Greek · G2889 · unreviewed

κόσμος

World

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κόσμος G2889

Pronunciation kósmos

What does κόσμος (kósmos) mean in the Bible?

κόσμος (kósmos) is a Greek word meaning "world". κόσμος, -ου, ὁ [in LXX: Gen. Represents organized rebellion against Christ. This term runs through the canonical themes of Creation, Faith, Messiah.

Full entry for κόσμος (G2889) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

world

Extended definition

The world as an ordered system, but especially the realm of human affairs hostile to God's kingdom.

1order (Hom., Plat., al.).

2ornament, adornment, esp. of women (Hom., al.): 1Pe.3:3.

3Later, the world or universe, as an ordered system (Plat., al.): Act.17:24, Rom.4:13, 1Co.3:22, Php.2:15, Heb.4:3, al.

4In late writers only, the world, i.e. the earth (= ἡ οἰκουμένη, cf. Mat.4:8 with Luk.4:5): Mat.4:8, Mrk.16:[15], Col.2:20, 1Ti.6:7, al.; hence by meton.,

aof the human inhabitants of the world: Mat.5:14 15:38, Mrk.14:9, Jhn.1:10 4:42 12:47, Rom.3:6, 1Co.4:13, 2Co.5:19, 2Pe.2:5, al.;

bof worldly affairs or possessions: Mat.16:26, Mrk.8:36, Luk.9:25, 1Co.7:31, 1Jn.2:16, al.; __(with) in ethical sense, of the ungodly: Jhn.7:7 14:17, 27 1Co.1:21, Jas.1:27, 1Jn.4:4, al.;

dmetaphorically: ὁ κ. τῆς ἀδικίας, Jas.3:6.

Synonymsαἰών, which see (cf . also Dalman, Words, 162ff.; Tr., Syn., §lix; Westc., additional note on Jhn.1:10; DB, iv, 938ff.).

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith

Why This Word Matters

Represents organized rebellion against Christ. 1 John 2:1-2

Sphere of hostility from which believers are distinct. 1 John 2:15-17

Identifies the source of hostility toward believers. 1 John 5:1-5

Expands the scope of salvation beyond Israel. 1 John 5:18-21

Represents the hostile fallen order opposed to Christ. James 4:1–6

Clarifies that worldliness reflects alignment with values contrary to God. John 15:18–27

Represents the fallen value structure that competes with loyalty to the Father.

John highlights the expansive sufficiency of Christ’s atoning work, guarding against a narrow or ethnically restricted understanding of the gospel.

Understanding this term prevents confusion between rejecting sinful systems and rejecting God’s good creation.

Faith empowers believers to resist and overcome worldly opposition and values.

Believers’ identity contrasts sharply with the world’s spiritual condition.

Grammatical Forms

How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.

Nominative · Singular · Masculine Matt 13:38 · John 1:10 · John 3:17 · John 7:7 · John 12:19 · John 14:17 · John 14:19 · John 14:27 · John 14:31 · John 15:18 · John 15:19 · John 16:20 · John 17:14 · John 17:21 · John 17:23 · John 17:25 32×

Genitive · Singular · Masculine Matt 4:8 · Matt 5:14 · Matt 24:21 · Matt 25:34 · Luke 11:50 · Luke 12:30 · John 1:29 · John 4:42 · John 6:51 · John 8:12 · John 8:23 · John 9:5 · John 11:9 · John 12:31 · John 13:1 · John 14:30 71×

Dative · Singular · Masculine Matt 18:7 · Matt 26:13 · John 1:10 · John 6:33 · John 7:4 · John 9:5 · John 12:25 · John 13:1 · John 14:22 · John 16:33 · John 17:11 · John 17:13 · John 18:20 · Rom 1:8 · Rom 5:13 · 1 Cor 4:9 36×

Accusative · Singular · Masculine Matt 16:26 · Mark 8:36 · Mark 14:9 · Mark 16:15 · Luke 9:25 · John 1:9 · John 3:16 · John 3:17 · John 3:19 · John 6:14 · John 8:26 · John 9:39 · John 10:36 · John 11:27 · John 12:46 · John 12:47 46×

Canonical Themes

Creation Faith Messiah Redemption

Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

New Testament Witnesses

1 John 2:1-2 world kósmos

Humanity in its breadth, often viewed in its fallen condition.

1 John 2:15-17 world kósmos

The organized system of humanity in rebellion against God, marked by values and desires opposed to His will.

1 John 5:1-5 world kósmos

The organized system in rebellion against God.

1 John 5:18-21 world kósmos

The organized system opposed to God.

James 4:1–6 κόσμος kósmos

world system opposed to God

John 15:18–27 κόσμος kósmos Nominative · Singular · Masculine

world system opposed to God

Additional Occurrences

1-john World kósmos

the organized system opposed to God

John 15:12-27 κόσμος kósmos

world system opposed to God

Appears In

Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

Galatians 6 — Boasting Only in the Cross: Spirit-Shaped Community and New Creation John 11 — The Resurrection and the Life, the Raising of Lazarus, and the Plot to Kill Jesus John 12 — The Anointed King, the Lifted-Up Son of Man, and the Hour of Glory John 13 — The Servant-Lord, the Washed Disciples, and the New Command of Love John 14 — The Way, the Truth, and the Life, the Father Revealed in the Son, and the Promise of the Spirit John 15 — The True Vine, Abiding Fruitfulness, Christlike Love, and the World’s Hatred John 16 — The Spirit’s Convicting Witness, the Disciples’ Sorrow Turned to Joy, and Christ’s Victory over the World John 17 — The Son’s High Priestly Prayer: Glory, Preservation, Sanctification, Unity, Mission, and Love John 18 — The Arrested King: Betrayal, Sovereign Surrender, Denial, Trial, and the Kingdom Not of This World John 21 — The Risen Lord Restores, Commissions, Shepherds, and Testifies through His Witness John 3 — New Birth, Lifted-Up Son, and the Love of God for the World John 4 — Living Water, True Worship, and the Savior of the World John 7 — The Feast, the Divided Crowd, and the Living Water of Jesus John 8 — The Light of the World, True Freedom, and the I AM Before Abraham John 9 — The Man Born Blind, the Light of the World, and the Blindness of Religious Unbelief Mark 8 — Seeing Jesus Clearly: Bread, Blindness, Confession, Cross, and Discipleship Matthew 13 — The Kingdom in Parables: Hearing, Hiddenness, Growth, Worth, and Judgment Matthew 16 — The Confession of the Christ, the Church Christ Builds, and the Cross-Shaped Way of Discipleship Matthew 18 — Kingdom Humility, Care for the Little Ones, Discipline, and Forgiveness in Christ’s Community Matthew 25 — Readiness, Stewardship, and the Final Judgment of the Son of Man Matthew 4 — The Tested Son, the Kingdom Proclaimed, and the First Disciples Called

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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