic Range
to ruin completely, to bring to corruption, to cause physical decay, to pervert (morally or socially), to thoroughly spoil, to die (from decay), to become utterly depraved, to perish (from corruption)
Root / Etymology
From δια- (across, thoroughly) + φθείρω (to destroy, destroy by corruption or spoilage); compound indicating intensification of the base verb's force. Related to φθορά (corruption, decay). No evidence of borrowing from non-Greek sources; formed via standard compounding in Greek.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Classical Greek, διαφθείρω appears in contexts ranging from physical destruction (cities, bodies, property) to moral ruin (corrupting customs, perverting justice). By the Hellenistic and NT periods, it broadens to encompass both physical and moral corruption. In the Septuagint, it is often used to translate Hebrew terms for corruption or destruction, referring both to the decay of the land or physical beings and to moral/spiritual perversion (e.g., Genesis 6:12). In the New Testament, the term can refer to physical decay (as of the body or material), but more often denotes moral, ethical, or doctrinal perversion (cf. 1 Corinthians 3:17, 'if anyone corrupts the temple of God...'). English translations tend to render as 'destroy,' 'corrupt,' or 'perish,' but the underlying Greek can imply a process of thorough spoiling or inward rot, not always captured in translation. Contrasts with terms such as ἀπόλλυμι (to destroy, to lose), which more broadly means to do away with rather than to cause utter corruption. The root sense emphasizes internal ruin leading to total destruction, whether that be physical, social, or moral.
Translation Consistency
“Ruin” naturally covers the full semantic range (spoil, decay, destroy, pervert) without being overly technical. It works for physical and moral/social contexts and reads naturally across inflected forms. I avoided “corrupt” (too narrowly moral) and “destroy” (too absolute) in order to match typical Koine use and the SILEX emphasis on spoil/decay/ruin.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from διαβάλλω and φθείρω; to rot thoroughly, i.e. (by implication) to ruin (passively, decay utterly, figuratively, pervert):--corrupt, destroy, perish.
Root Family
διαφθείρω (diaphtheirō) — to destroy, to spoil, to corrupt
Word Forms
6 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1311-03 |
διαφθείρεται | diaphtheiretai | V PRS PASS IND 3P SG |
is decaying | is being thoroughly corrupted | is being ruined | 1 |
G1311-01 |
διαφθεῖραι | diaphtheirai | V AOR ACT INF |
to destroy | to utterly corrupt | to utterly corrupt | 1 |
G1311-02 |
διαφθείρει | diaphtheirei | V PRS ACT IND 3P SG |
destroys | is thoroughly corrupting | destroys | 1 |
G1311-04 |
διαφθείροντας | diaphtheirontas | V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M PL |
who destroy | those thoroughly corrupting | those thoroughly corrupting | 1 |
G1311-06 |
διεφθαρμένων | diephtharmenon | V PRF PASS PTCP GEN M PL |
of depraved | of those having been utterly corrupted | of those having been utterly corrupted | 1 |
G1311-05 |
διεφθάρησαν | diephtharesan | V AOR PASS IND 3P PL |
were destroyed | they were utterly corrupted | were destroyed | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1311-02 |
Luke 12:33 | διαφθείρει | diaphtheirei | V PRS ACT IND 3P SG |
destroys | is thoroughly corrupting | destroys |
G1311-03 |
2 Corinthians 4:16 | διαφθείρεται | diaphtheiretai | V PRS PASS IND 3P SG |
is decaying | is being thoroughly corrupted | is being ruined |
G1311-06 |
1 Timothy 6:5 | διεφθαρμένων | diephtharmenon | V PRF PASS PTCP GEN M PL |
of depraved | of those having been utterly corrupted | of those having been utterly corrupted |
G1311-05 |
Revelation 8:9 | διεφθάρησαν | diephtharesan | V AOR PASS IND 3P PL |
were destroyed | they were utterly corrupted | were destroyed |
G1311-01 |
Revelation 11:18 | διαφθεῖραι | diaphtheirai | V AOR ACT INF |
to destroy | to utterly corrupt | to utterly corrupt |
G1311-04 |
Revelation 11:18 | διαφθείροντας | diaphtheirontas | V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M PL |
who destroy | those thoroughly corrupting | those thoroughly corrupting |