Greek word · Strong's G4983

σῶμα

sōma · noun · “body”

In a sentence

Sōma means body — the physical body God made, redeems, and will raise. Paul also uses it for the church as the body of Christ.

Sōma is the body — created good, fallen, redeemed, and to be raised. The New Testament will not split body from soul: God saves whole people, body included.

Paul also stretches the word to a beautiful new use: the church is the sōma of Christ, many members serving the same head. Christianity is therefore deeply embodied — at communion, in service, and finally at the resurrection of the sōma.

Strong's reference

Definition: the body (as a sound whole), used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively

KJV usage: bodily, body, slave

Reference gloss from Strong's Concordance (1890, public domain).

Key verses BSB · Public Domain (CC0)

1 Corinthians 12:12 “The body is a unit, though it is composed of many parts. And although its parts are many, they all form one body. So it is with Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:44 “It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.” Romans 12:1 “Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”

Original BibleDawn word study. Original-language data and the public-domain Strong's (1890) gloss are referenced; see sources.