Bible Dictionary: Sensual

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (a.) Devoted to the pleasures of sense and appetite; luxurious; voluptuous; lewd; libidinous.

2. (a.) Pertaining to, consisting in, or affecting, the sense, or bodily organs of perception; relating to, or concerning, the body, in distinction from the spirit.

3. (a.) Hence, not spiritual or intellectual; carnal; fleshly; pertaining to, or consisting in, the gratification of the senses, or the indulgence of appetites; worldly.

4. (a.) Pertaining or peculiar to the philosophical doctrine of sensualism.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

SENSUAL

sen'-shoo-al (psuchikos, "animal," "natural"): Biblical psychology has no English equivalent for this Greek original. Man subject to the lower appetites is sarkikos, "fleshly"; in the communion of his spirit with God he is pneumatikos, "spiritual." Between the two is the psuche, "soul," the center of his personal being. This ego or "I"in each man is bound to the spirit, the higher nature; and to the body or lower nature.

The soul (psuche) as the seat of the senses, desires, affections, appetites, passions, i.e. the lower animal nature common to man with the beasts, was distinguished in the Pythagorean and Platonic philosophy from the higher rational nature (nous, pneuma).

The subjection of the soul to the animal nature is man's debasement, to the spirit indwelt of God is his exaltation. The English equivalent for psuchikos, "psychic" does not express this debasement. In the New Testament "sensual" indicates man's subjection to self and self-interest, whether animal or intellectual-the selfish man in whom the spirit is degraded into subordination to the debased psuche, "soul." This debasement may be

(1) intellectual, "not wisdom.... from above, but.... earthly, sensual" (James 3:15);

(2) carnal (and of course moral), "sensual, having not the Spirit" (Jude 1:19).

It ranges all the way from sensuous self-indulgence to gross immorality. In the utter subjection of the spirit to sense it is the utter exclusion of God from the life. Hence, "the natural (psuchikos) man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God" (1 Corinthians 2:14). The term is equivalent to "the mind of the flesh" (Romans 8:7) which "is not subject to the law of God."

See PSYCHOLOGY.

Dwight M. Pratt

Greek

5591. psuchikos -- natural, of the soul or mind
... Word Origin from psuche Definition natural, of the soul or mind NASB Word
Usage natural (5), worldly-minded (1). natural, sensual. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5591.htm - 8k

2691. katastreniao -- to become wanton against
... Word Origin from kata and streniao Definition to become wanton against NASB Word
Usage feel sensual desires (1), feel sensual desires in disregard of (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2691.htm - 6k

2237. hedone -- pleasure
... lust, pleasure. From handano (to please); sensual delight; by implication, desire --
lust, pleasure. (edonais) -- 2 Occurrences. (edonen) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2237.htm - 7k

766. aselgeia -- licentiousness, wantonness
... Word Origin of uncertain origin Definition licentiousness, wantonness NASB
Word Usage licentiousness (1), sensual (1), sensuality (8). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/766.htm - 7k

4763. streniao -- to run riot
... revel, riot. Cognate: 4763 -- living in sensual, lustful behavior, ie in
self-indulgence (wanton luxury). See 4764 (). Word Origin ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4763.htm - 6k

453. anoetos -- not understanding
... foolish, unwise. From a (as a negative particle) and a derivative of noieo;
unintelligent; by implication, sensual -- fool(-ish), unwise. see GREEK a. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/453.htm - 7k

4684. spatalao -- to live riotously
... 4684 -- properly, to indulge in luxury (unneeded surplus). The , "The modern term ','
in which the notion of than that of sensual indulgence, .". ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4684.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

5719. adin -- voluptuous
... Word Origin from the same as eden Definition voluptuous NASB Word Usage sensual
one (1). given to pleasures. From adan; voluptuous -- given to pleasures. ...
/hebrew/5719.htm - 6k

5690. agab -- (sensuous) love
... desires. Word Origin from agab Definition (sensuous) love NASB Word Usage
lustful desires (1), sensual (1). much love, very lovely. ...
/hebrew/5690.htm - 6k

Library

Sensual and Spiritual Excitement.
... SERMONS. IX. SENSUAL AND SPIRITUAL EXCITEMENT. Preached August 4,
1850. SENSUAL AND SPIRITUAL EXCITEMENT. "Wherefore be ...
/.../robertson/sermons preached at brighton/ix sensual and spiritual excitement.htm

Of the Mortification of Sensual Love to Meats, &C. ...
... CHAPTER VI. Of the mortification of sensual love to meats, &c.� Sec. 1. Of the
mortification of sensual love to meats, &c., by temperance in refection. ...
/.../chapter vi of the mortification.htm

Low Beetling Brows, -- a Sensual, Cruel Mouth with a Loosely ...
... IX. Low beetling brows, " a sensual, cruel mouth with a loosely projecting
under-lip� Low beetling brows,"a sensual, cruel ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/corelli/the master-christian/ix low beetling brows .htm

