noun · feminine
sarkas
Strong’sG4561
flesh, body
stem sark-147 times in the New Testamentin 22 of 27 books6 of 10 forms occur
What it means
A plain-English reading of the word, with the lexicons it draws on — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, and Liddell-Scott-Jones — right below it, in full.
AI Summary
Flesh in the literal, physical sense: the soft tissue of an animal or human body, or meat as food 1234. This can refer to the actual substance covering the bones, as distinct from bones or blood 1, and by extension can stand for the whole body 13.
By extension, the body as a whole, sometimes used simply as another word for the body, and even for a living human being or "every person" (as in the phrase "all flesh") 123. In this sense it can describe human nature generally, including one's mortality, physical descent, and kinship ties — "flesh of my flesh," or being someone's "own flesh" through blood relationship 12.
The physical nature of a person as the seat of sensation, desire, and appetite, sometimes spoken of without moral judgment (as when contrasted simply with the "spirit"), and sometimes with a negative, sinful connotation, especially where flesh is set against spirit as the source of frailty, wrongdoing, or passion 123. In this usage flesh represents what is external, human, and prone to weakness, as opposed to what is spiritual or eternal 123.
Sources: 1 Abbott-Smith 2 Strong's 3 LSJ 4 Dodson. Condensed by anthropic/claude-sonnet-5 on 2026-09-23 — it may still misstate what these say; check them yourself if it matters to you.
The lexicons it was drawn from, in full:
Abbott-Smith — the 1922 lexicon entry, in full
σάρξ, σαρκός, ἡ
[in LXX chiefly for בָּשָׂר;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G4561 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidsarx
flesh (as stripped of the skin), i.e. (strictly) the meat of an animal (as food), or (by extension) the body (as opposed to the soul (or spirit), or as the symbol of what is external, or as the means of kindred), or (by implication) human nature (with its frailties (physically or morally) and passions), or (specially), a human being (as such)
Fromprobably from the base of G4563;
King Jamescarnal(-ly, + -ly minded), flesh(-ly).
James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — the classical dictionary this word appears in
genitive σαρκός, ἡ, Aeolic dialect σύρξ Refs:— flesh, Refs 8th c.BC+ always in plural, except Refs 8th c.BC+; sometimes to represent the whole body, μήτε γῆ δέξαιτό μου σάρκας θανόντος Refs 5th c.BC+: also collectively, of the body, γέροντα τὸν νοῦν, σάρκα δ᾽ ἡβῶσαν φέρει Refs 4th c.BC+; σαρκὸς περιβόλαια, ἐνδυτά, Refs 5th c.BC+ uses singular and plural in much the same manner, ταῖς σαρξὶ σάρκες προσγένωνται Refs, etc.: portions of meat, usually in plural, σάρκας τρεῖς Refs 3rd c.BC+; but, pieces of flesh or membrane, βήσσοντα.. ὥστε σάρκας ἐνπύους.. ἀποβάλλειν Refs
b εἰς σάρκα πημαίνειν to the quick, Refs 1st c.BC+
2 ἡ σ. τοῦ σκύτεος the inner or flesh-side of leather, Refs 5th c.BC+
3 fleshy, pulpy substance of fruit, Refs 4th c.BC+
II the flesh, as the seat of the affections and lusts, fleshly nature, ἐν τῇ σ. ἡ ἡδονή Refs 4th c.BC+; ἀδούλωτον (probable reading) τῇ σαρκὶ καὶ τοῖς ταύτης πάθεσι Refs 1st c.AD+, compare 101b; frequently in NT, NT
II.2 in “NT” also, the body, τῆς σαρκὸς πρόνοια NT, = every-body, LXX+NT; οὐ.. πᾶσα σάρξ nobody, NT
II.3 the physical or natural order of things, opposed to the spiritual or supernatural, σοφοὶ κατὰ σάρκα NT; τὸν κύριον τῶν πνευμάτων καὶ πάσης σ. Refs 5th c.BC+ twr[kcirc]- 'portion', cf. Avest. θwar[schwa]s- 'cut'.)
