Original Word: φυσιόω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: phusioó
Pronunciation: foo-see-o'-o
Phonetic Spelling: (foo-see-o'-o)
KJV: puff up
NASB: arrogant, inflated, makes arrogant
Word Origin: [from G5449 (φύσις - nature) in the primary sense of blowing]

1. to inflate
2. (figuratively) make proud (haughty)

puff up.

From phusis in the primary sense of blowing; to inflate, i.e. (figuratively) make proud (haughty) -- puff up.

see GREEK phusis

5448 physióō (from physa, "air-bellows") – properly, inflate by blowing; (figuratively) swelled up, like an egotistical person spuing out arrogant ("puffed-up") thoughts.

Word Origin
from phusa (bellows)
Definition
to puff or blow up
NASB Translation
arrogant (5), inflated (1), makes arrogant (1).STRONGS NT 5448: φυσιόω

φυσιόω, φυσιω; passive, present φυσιοῦμαι; perfect participle πεφυσιωμενος; 1 aorist ἐφυσιωθην;

1. (from φύσις), to make natural, to cause a thing to pass into nature (Clement of Alexandria; Simplicius).

2. equivalent to φυσάω, φυσιάω (from φῦσα a pair of bellows), to inflate, blow up, blow out, to cause to swell up; tropically, to puff up, make proud: 1 Corinthians 8:1; passive, to be puffed up, to bear oneself loftily, be proud: 1 Corinthians 4:18; 1 Corinthians 5:2; 1 Corinthians 13:4; ὑπό τοῦ νως τῆς σαρκός αὐτοῦ, Colossians 2:18; ὑπέρ τίνος (see ὑπέρ, I. 2 (and cf. 5)) κατά τίνος, 1 Corinthians 4:6 (see ἵνα, II. 1 d.). (Ecclesiastical and Byzantine writings.)

Conceptual Meaning

The verb conveys the image of a bellows filling with air—an outward swelling without corresponding substance. In Scripture it depicts the interior attitude of self-inflation that breeds rivalry, presumption, or contempt toward others, the very opposite of the humble, self-giving love revealed in Jesus Christ.

Occurrences in the New Testament

1 Corinthians 4:18, 4:19, 5:2, 8:1, 13:4; Colossians 2:18; 1 Corinthians 4:6 (the entire cluster is concentrated in the Corinthian correspondence, with one occurrence in Colossae). Paul repeatedly uses the term to expose attitudes that fracture fellowship and obscure the gospel.

• 1 Corinthians 4:18-19 exposes boastful members who questioned Paul’s apostolic authority: “Some of you have become arrogant….” Their confidence rested in talk, not spiritual power.
• 1 Corinthians 5:2 rebukes the congregation for pride even while tolerating gross immorality. Inflated self-appraisal dulled their grief over sin.
• 1 Corinthians 8:1 contrasts knowledge that “puffs up” with love that “builds up,” warning that correct doctrine divorced from charity replicates the serpent’s original lie that self-exaltation brings life.
• Colossians 2:18 links self-inflation to mystical elitism and angel-worship: an ascetic show masking an “unspiritual mind.”
• 1 Corinthians 13:4 crowns the discussion: “Love is patient, love is kind… it is not proud.” Divine love alone deflates the swollen ego.

Theological Significance

1. Pride as anti-love. Scripture consistently sets pride against covenantal love. When the heart swells with self, there is no room for the neighbor.
2. Pride as anti-truth. Inflation substitutes appearance for reality; therefore it cannot stand before the searching light of God’s word (“Do not go beyond what is written,” 1 Corinthians 4:6).
3. Pride as anti-power. Genuine spiritual power in 1 Corinthians 4:19 is contrasted with empty rhetoric. God’s kingdom advances through cruciform weakness, not self-promotion.

Church Life and Discipline

Paul’s application in 1 Corinthians 5 shows how arrogance can paralyze church discipline. A congregation proud of its tolerance endangers both the offender and the witness of the gospel. The remedy is corporate mourning, decisive action, and restored humility under Christ’s lordship.

False Spirituality and Mysticism

Colossians 2:18 warns that self-inflation may cloak itself in visions, rituals, or special revelations. The measuring rod is the believer’s connection to the Head, Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:19). Detachment from Him produces theological hot air, however impressive the external piety.

