Reference: Flesh
American
The substance of which the bodies of men and animals are composed. In the Bible, besides the ordinary sense, Job 33:25, it denotes mankind as a race, Ge 6:12; Ps 145:21; Isa 40:5-6; and all living creatures on the earth, Ge 6:17,19. It is often used in opposition to "spirit," as we use body and soul, Job 14:22; and sometimes means the body as animated and sensitive, Mt 26:41, and the seat of bodily appetites, Pr 5:11; 2Co 7:1. In the New Testament, "flesh" is very often used to designate the bodily appetites, propensities, and passions, which draw men away from yielding themselves to the Lord and to the things of the Spirit. The flesh, or carnal principle, is opposed to the spirit, or spiritual principle, Ro 8; Ga 5:17.
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And God looked upon the earth, and lo it was corrupt: for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
For behold, I will bring in a flood of water upon the earth to destroy all flesh from under heaven, wherein breath of life is, so that all that is in the earth shall perish.
"And of all that liveth, whatsoever flesh it be, shalt thou bring into the ark, of every thing a pair, to keep them alive with thee.
While he liveth, his flesh must have travail: And while the soul is in him, he must be in sorrow."
Then his flesh, which hath been in misery and trouble, shall be as it was in his youth.
My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD; and let all flesh give thanks unto his holy name for ever and ever. Praise the everlasting! Hallelujah!
For the glory of the LORD shall appear, and all flesh shall at once see it. For why? The mouth of the LORD hath spoken it." The same voice spake, "Now cry." And I said, "What shall I cry?" Then spake it, "That all flesh is grass, and that all the beauty thereof, is as the flower of the field.
Watch and pray, that ye fall not into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."
For the flesh lusteth contrary to the spirit, and the spirit contrary to the flesh. These are contrary one to the other, so that ye cannot do that which ye would.
Easton
in the Old Testament denotes (1) a particular part of the body of man and animals (Ge 2:21; 41:2; Ps 102:5, marg.); (2) the whole body (Ps 16:9); (3) all living things having flesh, and particularly humanity as a whole (Ge 6:12-13); (4) mutability and weakness (2Ch 32:8; comp. Isa 31:3; Ps 78:39). As suggesting the idea of softness it is used in the expression "heart of flesh" (Eze 11:19). The expression "my flesh and bone" (Jg 9:2; Isa 58:7) denotes relationship.
In the New Testament, besides these it is also used to denote the sinful element of human nature as opposed to the "Spirit" (Ro 6:19; Mt 16:17). Being "in the flesh" means being unrenewed (Ro 7:5; 8:8-9), and to live "according to the flesh" is to live and act sinfully (Ro 8:4-5,7,12).
This word also denotes the human nature of Christ (Joh 1:14, "The Word was made flesh." Comp. also 1Ti 3:16; Ro 1:3).
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Then the LORD God cast a slumber on Adam, and he slept. And then he took out one of his ribs, and in stead thereof he filled up the place with flesh.
And God looked upon the earth, and lo it was corrupt: for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. Then said God to Noah, "The end of all flesh is come before me, for the earth is full of their mischief. And lo, I will destroy them with the earth.
and that there came out of the river seven goodly cows and fat fleshed, and fed in a meadow.
"Say, I pray you, in the ears of all the inhabiters of Shechem: whether is better for you that all the sons of Jerubbaal which are seventy persons reign over you, either that one reign over you. And remember thereto, that I am your bones and your flesh."
With him is an arm of flesh: But with us is the LORD our God for to help us and to fight our battles!" And the people were well couraged with the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
Wherefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth; my flesh also shall rest in hope.
For he considered that they were but flesh; even a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.
Now the Egyptians are men, and not God, and their horses flesh, and not spirit. And as soon as the LORD stretcheth out his hand: then shall the helper fall, and he that should have been helped, and they shall all together be destroyed.
Yea, and to break the bread to the hungry; and to bring the poor that are harborless unto house; and when thou seest a naked, that thou clothe him and that thou shouldest withdraw thyself from helping thine own flesh?
And I will give you one heart, and will plant a new spirit within your bowels. That stony heart will I take out of your body, and give you a fleshly heart:
And Jesus answered, and said to him, "Happy art thou, Simon the son of Jonas, for flesh and blood hath not opened unto thee that, but my father which is in heaven.
And the word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw the glory of it, as the glory of the only begotten son of the father, which word was full of grace, and verity.
that make mention of his son, the which was begotten unto him of the seed of David, as pertaining to the flesh:
I will speak grossly because of the infirmity of your flesh. As ye have given your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity, from iniquity unto iniquity: even so now give your members servants unto righteousness, that ye may be sanctified.
