Mortal
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Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Nature:
The term "mortal" refers to that which is subject to death. In the biblical context, it often pertains to human beings, who, unlike God, are finite and subject to physical death. Mortality is a fundamental aspect of human existence post-Fall, as described in the Scriptures.

Biblical Context:
The concept of mortality is introduced in the early chapters of Genesis. When God created Adam and Eve, they were placed in the Garden of Eden with access to the Tree of Life, suggesting the potential for eternal life. However, with the introduction of sin through disobedience, mortality became a reality for humanity. Genesis 3:19 states, "By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread, until you return to the ground, because out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return."

Theological Significance:
Mortality is a direct consequence of sin. Romans 5:12 explains, "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned." This passage highlights the universal nature of mortality as a result of the Fall. The mortality of humans underscores the need for redemption and the hope of eternal life through Jesus Christ.

Human Mortality and Divine Immortality:
The Bible contrasts human mortality with God's immortality. 1 Timothy 6:16 describes God as "the only One who is immortal and who dwells in unapproachable light." This distinction emphasizes the transient nature of human life compared to the eternal nature of God.

Hope Beyond Mortality:
Despite the reality of mortality, the Bible offers hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:53-54 declares, "For the perishable must be clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come to pass: 'Death has been swallowed up in victory.'" This passage assures believers of the promise of eternal life and victory over death through Christ.

Practical Implications:
Understanding human mortality encourages a life of humility and dependence on God. Psalm 90:12 prays, "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Recognizing the brevity of life can lead to a more intentional and God-centered way of living, focusing on eternal values rather than temporal pursuits.

Conclusion:
While mortality is an inherent part of human existence due to sin, the Bible provides a narrative of hope and redemption. Through faith in Jesus Christ, believers are promised a future where mortality is replaced with immortality, and death is ultimately defeated.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (a.) Subject to death; destined to die; as, man is mortal.

2. (a.) Destructive to life; causing or occasioning death; terminating life; exposing to or deserving death; deadly; as, a mortal wound; a mortal sin.

3. (a.) Fatally vulnerable; vital.

4. (a.) of or pertaining to the time of death.

5. (a.) Affecting as if with power to kill; deathly.

6. (a.) Human; belonging to man, who is mortal; as, mortal wit or knowledge; mortal power.

7. (a.) Very painful or tedious; wearisome; as, a sermon lasting two mortal hours.

8. (n.) A being subject to death; a human being; man.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
MORTAL; MORTALITY

mor'-tal, mor-tal'-i-ti (thnetos to thneton): The meaning is "subject to death" (Romans 6:12; Romans 8:11 1 Corinthians 15:53, 54; in 2 Corinthians 5:4 the Revised Version (British and American) has "what is mortal"). In Job 4:17, the Hebrew word is 'enosh, "mortal man."

See IMMORTAL.

Greek
2349. thnetos -- subject to death
... subject to death. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: thnetos Phonetic Spelling:
(thnay-tos') Short Definition: mortal Definition: mortal, subject to ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2349.htm - 6k

2286. thanasimos -- deadly
... deadly. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: thanasimos Phonetic Spelling:
(than-as'-ee-mos) Short Definition: deadly, mortal Definition: deadly, mortal ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2286.htm - 6k

1659. eleutheroo -- to make free, fig. to exempt (from liability)
... deliver, make free. From eleutheros; to liberate, ie (figuratively) to exempt (from
moral, ceremonial or mortal liability) -- deliver, make free. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1659.htm - 7k

599. apothnesko -- to die
... Origin from apo and thnesko Definition to die NASB Word Usage dead (5), death (1),
death* (1), die (34), died (53), dies (12), dying (4), mortal (1), perished ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/599.htm - 9k

3498. nekros -- dead
... Transliteration: nekros Phonetic Spelling: (nek-ros') Short Definition: dead, a
corpse Definition: (a) adj: dead, lifeless, subject to death, mortal, (b) noun ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3498.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew
582. enosh -- man, mankind
... an unused word Definition man, mankind NASB Word Usage advisers* (2), friends*
(1), life (1), man (26), man's (4), mankind (1), men (6), mortal (1), mortal man ...
/hebrew/582.htm - 6k

4463. mamoth -- death
... death. From muwth; a mortal disease; concretely, a corpse -- death. see HEBREW
muwth. 4462, 4463. mamoth. 4464 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/4463.htm - 6k

120. adam -- man, mankind
... infantry (1), low degree* (1), low* (1), man (363), man's (20), man* (1), mankind
(9), men (104), men of low degree* (1), men's (3), men* (4), mortal (1), one ...
/hebrew/120.htm - 6k

1121. ben -- son
... lambs* (2), lay (4), Levites* (1), low degree* (1), low* (1), man (5), man one old
(1), man* (1), men (19), men of low degree* (1), men* (4), mortal (1), must ...
/hebrew/1121.htm - 8k

Library

Whether it is a Mortal Sin for a Man to have Knowledge of his Wife ...
... GOODS* (SIX ARTICLES) [*"Bona matrimonii," variously rendered marriage goods, marriage
blessings, and advantages of marriage.] Whether it is a mortal sin for a ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is a mortal.htm

