πτῶμα

a carcass, corpse

Definition

The Greek word πτῶμα primarily means a dead body, corpse, or carcass, emphasizing the physical remains after death. It can also carry the sense of something that has fallen, as it derives from the verb 'to fall,' picturing a lifeless body fallen to the ground. In the New Testament, it is used exclusively for literal corpses, such as the body of John the Baptist (Mark 6:29) and the symbolic bodies of the two witnesses (Revelation 11:8-9). In Matthew 24:28, it is used metaphorically as 'carcass' to depict spiritual death and judgment, drawing vultures to gather.

Biblical Usage

Πτῶμα is used four times in the New Testament, always as a neuter noun referring to a physical corpse. It appears in narrative contexts describing burial (Mark 6:29) and public exposure of bodies (Revelation 11:8-9). In Matthew 24:28, it is used in a prophetic saying of Jesus about the Son of Man's coming, employing the vivid image of a carcass and vultures to signify inescapable judgment. The usage is consistent in depicting death's tangible, often desolate, reality.

Etymology

Πτῶμα derives from the verb πίπτω (piptō, G4098), meaning 'to fall.' Thus, its root meaning is 'a fall' or 'that which has fallen.' This etymological connection highlights the image of a lifeless body fallen in death. The word developed to specifically denote a corpse or carcass, moving from the action of falling to the state of being a fallen thing.

Semantic Range

This word theologically underscores the stark reality of physical death and decay. In Matthew 24:28, it contributes to eschatological imagery, symbolizing the spiritual deadness that attracts divine judgment as inevitably as vultures find a carcass. Understanding πτῶμα enriches reading by emphasizing the finality and visibility of death in biblical narratives, contrasting with the hope of resurrection.

In the ancient Mediterranean world, a corpse (πτῶμα) was a source of ritual impurity (Numbers 19:11-13). Public exposure of a body, as described in Revelation 11:8-9, was a profound dishonor, adding shame to death. The image in Matthew 24:28 of vultures gathering to a carcass would be a familiar and grim sight, reinforcing the certainty and public nature of the coming judgment.

νεκρός (nekros, G3498) — a general term for a dead person or corpse, often used in a broader sense. σῶμα (sōma, G4983) — means 'body,' which can be living or dead; πτῶμα specifies a dead body. πτῶσις (ptōsis, G4431) — the related noun meaning 'a falling' or 'ruin,' focusing more on the act than the result.

Word Details

Scripture References