About use of the word…
flesh in the Bible

This word has various meanings and uses in the Bible.

In the Old Testament, it denotes…

1. literal flesh

   A spirit hath not flesh and bones (Luke 24:39 KJV)

   the non-bony part of the human body

   then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. —Genesis 2:21 NASB

   The man said, “This is now bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.” —Genesis 2:23 NASB

   the non-bony part of animals

   Now the Egyptians are men and not God,
   And their horses are flesh and not spirit… —Isaiah 31:3 NASB

2. humanity as a whole

   God looked on the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth. —Genesis 6:12 NASB

   Then God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence because of them; and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth.” —Genesis 6:13 NASB

3. creatures, including humans

   I am bringing the flood of water upon the earth, to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life, from under heaven; everything that is on the earth shall perish. —Genesis 6:17 NASB

4. different kinds of animals

   And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every kind into the ark… —Genesis 6:19 NASB

5. the whole body

   …my flesh also shall rest in hope… —Psalm 16:9 KJV

6. marriage (“one flesh”)

   For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. —Genesis 2:24 NASB

7. weakness and temporary nature

   With him is only an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD… —2 Chronicles 32:8 NASB

   …He remembered that they were but flesh,
   A wind that passes and does not return. —Psalm 78:39 NASB

8. softness

   …I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh… —Ezek. 11:19 NASB

9. used to denote close family relationship, as in the expression “you’re my flesh and bone”

   …remember that I am your bone and your flesh… —Judges 9:2 NASB)

In the New Testament, it is also used to denote…

• the sinful nature of humans

  I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh… —Romans 6:19 NASB

  Being “in the flesh” means being unrenewed (Romans 7:5; 8:8-9).

  To live “according to the flesh” is to live and act sinfully (Romans 8:4-5, Rom. 8:7, Rom. 8:12).

• incarnation—the Messiah, the God Man

  …The Word [Logos] was made flesh… —John 1:14 KJV)

  …He who was revealed in the flesh… —1 Timothy 3:16 NASB

More information

• carnal
• sin
• fall of man
• Is Jesus Christ really God? Answer (for adults)
• Is Jesus Christ a man, or is he God? Answer (for kids)
• Was Jesus Christ God, manifest in human form? Answer
• Humiliation of Christ
• If Jesus was the Son of God, why did He call Himself the Son of Man? Answer
• If Jesus is God, how could he die? If Jesus died on the cross, then how can he be alive today? Answer
• Could Christ have sinned? Answer
• Mary, the fleshly mother of Jesus