Whether it is Always a Mortal Sin to Communicate with an ...
... OF COMMUNICATION WITH EXCOMMUNICATED PERSONS (THREE ARTICLES) Whether it is always
a mortal sin to communicate with an excommunicated person in other cases ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is always a 2.htm

Whether Boasting is a Mortal Sin?
... OF BOASTING (TWO ARTICLES) Whether boasting is a mortal sin? Objection 1: It seems
that boasting is a mortal sin. ... Therefore boasting is a mortal sin. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether boasting is a mortal.htm

Whether Sloth is a Mortal Sin?
... OF SLOTH (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether sloth is a mortal sin? Objection 1: It would seem
that sloth is not a mortal sin. ... Therefore sloth is not a mortal sin. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether sloth is a mortal.htm

Whether Scandal is a Mortal Sin?
... OF SCANDAL (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether scandal is a mortal sin? Objection
1: It would seem that scandal is a mortal sin. For every ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether scandal is a mortal.htm

Whether it is a Mortal Sin to have Intercourse with a Concubine?
... OF PLURALITY OF WIVES (FIVE ARTICLES) Whether it is a mortal sin to have
intercourse with a concubine? Objection 1: It would seem ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is a mortal 3.htm

Whether Disobedience is a Mortal Sin?
... OF DISOBEDIENCE (TWO ARTICLES) Whether disobedience is a mortal sin? Objection
1: It seems that disobedience is not a mortal sin. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether disobedience is a mortal.htm

Whether Fear is a Mortal Sin?
... Otherwise 'cowardice' would be a better rendering.] Whether fear is a mortal
sin? Objection 1: It seems that fear is not a mortal sin. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether fear is a mortal.htm

Whether the Forgiveness of Mortal Sin is an Effect of this ...
... OF THE EFFECTS OF THIS SACRAMENT (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether the forgiveness
of mortal sin is an effect of this sacrament? Objection ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the forgiveness of mortal.htm

Whether Drunkenness is a Mortal Sin?
... OF DRUNKENNESS (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether drunkenness is a mortal sin? Objection
1: It would seem that drunkenness is not a mortal sin. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether drunkenness is a mortal.htm

Thesaurus
Mortal (35 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Subject to death; destined to die; as, man is mortal. ... 6. (a.) Human; belonging
to man, who is mortal; as, mortal wit or knowledge; mortal power. ...
/m/mortal.htm - 17k

Mortality (3 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The condition or quality of being mortal; subjection to death or to the
necessity of dying. 2. (n.) Human life; the life of a mortal being. ...
/m/mortality.htm - 8k

Deadly (31 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Capable of causing death; mortal; fatal; destructive; certain or likely
to cause death; as, a deadly blow or wound. ... 3. (a.) Subject to death; mortal. ...
/d/deadly.htm - 17k

Mortally (17 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (adv.) In a mortal manner; so as to cause death; as,
mortally wounded. 2. (adv.) In the manner of a mortal or of mortal beings. ...
/m/mortally.htm - 11k

Bodies (144 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Romans 6:12 Let not Sin therefore reign as king in your mortal bodies,
causing you to be in subjection to their cravings; (WEY RSV). ...
/b/bodies.htm - 37k

Clothed (153 Occurrences)
... In all probability Paul thinks of a certain envelopment of his physical mortal body
even in this life ("in this we groan," ie in this present body), hence, the ...
/c/clothed.htm - 37k

Incorruption (6 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT). 1 Corinthians 15:53 For this corruptible must put on
incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT). ...
/i/incorruption.htm - 8k

Incorruptibility (7 Occurrences)
... incorruptibility. (DBY). 1 Corinthians 15:53 For this corruptible must needs put
on incorruptibility, and this mortal put on immortality. (DBY). ...
/i/incorruptibility.htm - 8k

Enosh (8 Occurrences)
... e'-nos, e'-nosh ('enosh, "mortal"; 'Enos): In the New Testament (the Revised Version
(British and American) and the King James Version) and the Old Testament ...
/e/enosh.htm - 9k

Enos (7 Occurrences)
... e'-nos, e'-nosh ('enosh, "mortal"; 'Enos): In the New Testament (the Revised Version
(British and American) and the King James Version) and the Old Testament ...
/e/enos.htm - 10k

Resources
Does the Bible teach mortal and venial sin? | GotQuestions.org

Is the human soul mortal or immortal? | GotQuestions.org

What is deductive Bible study? | GotQuestions.org

Mortal: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Mortal (35 Occurrences)

Romans 1:23
and traded the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed animals, and creeping things.
(See RSV NIV)

Romans 6:12
Therefore don't let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Romans 8:11
But if the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Corinthians 1:29
to prevent any mortal man from boasting in the presence of God.
(WEY)

1 Corinthians 15:50
But this I tell you, brethren: our mortal bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God, nor will what is perishable inherit what is imperishable.
(WEY)

1 Corinthians 15:53
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Corinthians 15:54
But when this corruptible will have put on incorruption, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then what is written will happen: "Death is swallowed up in victory."
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Corinthians 4:11
For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus may be revealed in our mortal flesh.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