H. G. Liddell, R. Scott, H. S. Jones, A Greek-English Lexicon (9th ed., 1925–1940) — digitised by the Perseus Digital Library and corrected and expanded by Tyndale House, Cambridge, via STEPBible-Data's TFLSJ table, CC BY 4.0. Covers all of Greek literature, not just the Bible.
Translated as
Every occurrence, sorted by the English it was actually given — the evidence for what the word means, not a gloss of it.
1 rarer rendering are not shown; every occurrence below carries the English it was given there.
Berean Standard Bible (BSB), dedicated to the public domain — berean.bible.
Biblang forms
Every form this word takes in Biblang, with the Greek it corresponds to and how often the New Testament uses it.
| Job in the sentence case | one singular | more than one plural |
|---|---|---|
| subject nominative | sarkas26×σὰρξ | sarkais |
| object accusative | sarkan37×σάρκα | sarkain7×σάρκας |
| direct address vocative | sarkar | sarkair |
| of, belonging to genitive | sarkau37×σαρκὸς | sarkaiu1×σαρκῶν |
| to, for dative | sarka39×σαρκὶ | sarkai |
Tinted cells are forms the New Testament never uses, so there is no Greek to show against them — but they are still correct Biblang, built from the slots below like any other.
Why these forms, and no others — the slots that make them
sarka is this word in every one of its forms. The slots after it make all the rest.
same in every form varies — every value shown
Where it appears
Every verse the word appears in, filed under the form it takes there.
147 occurrences, 100 of them printed here — the rest are in the reader
sarkas“flesh”subjectnominative singular26×, 23 shown
Matthew 16:17… auto; Makarios asō, Simōnor Bariōna, hoti sarkas kai haimem ouk apokaluptata si alla …… was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father …
Matthew 19:6hōste ouketi alō duo alla sarkas henas. hem oun tos theos suzeugata …… are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together …
Matthew 24:22“one”… hēmerais ekeinais, ouk an sōzita pantas sarkas; dia de toin eklektoin kolobili tais …If those days had not been cut short, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short.
Matthew 26:41“flesh”… tem men pneumem prothumem tas de sarkas asthenas.… temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
Mark 10:8… hōste ouketi alō duo alla henas sarkas;… are no longer two, but one flesh.
Mark 13:20“one”… tain hēmerain, ouk an sōzita pantas sarkas. alla dia toin eklektoin hoin eklegeta …… cut short those days, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom He has …
Mark 14:38“flesh”… tem men pneumem prothumem tas de sarkas asthenas.… temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
Luke 3:6“flesh”kai horeti pantas sarkas tem sōtēriem tou theou.And all humanity will see God’s salvation.’”
John 1:14Kai tos logos sarkas geneta kai skēnata en ni, kai …The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us …
John 3:6tem gennorēntem ek tau sarkau sarkas atō, kai tem gennorēntem ek teu …Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit …
John 6:51… artos de hon mis dōami tas sarkas mu atō huper tau tou kosmou …… life of the world, is My flesh.”
John 6:55tas gar sarkas mu alēthas atō brōsias, kai tem …For My flesh is real food, and My blood …
John 6:63tem pneumem atō tem zōopoiarōntem, tas sarkas ouk ōfelatō oudenem; teim rēmeim heim …The Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I have …
Acts 2:26“flesh”… glōssas mu, ēti de kai tas sarkas mu kataskēnati epi elpida;… glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will dwell in hope,
Acts 2:31“flesh”… oute enkatalipita eis hadon oute tas sarkas autou horata diafthoran.… He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did His body see decay.
Romans 3:20“flesh”… ek ergeiu nomou ouk dikaiiti pantas sarkas enōpion autou, dia gar nomou epignōsias …Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings …
1 Corinthians 1:29hopōs mē kaucheteia pantas sarkas enōpion tou theou.so that no one may boast in His presence.
1 Corinthians 15:39ouk pantas sarkas tas autas sarkas, alla allosas men …Not all flesh is the same: Men have one …
1 Corinthians 15:39ouk pantas sarkas tas autas sarkas, alla allosas men anthrōpoiu, allosas de …… same: Men have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another, and …
1 Corinthians 15:39“flesh”… alla allosas men anthrōpoiu, allosas de sarkas ktēneiu, allosas de sarkas ptēneiu, allosas …… the same: Men have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another, and fish another.
