"corruptible, perishable, Rom. 1:23; 1 Cor. 9:25; 15:53f.; 1 Pet. 1:18, 23*"
Definition and meaning
corruptible, perishable, Rom. 1:23; 1 Cor. 9:25; 15:53f.; 1 Pet. 1:18, 23*
In the original Greek the word is written: φθαρτός
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 phthartos (G5349) across the King James Bible.
And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Refiner gives you the full lexicon entry, AI-powered verse insight, historical commentary, cross-references, and voice study — all in one place.
Free to start · Disciple $4.99/mo · Shepherd $9.99/mo
Common questions
Strong's G5349 (phthartos) is a Greek word that means: corruptible, perishable, Rom. 1:23; 1 Cor. 9:25; 15:53f.; 1 Pet. 1:18, 23* It appears 6 times in the King James Bible.
The word phthartos (G5349) appears 6 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G5349 is phthartos, a Greek word defined as: corruptible, perishable, Rom. 1:23; 1 Cor. 9:25; 15:53f.; 1 Pet. 1:18, 23*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
phthartos is a Greek word found in the New Testament.