dead
nekros denotes those who have died, and can describe a figurative state contrasted with being made alive.
The term most often designates persons who have died, especially in clauses about resurrection, being raised, or judgment of the living and the dead. It also describes figurative deadness: people in trespasses, faith without works, works called dead, and the lost son before his return.
Senses in use
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Those who have died · dominant
Plural masculine forms repeatedly occur in resurrection language: in 1 Corinthians 15:52 the APB renders the clause, "the dead will be raised incorruptible," while 1 Corinthians 15:35 asks how they are raised and with what body they come. The same usage includes Christ being raised from among them in Acts 13:30 and the living and dead set together for judgment in 1 Peter 4:5; Acts 20:9 also uses the singular masculine form for Eutychus after his fall.
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Figurative deadness or lifelessness · occasional
The term is applied beyond deceased persons: in Ephesians 2:1 and Colossians 2:13, accusative plural masculine forms describe people in trespasses before God made them alive. In James 2:17 and James 2:26, nominative forms describe faith without works as dead; Hebrews 6:1 speaks of "dead works," and Luke 15:24 applies the singular masculine form to the son who "was dead and came to life."
In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB commonly presents the term with "dead" in resurrection, death, judgment, and figurative-life clauses, such as "the dead will be raised" in 1 Corinthians 15:52 and "dead in your trespasses" in Ephesians 2:1. Its wording confirms the verse-level contrast but does not establish a separate English rendering for every occurrence.