Whether There could be Sensual Appetite in Paradise Before the ...
... A Treatise against two letters of the pelagians, Chapter 34 [XVII.]"Whether
There Could Be Sensual Appetite in Paradise Before the Fall. ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 34 xvii whether there could.htm

How the Will Governs the Sensual Appetite.
... THE LOVE OF GOD. BOOK I. CONTAINING A PREPARATION FOR THE WHOLE TREATISE.
CHAPTER III. HOW THE WILL GOVERNS THE SENSUAL APPETITE. ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter iii how the will.htm

Of the Affections of the Will.
... There are no fewer movements in the intellectual or reasonable appetite which is
called the will, than there are in the sensitive or sensual, but the first are ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter v of the affections.htm

Whether Sensuality is Only Appetitive?
... xii, 12) that "the sensual movement of the soul which is directed to the bodily
senses is common to us and beasts." But the bodily senses belong to the ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether sensuality is only appetitive.htm

How Divine Love Makes Use of all the Passions and Affections of ...
... to its empire all the other loves of the will, and consequently all its affections,
because they naturally follow love; this done, it tames sensual love, and ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xx how divine love.htm

Whether the Beatitudes are Suitably Enumerated?
... To make this evident it must be observed that beatitude has been held to consist
in one of three things: for some have ascribed it to a sensual life, some, to ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the beatitudes are suitably.htm

"In Christ Our Two Natures are United"
... by virtue] of the great riches and of the high noble virtues by measure come to
our soul what time it is knit to our body: in which knitting we are made Sensual ...
/.../julian/revelations of divine love/chapter lvii in christ our.htm

Thesaurus

Sensual (8 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. SENSUAL. ... earthly, sensual" (James 3:15); (2) carnal
(and of course moral), "sensual, having not the Spirit" (Jude 1:19). ...
/s/sensual.htm - 11k

Sensuality (9 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) The quality or state of being sensual; devotedness
to the gratification of the bodily appetites; free indulgence in carnal or ...
/s/sensuality.htm - 9k

Voluptuous (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Full of delight or pleasure; exciting
sensual desires; luxurious; sensual; as, voluptuous beauty. ...
/v/voluptuous.htm - 7k

Lust (42 Occurrences)
... in Exodus 15:9 and Psalm 78:18 translated "desire"; "My desire shall be satisfied";
"by asking food according to their desire." A strong but not sensual sense. ...
/l/lust.htm - 24k

Carnal (11 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (a.) Sensual; pertaining to the body or its appetites;
fleshly; sensual; human or worldly as opposed to spiritual. ...
/c/carnal.htm - 13k

Unholy (23 Occurrences)
... Colossians 3:5 Therefore put to death your earthward inclinations--fornication,
impurity, sensual passion, unholy desire, and all greed, for that is a form of ...
/u/unholy.htm - 13k

Jezebel (20 Occurrences)
... The idolatry, too, was of the most debased and sensual kind." Her conduct was in
many respects very disastrous to the kingdom both of Israel and Judah (21:1-29 ...
/j/jezebel.htm - 26k

Greed (19 Occurrences)
... Colossians 3:5 Therefore put to death your earthward inclinations--fornication,
impurity, sensual passion, unholy desire, and all greed, for that is a form of ...
/g/greed.htm - 12k

Grove (23 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary. (1.) Hebrews `asherah, properly a wooden image, or a
pillar representing Ashtoreth, a sensual Canaanitish goddess, probably usually ...
/g/grove.htm - 16k

Gross (12 Occurrences)
... witless. 4. (superl.) Expressing, Or originating in, animal or sensual
appetites; hence, coarse, vulgar, low, obscene, or impure. 5 ...
/g/gross.htm - 11k

Bible Concordance

Sensual (8 Occurrences)

Colossians 2:23 Which things indeed appear like wisdom in self-imposed worship, and humility, and severity to the body; but aren't of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.
(See NIV)

Colossians 3:5 Therefore put to death your earthward inclinations--fornication, impurity, sensual passion, unholy desire, and all greed, for that is a form of idolatry.
(WEY)

1 Timothy 5:11 But refuse younger widows, for when they have grown wanton against Christ, they desire to marry;
(See NAS NIV)

James 3:15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS)

2 Peter 2:7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was very distressed by the lustful life of the wicked
(See NAS)

Jude 1:19 These are they who cause divisions, and are sensual, not having the Spirit.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS)

Isaiah 47:8 So now take note of this, you who are given up to pleasure, living without fear of evil, saying in your heart, I am, and there is no one like me; I will never be a widow, or have my children taken from me.
(See NAS)

Ezekiel 33:32 Behold, you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they don't do them.
(See NAS)

Subtopics

Sensual

Related Terms

Sensuality (9 Occurrences)

Voluptuous (1 Occurrence)

Lust (42 Occurrences)

Carnal (11 Occurrences)

Unholy (23 Occurrences)

Jezebel (20 Occurrences)

Greed (19 Occurrences)

Grove (23 Occurrences)

Gross (12 Occurrences)