UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

Sense 1: to die, death

Semantic entry: 23.99

Semantic domains: Physiological Processes and States

Subdomains: Live, Die

Definition: the process of dying

Notes: In a number of languages clear distinctions are made in the use of terms for dying on the basis of the manner or circumstances of death. For example, one term may refer to death primarily as the result of old age, while another term may refer to death caused by sickness, and still other terms may be used for death caused by violence. Careful distinctions must be used in determining the choice of terms based on particular contexts.|In RV JHN 6:50 · LV JHN 6:50 · Read together JHN 6:50 ἀποθνῄσκω must be understood in a spiritual rather than in a strictly literal sense. This bold figurative language is characteristic of the Gospel of John and should not be eliminated, though in some languages a strictly literal translation may be understood only in a literal sense and thus lead to misinterpretation. In some instances, therefore, it may be necessary to suggest the metaphorical significance by translating ‘he will not, as it were, die.’

Sense 2: to face death, to be likely to die

Semantic entry: 23.117

Semantic domains: Physiological Processes and States

Subdomains: Live, Die

Definition: to be in imminent danger of dying

Notes: It would also be possible to render καθ᾽ ἡμέραν ἀποθνῄσκω in RV CO1 15:31 · LV CO1 15:31 · Read together CO1 15:31 as ‘I am in danger of being killed each day.’

Sense 3: to be dead to, to not respond to, to have no part in

Semantic entry: 74.27

Semantic domains: Able, Capable

Definition: (a figurative extension of meaning of ἀποθνῄσκω[a] ‘to die,’ 23.99: ἀποθνῄσκω / 23.99: ἐκψύχω / 23.99: θάνατος / 23.99: θνῄσκω / 23.99: νέκρωσις) to be unable to respond or react to any impulse or desire

Notes: In a number of languages it is extremely difficult to speak of ‘dying to sin.’ In some instances one can preserve the figurative meaning by an expression such as ‘to be like dead as far as desiring to sin’ or ‘to be like a corpse as far as temptations to sin are concerned.’