For when we were in the flesh, the lusts of sin which were stirred up by the law, reigned in our members, to bring forth fruit unto death.
that the righteousness required of the law might be fulfilled in us, which walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit. For they that are carnal, are carnally minded; But they that are spiritual are spiritually minded.
because that the fleshly mind is enmity against God: For it is not obedient to the law of God, neither can be. So then, they that are given to the flesh, cannot please God. read more. But ye are not given to the flesh; But to the spirit: If so be that the spirit of God dwell in you. If there be any man that hath not the spirit of Christ, the same is none of his.
Therefore, brethren, we are now debtors; not to the flesh, to live after the flesh:
And without nay, great is that mystery of godliness. God was showed in the flesh, was justified in the spirit, was seen of angels, was preached unto the gentiles, was believed on in earth and received up in glory.
Fausets
In an ethical sense opposed to "the spirit." Ge 6:3, "for that lie also (even the race of godly Seth) (is become) flesh (carnal)." When the salt of the church has lost its savor, the whole mass is corrupt and ripe for judgment. 1Co 1:26, "wise after the flesh," i.e. with wisdom acquired by mere human study without the Spirit. Contrast Mt 16:17; 26:41. Not the body, which is not in itself sinful; it was through thinking it so that Gnostic ascetics mortified it by austerities, while all the while their seeming neglecting of the body was pampering "the flesh" (Col 2:21-23). "The flesh" is the natural man, including the unrenewed will and mind, moving in the world of self and sense only.
Self imposed ordinances gratify the flesh (i.e. self) while seemingly mortifying it. "Trouble in the flesh" is in their outward state, namely, through the present distress (1Co 7:28). So Joh 6:63, "it is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing; the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and are life." Not the outward flesh, but the word of Christ, is what gives life. So Peter understood Christ, as his reply shows: "Thou hast the words of eternal life." "To know Christ after the flesh" (2Co 5:16) means to know Him in His mere outward worldly relations, with a view to "glorying" in them (Joh 8:15; Php 3:3-10); as Judaizing Christians prided themselves on the fleshly advantage of belonging to Israel, the nation of Christ, or on having seen Him in the flesh, as a ground of superiority over others (2Co 11:18; 10:7).
Contrasted with knowing Him spiritually as new creatures (2Co 5:12,15,17). Outward rebellions toward Him profit nothing (Lu 8:19-21; Joh 16:7,22; Mt 7:22-23). All outward distinctions are lost sight of in experiment, ally knowing Him in His new resurrection life (Ga 2:6,20; 3:28; Ro 6:9-11; 1Co 15:45; 1Pe 3:18; 4:1-2); disproving both Mariolatry and transubstantiation. In Ro 4:1, "what hath Abraham found, as pertaining to the flesh?" i.e. as respects carnal ordinances (circumcision). "All flesh," i.e. all men (Lu 3:2; Joh 17:2).
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And the LORD said, "My spirit shall not always strive with man, for they are flesh. Nevertheless I will give them yet space, a hundred and twenty years."
Many will say to me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not in thy name prophesied? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name have done many miracles?' And then will I knowledge unto them, that I never knew them: 'Depart from me, ye workers of iniquity.'
And Jesus answered, and said to him, "Happy art thou, Simon the son of Jonas, for flesh and blood hath not opened unto thee that, but my father which is in heaven.
Watch and pray, that ye fall not into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."
When Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests: The word of God came unto John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness.
Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for press. And they told him, saying, "Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, and would see thee." read more. He answered, and said unto them, "My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it."
It is the spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing. The words that I speak unto you are spirit and life.
Ye judge after the flesh. I judge no man.
"Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is expedient for you that I go away. For if I go not away, that comforter will not come unto you. But if I depart, I will send him unto you.
And ye now are in sorrow: but I will see you again, and your hearts shall rejoice, and your joy shall no man take from you.
As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
What shall we say, then, that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, did find?
remembering that Christ, once raised from death, dieth no more. Death hath no more power over him. For as touching that he died, he died as concerning sin once. And as touching that he liveth, he liveth unto God. read more. Likewise, imagine ye also, that ye are dead concerning sin: but are alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Brethren, look on your calling how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many of high degree are called:
But and if thou take a wife, thou sinnest not. Likewise if a virgin marry, she sinneth not. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in their flesh: but I saver you.
We praise not ourselves again unto you, but give you an occasion to rejoice of us, that ye may have somewhat against them, which rejoice in the face, and not in the heart.
and that he died for all, because that they which live, should not henceforth live unto themselves: but unto him which died for them and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh. Insomuch that though we have known Christ after the flesh, now henceforth know we him so no more. read more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away: behold, all things are become new.
Look ye on things after the outer appearance? If any man trust in himself that he is Christ's, let the same also consider of himself, that as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.
Of them which seemed to be great - what they were in time passed it maketh no matter to me: God looketh on no man's person - nevertheless they seemed great, added nothing to me:
I am crucified with Christ. I live verily, yet now not I, but Christ liveth in me. For the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the son of God, which loved me, and gave himself for me.