1 Corinthians 15:39“flesh”… allosas de sarkas ktēneiu, allosas de sarkas ptēneiu, allosas de ichthoiu.… of flesh, animals have another, birds another, and fish another.
1 Corinthians 15:50Houtem de fēamō, adelfoir, hoti sarkas kai haimem basileian theou klēronomara ouk …… I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom …
2 Corinthians 7:5… eis Makedonian oudenan echatē anesian tas sarkas nu, alla en pante thliborōntois exōthen …… when we arrived in Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were …
sarkan“flesh”objectaccusative singular37×, 23 shown
Matthew 19:5… autou, kai eli tois duo eis sarkan henan?… and the two will become one flesh’?
Mark 10:8kai eli tois duo eis sarkan henan; hōste ouketi alō duo alla …and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two …
Luke 24:39… psēlafavar min kai horavar, hoti pneumem sarkan kai osteim ouk echatō kathōs min …… for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see I …
John 6:52… Pōs dunotō houtos ni dōara tan sarkan autou esthiara?… can this man give us His flesh to eat?”
John 6:53… legamō vi, ean mē esthiaveia tan sarkan tou huiou tou anthrōpou kai pinaveia …… tell you, unless you eat the flesh and drink the blood of the …
John 6:54tos trōgarōntos mu tan sarkan kai pinarōntos mu tem haimem echatō …Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal …
John 6:56tos trōgarōntos mu tan sarkan kai pinarōntos mu tem haimem en …Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in …
John 8:15vis kata tan sarkan krinavō, mis ouk krinamō oudenon.You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one.
Acts 2:17“flesh”… apo teu pneumeu mu epi pantan sarkan, kai profēteuali tois huiois vu kai …… pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young …
Romans 1:3… tou generantou ek spermeu David kata sarkan,… descendant of David according to the flesh,
Romans 4:1… heuriskarē Abraam ton propatōron nu kata sarkan?… Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has discovered?
Romans 8:4… plēriteia en ni toi mē kata sarkan peripatarōntoi alla kata pneumem;… do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Romans 8:5tois gar kata sarkan arōntois teim tau sarkau fronalō, tois …Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things …
Romans 8:12“flesh”… anō, ouk ta sarka teu kata sarkan zōarō,… it is not to the flesh, to live according to it.
Romans 8:13ei gar kata sarkan zōavō mellavō apothnēskarō, ei de pneume …… if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by …
Romans 9:3… adelfoiu mu toiu sungenoiu mu kata sarkan,… sake of my brothers, my own flesh and blood,
Romans 9:5“flesh”… ek hoiu tos christos tem kata sarkan, tos arōntos epi panteiu, theos eulogētos …… patriarchs, and from them proceeds the human descent of Christ, who is God over all, forever worthy …
Romans 11:14ei pōs parazēlami mu tan sarkan kai sōzami tinoin ek autoiu.… that I may provoke my own people to jealousy and save some of …
1 Corinthians 1:26… adelfoir, hoti ouk pollois sofois kata sarkan, ouk pollois dunatois, ouk pollois eugenois;… many of you were wise by human standards; not many were powerful; not many …
1 Corinthians 6:16… Eli gar, fēatō, tois duo eis sarkan henan.… said, “The two will become one flesh.”
1 Corinthians 10:18blepavōr ton Israēl kata sarkan; ouk tois esthiarōntois tain thusiain koinōnois …Consider the people of Israel: Are not those who …
2 Corinthians 1:17“flesh”… elafria chrema? ē heim bouleuomō kata sarkan bouleuomō, hina ateiō para mi tem …… it carelessly? Or do I …
2 Corinthians 5:16… apo tou nun oudenon oidanē kata sarkan; ei kai gnōskanē kata sarkan Christon, …… regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in …
sarkau“flesh”of, belonging togenitive singular37×, 23 shown
John 1:13“flesh”… ouk ek haimeiu oude ek thelēmeu sarkau oude ek thelēmeu androu alla ek …children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.
