In this perspective, we discuss the cytoplasm in actively growing bacterial cells contrasted with viable but nonculturable (VBNC) cells. Actively growing bacterial cells contain a more molecularly crowded and organized cytoplasm, and are capable of completing their cell cycle resulting in cell division. In contrast, nutrient starving bacteria in the physiological VBNC state are struggling to survive, as essential nutrients are not available or limiting. The cytoplasm is not as molecularly crowded as gene expression is minimal (e.g., ribosome, transcript, tRNA and protein numbers are decreased), energy pools are depleted, cells may exhibit leakage, and DNA is not being replicated for cell division.