Now is there no Jew, neither gentile, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither man nor woman: but ye are all one thing in Christ Jesus.
For we are circumcision which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh: though I have whereof I might rejoice in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, much more I: read more. circumcised the eighth day, of the kindred of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew born of the Hebrews; as concerning the law, a Pharisee, and as concerning ferventness I persecuted the congregation, and as touching the righteousness which is in the law, I was unrebukable. But the things that were vantage unto me I counted loss for Christ's sake. Yea I think all things but loss for that excellent knowledge's sake of Christ Jesus my Lord. For whom I have counted all thing loss, and do judge them but dung, that I might win Christ, and might be found in him, not having mine own righteousness which is of the law: But that which springeth of the faith which is in Christ. I mean, the righteousness which cometh of God through faith in knowing him, and the virtue of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his passions, that I might be conformable unto his death,
"Touch not; Taste not; Handle not:" which all perish with the using of them, and are after the commandments, and doctrines of men: read more. which things have the similitude of wisdom in chosen holiness, and humbleness, and in that they spare not the body - and do the flesh no worship unto his need.
Hastings
This word is used in Scripture to express: (1) the substance of the animal body, whether of man or of beast (Ge 41:2). (2) The whole human body (Ex 4:7). (3) Relationship by birth or marriage (Ge 2:24; 37:27; Ne 5:5), for which also the further phrase 'flesh and bones' is found (Ge 2:23; 2Sa 19:12)
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Then said Adam, "This is once bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh. This shall be called woman: because she was taken of the man." For this cause shall a man leave father and mother and cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh.
And all flesh that moved on the earth, both birds, cattle and beasts, perished; with all that crept on the earth, and all men:
Come on, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hands be defiled upon him: for he is our brother and our flesh." And his brethren were content.
and that there came out of the river seven goodly cows and fat fleshed, and fed in a meadow.
And he said, "Put thine hand into thy bosom again." And he put his hand into his bosom again, and plucked it out of his bosom, and behold, it was turned again as his other flesh.
Now are our brethrens' bodies as our own bodies and their children as our children: else should we subdue our sons and daughters into bondage, and some of our daughters are subdued already, and no strength is there in our hands, and other men shall have our lands and vineyards."
that I shall be clothed again with this skin, and see God in my flesh.
All flesh shall come together unto naught, and all men shall turn again unto earth.
{A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah} O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee. My soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh also longeth after thee, in a barren and dry land where no water is.
My flesh and my heart faileth; but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever.
My soul hath a desire and longing to enter into the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God.
Now the Egyptians are men, and not God, and their horses flesh, and not spirit. And as soon as the LORD stretcheth out his hand: then shall the helper fall, and he that should have been helped, and they shall all together be destroyed.
The same voice spake, "Now cry." And I said, "What shall I cry?" Then spake it, "That all flesh is grass, and that all the beauty thereof, is as the flower of the field. When the grass is withered, the flower falleth away. Even so is the people as grass, when the breath of the LORD bloweth upon them. read more. Nevertheless whether the grass wither, or the flower fade away: Yet the word of our God endureth forever."
After this, will I pour out my spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy: your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.
Watch and pray, that ye fall not into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."
Behold my hands and my feet: that it is even I myself. Handle me and see. For spirits have not flesh and bones, as ye see me have."
which were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh, nor yet of the will of man: but of God. And the word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw the glory of it, as the glory of the only begotten son of the father, which word was full of grace, and verity.
that make mention of his son, the which was begotten unto him of the seed of David, as pertaining to the flesh:
that make mention of his son, the which was begotten unto him of the seed of David, as pertaining to the flesh: and declared to be the son of God with power of the holy ghost, that sanctifieth, since the time that Jesus Christ our Lord rose again from death:
For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin:
I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord: So then I myself in my mind serve the law of God, and in my flesh the law of sin.
For what the law could not do, inasmuch as it was weak because of the flesh - that performed God, and sent his son in the similitude of sinful flesh, and by sin damned sin in the flesh; that the righteousness required of the law might be fulfilled in us, which walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit.
It is sown a natural body, and riseth a spiritual body. There is a natural body and there is a spiritual body. As it is written, "The first man Adam was made a living soul," and the last Adam was made a quickening spirit: read more. Howbeit, that is not first which is spiritual: but that which is natural, and then that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: The second man is the Lord, from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they that are earthy: And as is the heavenly, such are they that are heavenly. And as we have born the image of the earthy, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly. This say I brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Neither doth corruption inherit uncorruption.
This say I brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Neither doth corruption inherit uncorruption.
Seeing that we have such promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, and grow up to full holiness in the fear of God.
I am crucified with Christ. I live verily, yet now not I, but Christ liveth in me. For the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the son of God, which loved me, and gave himself for me.
