BIBLE GREEK WORD STUDY
Nekros — Meaning & Usage in the Bible
Nekros (G3498) means 'dead,' covering literal physical death, resurrection from the dead, and figurative death to sin or the law.
Meaning of the word
Nekros (νεκρός) is the standard Greek adjective and noun for 'dead,' describing someone who has died physically or, by extension, someone who is separated from the life-giving power of God. The lexicon defines it simply as 'dead (literally or figuratively; also as noun),' which means it functions both as an adjective ('a dead body') and as a noun ('the dead' = those who have died).
In Paul's writings this word does far more than describe corpses. He presses it into theological service to describe three distinct conditions: physical death (the normal human state before resurrection), figurative death to sin and the law (believers counted as dead to their old master), and the future bodily resurrection of those who have died. The same Greek word thus spans grave, gospel, and glory.
Because nekros is paired constantly with verbs like ἐγείρω (raise) and ζωοποιέω (make alive), its force is sharpened by contrast: to call someone nekros is to set the stage for the divine act that brings life where death has reigned.
Usage in Scripture
In Romans 1–8, nekros frames the entire argument about sin, law, and life. Romans 6:4–13 uses 'dead to sin' and 'raised from the dead' repeatedly: believers have been united with Christ in His death so they can walk in newness of life (6:4), Christ 'being raised from the dead dieth no more' (6:9), and they must 'reckon themselves dead unto sin, but alive unto God' (6:11).
Romans 8:10–11 carries the argument into eschatology: 'the body is dead because of sin; but the spirit is life because of righteousness,' and the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead 'shall give life also to your mortal bodies.' Here nekros is the very condition the Spirit overcomes.
In 1 Corinthians 15:12, Paul anchors the resurrection debate on the phrase 'raised from the dead' (ἐκ νεκρῶν), pointing to the plural 'the dead' whose bodily resurrection the Corinthians were denying. Across these passages, nekros is never a static term — it always points forward to God's life-giving action.
The word in detail
- G3498 Nekros (νεκρός) covers both literal death and figurative death. As an adjective it describes a dead body (Romans 8:10); as a noun it means 'the dead' (Romans 1:1; 1 Cor 15:12). In Paul's theology it describes three realities: physical death, the believer's death to sin and the law (Romans 6:11; 7:4), and the dead whom God will raise at the resurrection.
Example verses
- Romans 6:4 Buried with Christ through baptism into His death, so that we too 'might walk in newness of life'—nekros here is the old existence from which resurrection life begins.
- Romans 6:11 The key command: 'reckon yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus.' Nekros becomes a status believers are to count as true of themselves.
- Romans 8:11 The Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead will also give life to believers' mortal bodies—nekros is the very condition the indwelling Spirit reverses at the resurrection.
- 1 Corinthians 15:12 The resurrection debate turns on the phrase 'raised from the dead.' If Christ has been raised ἐκ νεκρῶν, then 'the dead' (νεκρῶν) themselves must also be raised.
Common questions
Is nekros only about physical death?
No. The lexicon notes it is used 'literally or figuratively.' Paul uses it for literal corpses and resurrection (Romans 6:9; 1 Cor 15:12) as well as for the believer's figurative death to sin and the law (Romans 6:11; 7:4).
What is the difference between nekros and thanatos in the New Testament?
Nekros means 'dead (person/things),' focusing on the state of being dead. Thanatos means 'death,' the event or power. Paul can speak of 'Jesus who was raised from the dead' (ἐκ νεκρῶν, Romans 6:9) and of believers being 'dead to sin' (Romans 6:11)—both use nekros for the condition.
Why is nekros so important in Romans 6?
Romans 6 builds the believer's identity on a death-and-resurrection pattern. Believers are united with the 'dead' Christ in His burial so they can walk in new life, and are commanded to count themselves 'dead to sin' (Romans 6:11). Without nekros there is no resurrection life and no break from sin's reign.