ESTUDIO DE LA PALABRA GRIEGA
Kósmos — Meaning and Usage in the Bible
κόσμος (kósmos) can mean order, adornment, the ordered world, its inhabitants, worldly possessions, or the ungodly moral order.
Significado de la palabra
The basic sense is an orderly arrangement, from which κόσμος can denote the world or universe as an ordered system. It may also mean ornament or adornment, especially personal decoration, as reflected in the KJV usage “adorning, world.”
The term can refer to the earth, the human inhabitants of the world, or worldly affairs and possessions. Its meaning is determined by the surrounding context: the whole world is a place of proclamation in Matthew 24:14, while gaining it can mean acquiring all its goods at great cost in Matthew 16:26.
Uso en las Escrituras
In Matthew 4:8, κόσμος denotes the world of kingdoms and their glory; in Matthew 5:14, believers are called the light of the world, and in Matthew 13:38 the field represents the world. These uses show the term extending from the created order to the people living within it.
The word can also mark a moral or spiritual conflict. Matthew 18:7 speaks of woe coming upon the world because of stumbling, while Matthew 24:21 describes tribulation from the beginning of the world and Matthew 25:34 speaks of the kingdom prepared from its foundation. Thus readers should consider whether κόσμος means the physical world, its inhabitants, possessions, or an ungodly order opposed to God.
La palabra en detalle
- G2889 κόσμος is a flexible noun meaning an orderly arrangement, ornament, the world or universe, its inhabitants, worldly affairs or possessions, and, in ethical usage, the ungodly order opposed to God.
Versículos de ejemplo
- Matthew 4:8 Here κόσμος denotes the world of kingdoms and their displayed glory.
- Matthew 5:14 The world includes the people to whom believers are called to be light.
- Matthew 16:26 Gaining the whole world refers to obtaining all worldly goods, contrasted with losing one’s life.
- Matthew 24:21 The phrase points to the world’s history or ordered realm from its beginning.
Preguntas frecuentes
What does κόσμος mean in the Bible?
It can mean an orderly arrangement, the world or universe, its inhabitants, worldly possessions, or an ungodly moral order, depending on context.
Does κόσμος always refer to the physical world?
No. It can refer to people, possessions, the course or history of the world, and metaphorically an ungodly order opposed to God.
How is κόσμος used in Matthew 5:14?
It refers to the inhabited world, whose people are to see the light of believers.