I say, walk in the spirit, and fulfil not the lusts of the flesh.
idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, lawing, zeal, wrath, strife, sedition, sects,
among which we also had our conversation in time past, in the lusts of our flesh, and fulfilled the will of the flesh, and of the mind: and were naturally the children of wrath, even as well as others.
Let no man make you shoot at a wrong mark, which after his own imagination walketh in the humbleness and holiness of angels, things which he never saw: causeless, puffed up with his fleshly mind,
If ye be then risen again with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the righthand of God.
The very God of peace sanctify you throughout. And I pray God that your whole spirit, soul, and body, be kept faultless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Forasmuch, then, as the children were partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part with them, for to put down through death him that had lordship over death: that is to say, the devil.
Morish
????. This term is used in various senses in scripture. The principal are
1. The estate of man: "all flesh shall see the salvation of God," Lu 3:6; "the Word became flesh." Joh 1:14.
2. The material part of man and of animals: "all flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts." 1Co 15:39.
3. The same kindred: "thou art my bone and my flesh," Ge 29:14; "he is our brother, and our flesh." Ge 37:27.
4. Union: "they shall be one flesh," Ge 2:24; Eph 5:29-31.
5. Man's nature, but corrupted by sin: "that which is born of the flesh is flesh," Joh 3:6; "sinful flesh," Ro 8:3.
6. The state which characterises man before knowing deliverance: Rom. 7, Ro 8:8-9.
7. Though no longer the state of the Christian, yet the flesh is in him, and is antagonistic to the Spirit, "the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye should not do the things that ye would." Ga 5:17. Thus the Spirit resists in the Christian the accomplishment of the lusts of the flesh.
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For this cause shall a man leave father and mother and cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh.
And then Laban said, "Well, thou art my bone and my flesh. Abide with me the space of a month."
Come on, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hands be defiled upon him: for he is our brother and our flesh." And his brethren were content.
And all flesh shall see the saviour sent of God."
And the word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw the glory of it, as the glory of the only begotten son of the father, which word was full of grace, and verity.
That which is born of the flesh, is flesh. And that which is born of the spirit, is spirit.
For what the law could not do, inasmuch as it was weak because of the flesh - that performed God, and sent his son in the similitude of sinful flesh, and by sin damned sin in the flesh;
So then, they that are given to the flesh, cannot please God. But ye are not given to the flesh; But to the spirit: If so be that the spirit of God dwell in you. If there be any man that hath not the spirit of Christ, the same is none of his.
All flesh is not one manner of flesh: but there is one manner flesh of men, another manner flesh of beasts, another manner flesh of fishes, and another of birds.
For the flesh lusteth contrary to the spirit, and the spirit contrary to the flesh. These are contrary one to the other, so that ye cannot do that which ye would.
For no man ever yet, hated his own flesh; but nourisheth, and cherisheth it: even as the Lord doth the congregation. For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. read more. "For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall continue with his wife, and two shall be made one flesh."
Smith
Flesh.
[FLOOD]
See Flood
Watsons
FLESH, a term of very ambiguous import in the Scriptures. An eminent critic has enumerated no less than six different meanings which it bears in the sacred writings, and for which, he affirms, there will not be found a single authority in any profane writer:
1. It sometimes denotes the whole body considered as animated, as in Mt 26:41, "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."
2. It sometimes means a human being, as in Lu 3:6, "All flesh shall see the salvation of God."
3. Sometimes a person's kindred collectively considered, as in Ro 11:14, "If by any means I may provoke them which are my flesh."
4. Sometimes any thing of an external or ceremonial nature, as opposed to that which is internal and moral, as in Ga 3:3, "Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect in the flesh?"
5. The sensitive part of our nature, or that which is the seat of appetite, as in 2Co 7:1, "Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit;" where there can be no doubt that the pollutions of the flesh must be those of the appetites, being opposed to the pollutions of the spirit, or those of the passions. 6. It is employed to denote any principle of vice and moral pravity of whatever kind. Thus among the works of the flesh, Ga 5:19-21, are numbered not only adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, drunkenness, and revellings, which all relate to criminal indulgence of appetite, but idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, and murders, which are manifestly vices of a different kind, and partake more of the diabolical nature than of the beastly.
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Watch and pray, that ye fall not into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."
And all flesh shall see the saviour sent of God."
that I might provoke them which are my flesh: and might save some of them.
Seeing that we have such promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, and grow up to full holiness in the fear of God.
Are ye so unwise, that after ye have begun in the spirit, ye would now end in the flesh?
The deeds of the flesh are manifest, which are these: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, wantonness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, lawing, zeal, wrath, strife, sedition, sects, read more. envying, murder, drunkenness, gluttony, and such like. Of the which I tell you before, as I have told you in time past, that they which commit such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.