2 Corinthians 5:4
For indeed we who are in this tent do groan, being burdened; not that we desire to be unclothed, but that we desire to be clothed, that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Hebrews 7:8
Moreover here frail mortal men receive tithes: there one receives them about whom there is evidence that he is alive.
(WEY NAS RSV)

1 John 5:16
If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life for those who sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death. I don't say that he should make a request concerning this.
(See RSV)

1 John 5:17
All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death.
(See RSV)

Revelation 13:3
I saw that one of his heads seemed to have been mortally wounded; but his mortal wound was healed, and the whole world was amazed and followed him.
(Root in WEY RSV)

Revelation 13:12
And the authority of the first Wild Beast--the whole of that authority--he exercises in his presence, and he causes the earth and its inhabitants to worship the first Wild Beast, whose mortal wound had been healed.
(WEY RSV)

Genesis 6:3
Yahweh said, "My Spirit will not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; yet will his days be one hundred twenty years."
(See NIV)

2 Chronicles 14:11
And Asa calleth unto Jehovah his God, and saith, 'Jehovah! it is nothing with Thee to help, between the mighty and those who have no power; help us, O Jehovah, our God, for on Thee we have leant, and in Thy name we have come against this multitude; O Jehovah, our God thou 'art'; let him not prevail with Thee -- mortal man!
(YLT)

Job 4:17
'Shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall a man be more pure than his Maker?
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV NIV)

Job 5:17
Lo, the happiness of mortal man, God doth reprove him: And the chastisement of the Mighty despise not,
(YLT)

Job 10:4
Do you have eyes of flesh? Or do you see as man sees?
(See NIV)

Job 10:5
Are your days as the days of mortals, or your years as man's years,
(Root in WEB DBY NAS NIV)

Job 34:6
Against my right do I lie? Mortal 'is' mine arrow -- without transgression.'
(YLT)

Psalms 17:9
from the wicked who oppress me, my deadly enemies, who surround me.
(See NIV)

Psalms 42:10
As with a sword in my bones, my adversaries reproach me, while they continually ask me, "Where is your God?"
(See NIV)

Psalms 56:4
In God, I praise his word. In God, I put my trust. I will not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?
(See NIV)

Psalms 90:3
Thou makest mortal man to return to dust, and sayest, Return, children of men.
(DBY)

Psalms 103:15
Mortal man! as grass 'are' his days, As a flower of the field so he flourisheth;
(YLT)

Psalms 146:3
Put not your faith in rulers, or in the son of man, in whom there is no salvation.
(See NAS NIV)

Isaiah 13:12
I will make man more rare than fine gold, even man than the pure gold of Ophir.
(See NAS)

Isaiah 17:11
In the day thy plant thou causest to become great, And in the morning thy seed makest to flourish, A heap 'is' the harvest in a day of overflowing, And of mortal pain.
(YLT)

Isaiah 38:1
In those days was Hezekiah sick with a mortal disease. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thy house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live.
(WBS NAS)

Isaiah 51:12
I, even I, am your comforter: are you so poor in heart as to be in fear of man who will come to an end, and of the son of man who will be like grass?
(See NIV)

Lamentations 3:39
Why does a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?
(See NAS)

Ezekiel 31:14
to the end that none of all the trees by the waters exalt themselves in their stature, neither set their top among the thick boughs, nor that their mighty ones stand up on their height, even all who drink water: for they are all delivered to death, to the lower parts of the earth, in the midst of the children of men, with those who go down to the pit.
(See RSV NIV)

Daniel 2:11
It is a rare thing that the king requires, and there is no other who can show it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.
(See NAS)

Micah 1:9
For mortal 'are' her wounds, For it hath come unto Judah, It hath come to a gate of My people -- to Jerusalem.
(YLT)

Subtopics

Mortal

Related Terms

Imperishable (11 Occurrences)

Perishable (9 Occurrences)

Mortal (35 Occurrences)

Mortally (17 Occurrences)

Nature (80 Occurrences)

Kibroth-hattaavah (5 Occurrences)

Kibrothhattaavah (5 Occurrences)

Longevity

Flux (26 Occurrences)

Dust (182 Occurrences)

Murrain (1 Occurrence)

Pharaohnecoh

Pharaoh-necoh (3 Occurrences)

Plague (142 Occurrences)

Burdens (35 Occurrences)

Bill (9 Occurrences)

Bloody (19 Occurrences)

Blue (51 Occurrences)

Clothe (52 Occurrences)

Absorbed (5 Occurrences)

Anthropology

Acacia (28 Occurrences)

Sigh (18 Occurrences)

Itself (203 Occurrences)

Aside (416 Occurrences)

Scripture (51 Occurrences)

Immortal (3 Occurrences)

Immortality (6 Occurrences)

Fulfilled (143 Occurrences)

Yes (511 Occurrences)

Wish (141 Occurrences)

Death (1610 Occurrences)

Lay (524 Occurrences)

King (25505 Occurrences)

Numbers (136 Occurrences)

Tabernacle (333 Occurrences)

Anem (1 Occurrence)

Christ (573 Occurrences)

Morsels
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