Pastoral and Practical Application

• Preaching and teaching must wed knowledge to love. Doctrinal clarity is essential, yet its goal is edification, not personal prestige.
• Leadership evaluation must prioritize Christlike character over charisma. Boasting often masquerades as confidence; humility is the true proof of grace.
• Congregational culture should celebrate mutual service rather than platform-building. Spiritual gifts are given “for the common good,” never for personal inflation.
• Personal devotion ought to include regular self-examination: Where am I inflated? Where do I require the Spirit’s deflation and Christ’s filling?

Historical Reflections

Early church fathers repeatedly echoed Paul’s concern. Chrysostom commented on 1 Corinthians 4 that pride “cuts the sinews of love.” Augustine traced schisms to an overblown estimation of self. The Reformers likewise identified ecclesiastical abuses as products of spiritual arrogance, calling the church back to the simplicity of Christ.

Related Biblical Themes

• The fall of Satan (Isaiah 14:12-15) and of humankind (Genesis 3) share the motif of upward grasping.
• God “opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).
• Jesus’ kenosis (Philippians 2:5-11) provides the antithesis to self-inflation: voluntary self-emptying that leads to exaltation by the Father.

Summary

The New Testament deployment of this verb forms a focused, consistent warning: self-inflated hearts suffocate love, distort truth, and cripple fellowship. The antidote is gospel-shaped humility—receiving all from Christ and giving all for Christ—so that the church may be “built up” rather than “puffed up,” and God alone receives the glory.

εφυσιωθησαν εφυσιώθησάν ἐφυσιώθησάν πεφυσιωμενοι πεφυσιωμένοι πεφυσιωμενων πεφυσιωμένων φυσιοι φυσιοί φυσιοῖ φυσιουμενος φυσιούμενος φυσιουσθε φυσιούσθε φυσιοῦσθε φυσιουται φυσιούται φυσιοῦται ephusiothesan ephusiōthēsan ephysiothesan ephysiōthēsan ephysiṓthesán ephysiṓthēsán pephusiomenoi pephusiōmenoi pephusiomenon pephusiōmenōn pephysiomenoi pephysioménoi pephysiōmenoi pephysiōménoi pephysiomenon pephysioménon pephysiōmenōn pephysiōménōn phusioi phusioumenos phusiousthe phusioutai physioi physioî physioumenos physioúmenos physiousthe physioûsthe physioutai physioûtaiInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts

1 Corinthians 4:6 V-PSM/P-2P
GRK: τοῦ ἑνὸς φυσιοῦσθε κατὰ τοῦ
NAS: one of you will become arrogant in behalf
KJV: one of you be puffed up for
INT: one you be puffed up against the

1 Corinthians 4:18 V-AIP-3P
GRK: πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἐφυσιώθησάν τινες
NAS: some have become arrogant, as though
KJV: Now some are puffed up, as though I
INT: to you were puffed up some

1 Corinthians 4:19 V-RPM/P-GMP
GRK: λόγον τῶν πεφυσιωμένων ἀλλὰ τὴν
NAS: of those who are arrogant but their power.
KJV: the speech of them which are puffed up, but
INT: word of those who are puffed up but the

1 Corinthians 5:2 V-RPM/P-NMP
GRK: καὶ ὑμεῖς πεφυσιωμένοι ἐστέ καὶ
NAS: You have become arrogant and have not mourned
KJV: ye are puffed up, and have
INT: And you puffed up are and

1 Corinthians 8:1 V-PIA-3S
GRK: ἡ γνῶσις φυσιοῖ ἡ δὲ
NAS: Knowledge makes arrogant, but love
KJV: Knowledge puffeth up, but
INT: knowledge puffs up but

1 Corinthians 13:4 V-PIM/P-3S
GRK: περπερεύεται οὐ φυσιοῦται
NAS: does not brag [and] is not arrogant,
KJV: is not puffed up,
INT: is boastful not is puffed up

Colossians 2:18 V-PPM/P-NMS
GRK: ἐμβατεύων εἰκῇ φυσιούμενος ὑπὸ τοῦ
NAS: on [visions] he has seen, inflated without cause
KJV: seen, vainly puffed up by his
INT: detailing vainly puffed up by the

Strong's Greek 5448
7 Occurrences

ἐφυσιώθησάν — 1 Occ.
πεφυσιωμένων — 1 Occ.
πεφυσιωμένοι — 1 Occ.
φυσιοῖ — 1 Occ.
φυσιούμενος — 1 Occ.
φυσιοῦσθε — 1 Occ.
φυσιοῦται — 1 Occ.