John 3:6tem gennorēntem ek tau sarkau sarkas atō, kai tem gennorēntem ek …Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the …
John 17:2“flesh”kathōs dōasa auto exousian pantau sarkau, hina pantem hem dōasē auto dōateia …… You granted Him authority over all people, so that He may give eternal life to all those You have given Him.
Romans 6:19anthrōpinem legamō dia tan asthenian tau sarkau vu; hōsper gar parastēava teim meleim …… because of the weakness of your flesh. Just as you used to offer …
Romans 8:3… nomou, en he asthenate dia tau sarkau, tos theos ton heautou huion pemparantos …… that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own …
Romans 8:3… ton heautou huion pemparantos en homoiōme sarkau hamartau kai peri hamartau katakrinata tan …… He thus condemned sin in the flesh,
Romans 8:5… gar kata sarkan arōntois teim tau sarkau fronalō, tois de kata pneumem teim …… minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live according to …
Romans 8:6tem gar fronēmem tau sarkau thanatos, tem de fronēmem teu pneumeu …The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of …
Romans 8:7dioti tem fronēmem tau sarkau echthras eis theon, to gar nomo …because the mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does …
Romans 9:8houtem atō, ouk teim tekneim tau sarkau houteim tekneim tou theou, alla teim …… is not the children of the flesh who are God’s children, but it …
Romans 13:14… ton kurion Iēsun Christon, kai tau sarkau pronoian mē poiovōr eis epithumiain.… provision for the desires of the flesh.
1 Corinthians 5:5… toiouton to Satano eis olethron tau sarkau, hina tem pneumem sōziteia en ta …… Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be …
2 Corinthians 7:1… agapētoir, katharizaneia heautoin apo pantou molusmou sarkau kai pneumeu, epitelarōntois hagiōsunan en fobo …… cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the …
Galatians 4:13“flesh”oidavē de hoti dia asthenian tau sarkau euangelizema vi tem proterem,You know that it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you.
Galatians 5:16Legamō de, pneume peripatavōr kai epithumian sarkau ouk mē telaveia.… not gratify the desires of the flesh.
Galatians 5:17… pneumeu, tem de pneumem kata tau sarkau, houteim gar allēlei antikeiotō, hina mē …… Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other …
Galatians 5:19fanereim de atō teim ergeim tau sarkau, hotineim atō porneias, akatharsias, aselgeias,The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and …
Galatians 6:8… eis tan sarkan heautou ek tau sarkau therizati fthoran, tos de sperarōntos eis …… to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one …
Ephesians 2:3“flesh”… anastrefina pote en tai epithumiai tau sarkau nu, poiarōntois teim thelēmeim tau sarkau …… us also lived among them at one time, fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we …
Ephesians 2:3… sarkau nu, poiarōntois teim thelēmeim tau sarkau kai taiu dianoiaiu, kai one tekneim …… time, fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts …
Colossians 1:22… de apokatallaxiva en te sōme tau sarkau autou dia tou thanatou parastēara vin …… He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you …
Colossians 2:11“flesh”… en ta apekdusia teu sōmeu tau sarkau, en ta peritoma tou Christou,… circumcised, in the putting off of your sinful nature, with the circumcision performed by Christ and not by human hands.
Colossians 2:13“flesh”… tei paraptōmei kai ta akrobustia tau sarkau vu, suzōopoiata vin sun auto; charizerantos …… in your trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He …
sarka“flesh”to, fordative singular39×, 23 shown
Romans 2:28“flesh”… oude tas en te fanere en sarka peritomas;… is one outwardly, nor is circumcision only outward …
Romans 7:5hote gar ane en ta sarka, teim pathēmeim taiu hamartaiu teim dia …… when we lived according to the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the …
Romans 7:18… en mi, houtem atō en ta sarka mu, agathem; tem gar thelarō parakeiotō …… in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to …
Romans 7:25… nouo douleuamō nomo theou, ta de sarka nomo hamartau.… law of God, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
Romans 8:3“flesh”… hamartau katakrinata tan hamartan en ta sarka,… offering for sin. He thus condemned sin in the flesh,
Romans 8:8tois de en sarka arōntois theo areskara ouk dunolō.Those controlled by the flesh cannot please God.
