Quick Definition
σήπω v. I cause to rot
Strong's Definition
apparently a primary verb; to putrefy, i.e. (figuratively) perish
KJV Usage: be corrupted
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | pf. σέσηπα | σαπρός
23.205 · Physiological Processes and States · Rot, Decay
to rot, to decay, decay to rot or decay, in reference to organic matter There may be problems involved in a literal rendering of JAS 5:2 because it may seem strange to speak of ‘riches rotting,’ since a term for ‘riches’ is likely to refer primarily to money. It may therefore be necessary to translate ‘the things that make you rich’ or ‘all the things you have as a rich person.’
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
σήπω: fr. Hom. down; to make corrupt; in the Bible also to destroy, Job xl. 7 (12); pass. to become corrupt or rotten; 2 pf. act. σέσηπα, to (have become i. e. to) be corrupted (cf. Bttm. Ausf. Spr. ii. p. 82): ὁ πλοῦτος σέσηπεν, has perished, Jas. v. 2.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
σήπω sēpō 1x
to cause to putrify, rot, be corrupted or rotten, Jas. 5:2*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
σήπω
[in LXX; Ps 37 (38):5 (מקק ni.), Jb 33:21 (כּלה) 40:7, Si 14:19, al. ;]
to make corrupt: 2 pf. act, with mid, sense (v. M, Pr., 154), σέσηπεν, has perished, become corrupted, Ja 5:2.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
σήπω, “make to rot.” The verb is found in the NT only in Jas 55 in 2™4 perf. act. with an intrans. sense ‘fam rotten” (cf. Proleg. p. 154): cf. P Oxy X. 12941 (ii/iii A.D.) μελη]σάτω δέ σοι τῶν ἐν TO χειλώματι ἵνα μὴ cay, “take care of the things in the box lest they rot’ (Edd.), 76. XII. 14495! (A.D. 213-17) τὰ δὲ ἱμάτια mavt(a) ἀπὸ τίοῦ) Xpd(vov) σεση(μμένα) ἄχρηστί(α), ‘‘and all the clothing decayed with age and useless” (Edd.), and the late P Amh 11. 15319 (vi/vii A.D.) ἵνα ὃ θεὸς σήψῃ τὴν ψυχήν cov ὡς διέσηψάς με εἰς τὴν κατ[α]γραφὴν ταύτην, ‘‘may God destroy your soul if you destroy me in the matter of this register ’’ (Edd.). For the subst. cf. BGU IV. 11167° (B.c. 13) πλὴν τριβῆς καὶ σήψεως, and the quotation from Photius Azb/zotheca p- 513%® (cited by Deissmann 7.4.5 p. 98) οἱ yap κόκκοι μετὰ τὴν ἐκ σήψεως νέκρωσιν καὶ φθορὰν ἀναζῶσι, “ for the seeds come to life again after death and destruction by decay.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
σήπω (sēpō) — to rot. σήπω, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: future σήψω [Refs 4th c.BC+]aorist ἔσηψα (δι-) [Refs 2nd c.AD+]:—make rotten or putrid, [Refs 4th c.BC+].with; of a serpent's poison, [Refs 4th c.BC+].with; of the sting of the σήψ, [Refs 2nd c.AD+] __b soak hides, δέρματα σ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]
2. metaphorically, corrupt, waste, αἱ ἡσυχίαι σήπουσι καὶ ἀπολλύασι [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II. mostly in passive (perfect σέσηπα being used in passive sense, [Refs 8th c.BC+], future σᾰπήσομαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]aorist ἐσάπην [ᾰ] [Refs 8th c.BC+]; σαπήῃ (κατα-), Epic dialect subjunctive for σαπῇ, [Refs 8th c.BC+]perfect σέσημμαι probably in [Refs 3rd c.AD+]:—rot, moulder, of dead bodies, χρὼς σήπεται [Refs 8th c.BC+]; of wood, δοῦρα σέσηπε [Refs 8th c.BC+]
II.2. of live flesh, mortify, ὁ μηρὸς ἐσάπη [Refs 5th c.BC+]; promote coction or formation of 'laudable' pus, in active, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.3. of water, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.4. of the food rejected after digestion, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
II.5. metaphorically, σ. ὑπὸ τῆς ἡδονῆς [NT+4th c.BC+]