"pr. a shaping, moulding; in NT external form, appearance, 2 Tim. 3:5; a settled form. prescribed system, Rom. 2:20*"
Definition and meaning
pr. a shaping, moulding; in NT external form, appearance, 2 Tim. 3:5; a settled form. prescribed system, Rom. 2:20*
In the original Greek the word is written: μόρφωσις
Historical context
Paul wrote Romans from Corinth, one of the most important commercial cities in the empire. Rome had a Jewish population of around 50,000. The letter addresses real tensions between Jewish believers with centuries of Torah tradition and Gentile believers with no such background. Emperor Nero was on the throne. Within ten years he would execute both Paul and Peter.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of morphosis (G3446) across the King James Bible.
An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
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Common questions
Strong's G3446 (morphosis) is a Greek word that means: pr. a shaping, moulding; in NT external form, appearance, 2 Tim. 3:5; a settled form. prescribed system, Rom. 2:20* It appears 2 times in the King James Bible.
The word morphosis (G3446) appears 2 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G3446 is morphosis, a Greek word defined as: pr. a shaping, moulding; in NT external form, appearance, 2 Tim. 3:5; a settled form. prescribed system, Rom. 2:20*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
morphosis is a Greek word found in the New Testament.