Romans 8:9Vis de ouk avō en sarka alla en pneume, eiper pneumem theou …… however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the …
Romans 8:12… oun, adelfoir, ofeiletois anō, ouk ta sarka teu kata sarkan zōarō,… but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it.
1 Corinthians 7:28… parthenas, ouk hamartata. thlipsian de ta sarka echali tois toioutois, mis de vu …… marry will face troubles in this life, and I want to spare you …
2 Corinthians 4:11“flesh”… tou Iēsu faneriteia en ta thnēta sarka nu.… life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal body.
2 Corinthians 10:3en sarka gar peripatarōntois ouk kata sarkan strateuonōFor though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according …
2 Corinthians 12:7… mē huperairomeiō, dōita mi skolopos ta sarka, angelos Satanou, hina min kolafizateiō, hina …… was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment …
Galatians 1:16… en tei ethnei, eutheōs ouk prosanatithema sarka kai haime,… did not rush to consult with flesh and blood,
Galatians 2:20“flesh”… Christos; hem de nun zōamō en sarka, en pistia zōamō ta tou huiou …… live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself …
Galatians 3:3houtōs anoētois avō? enarcherantois pneume nun sarka epitelovō?… are you now finishing in the flesh?
Galatians 4:14“flesh”kai ton peirasmon vu en ta sarka mu ouk exouthenava oude ekptuava, alla …And although my illness was a trial to you, you did not despise or reject me. Instead …
Galatians 5:13… mē tan eleutherian eis aforman ta sarka, alla dia tau agapau douleuavōr allēloi;… freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.
Galatians 6:12“flesh”hosois thelalō euprosōpara en sarka, houtois anankazalō vin peritemorō, monem hina …Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. They only do this …
Galatians 6:13… vin peritemorō hina en ta humetera sarka kaucheleia.… that they may boast in your flesh.
Ephesians 2:11… hoti pote vis teim ethneim en sarka, tois legorōntois akrobustias hupo tau legorōntau …… you who are Gentiles in the flesh and called uncircumcised by the so-called …
Ephesians 2:11“flesh”… akrobustias hupo tau legorōntau peritomau en sarka cheiropoiētau,… called uncircumcised by the so-called circumcision (that done in the body by human hands) —
Ephesians 2:14“flesh”… fragmou luarantos, tan echthran en ta sarka autou,… down the dividing wall of hostility
Philippians 1:22“flesh”ei de tem zōarō en sarka, houtem mi karpos ergeu kai tinem …But if I go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. So what …
sarkain“flesh”objectaccusative plural7×
James 5:3… marturiem vi eti kai esthieti tain sarkain vu; hōs purem thēsaurizava en eschatai …… testify against you and consume your flesh like fire. You have hoarded treasure …
Revelation 17:16… poiali autan kai gumnan, kai tain sarkain autau esthieli, kai autan katakaiali en …… naked, and they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.
Revelation 19:18“flesh”hina esthiaveia sarkain basilevoiu kai sarkain chiliarchoiu kai sarkain …so that you may eat the flesh of kings and commanders and mighty men …
Revelation 19:18“flesh”hina esthiaveia sarkain basilevoiu kai sarkain chiliarchoiu kai sarkain ischuroiu kai sarkain …so that you may eat the flesh of kings and commanders and mighty men, of horses and riders, of …
Revelation 19:18… sarkain basilevoiu kai sarkain chiliarchoiu kai sarkain ischuroiu kai sarkain hippoiu kai toiu …so that you may eat the flesh of kings and commanders and mighty …
Revelation 19:18“flesh”… sarkain chiliarchoiu kai sarkain ischuroiu kai sarkain hippoiu kai toiu kathorōntoiu epi autoiu, …… eat the flesh of kings and commanders and mighty men, of horses and riders, of everyone slave and free, small …
Revelation 19:18“flesh”… kai toiu kathorōntoiu epi autoiu, kai sarkain pantoiu eleutheroiu tē kai douloiu kai …… horses and riders, of everyone slave and free, small and great.”
sarkaiu“flesh”of, belonging togenitive plural1×
Revelation 19:21… panteim teim ornitheim chortazila ek taiu sarkaiu autoiu.… the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.