"a fall, crash, ruin, Mt. 7:27; met. downfall, ruin, Lk. 2:34*"
Definition and meaning
a fall, crash, ruin, Mt. 7:27; met. downfall, ruin, Lk. 2:34*
In the original Greek the word is written: πτῶσις
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
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 ptosis (G4431) across the King James Bible.
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;
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Common questions
Strong's G4431 (ptosis) is a Greek word that means: a fall, crash, ruin, Mt. 7:27; met. downfall, ruin, Lk. 2:34* It appears 2 times in the King James Bible.
The word ptosis (G4431) appears 2 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4431 is ptosis, a Greek word defined as: a fall, crash, ruin, Mt. 7:27; met. downfall, ruin, Lk. 2:34*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
ptosis is a Greek word found in the New Testament.