χοϊκός
choïkós
G5517 substantive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Formed of earth or made of dust, earthy in substance or nature. In some contexts, denotes that which pertains to material, terrestrial existence as opposed to the heavenly or spiritual; can carry an implicit sense of frailty or mortality related to being composed of earth. Used metaphorically in some sources to describe human nature in contrast to the divine or immortal.
Semantic Range
formed of dust, composed of earth, earthy (material or terrestrial), having an earthly or perishable nature, mortal (in contrast to heavenly or spiritual)
Root / Etymology
Derived from χοῦς (soil, earth, dust) with the adjectival suffix -ικός, indicating 'of or relating to.' Thus, 'of earth/dust.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
The adjective χοϊκός appears especially in later Greek, such as Koine and the New Testament period, and is not found in classical Greek in this form. Its principal New Testament occurrence is 1 Corinthians 15:47–49, where it is used to contrast the mortal, terrestrial nature of humanity (as 'earthly' or 'made of dust') with the 'heavenly' nature. The Greek term χοϊκός is closely tied in Paul’s usage to the Genesis creation narrative where human beings are formed from dust (cf. Gen 2:7 LXX, χοῦν). Here, 'earthy' transcends mere 'dirty' or 'soil-like' and signifies condition, origin, and destiny in relation to mortality. Standard English translations often use 'earthy' or 'of the earth,' but these may not fully convey the contrast between earthly, perishable existence and heavenly, imperishable existence implicit in the Greek. The term is rare outside biblical and theological texts; in non-technical Greek, χοῦς and its derivatives more usually describe literal dust or ground. χοϊκός is contrasted in NT usage with ἐπουράνιος (heavenly).
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from χόος; dusty or dirty (soil-like), i.e. (by implication) terrene:--earthy.
Root Family
χοϊκ- (choïkós) — of dust, of earth, earthly
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5517-02 |
χοϊκός | choikos | ADJ.P NOM M SG |
earthy | dust-formed | dust-formed | 2 |
G5517-01 |
χοϊκοί | choikoi | ADJ.S NOM M PL |
earthy | earthly ones | earthly ones | 1 |
G5517-03 |
χοϊκοῦ | choikou | ADJ.S GEN M SG |
earthy | of the dust-formed one | earthy | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5517-02 |
1 Corinthians 15:47 | χοϊκός | choikos | ADJ.P NOM M SG |
earthy | dust-formed | dust-formed |
G5517-02 |
1 Corinthians 15:48 | χοϊκός | choikos | ADJ.S NOM M SG |
earthy | dust-formed | dust-formed |
G5517-01 |
1 Corinthians 15:48 | χοϊκοί | choikoi | ADJ.S NOM M PL |
earthy | earthly ones | earthly ones |
G5517-03 |
1 Corinthians 15:49 | χοϊκοῦ | choikou | ADJ.S GEN M SG |
earthy | of the dust-formed one | earthy |