Greek · G48 · unreviewed

ἁγνίζω

To purify

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ἁγνίζω G48
Pronunciation hagnízō

What does ἁγνίζω (hagnízō) mean in the Bible?

ἁγνίζω (hagnízō) is a Greek word meaning "to purify". ἁγνίζω (> ἁγνός), [in LXX always ceremonially, chiefly for קָדַשׁ ;] to purify, cleanse from defilement; __(a) ceremonially: Jhn. Future hope generates active pursuit of holiness rather than passive waiting. This term runs through the canonical themes of Holiness.

Full entry for ἁγνίζω (G48) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to purify
Extended definition

Purify from defilement both ceremonially (ritual cleansing) and morally (spiritual transformation)

to purify, cleanse from defilement;

aceremonially: Jhn.11:55, Act.21:24, 26 24:18;
bmorally: Jas.4:8, 1Pe.1:22, 1Jn.3:3.
Synonymsκαθαρίζω, which see (and see: ἁγνός).
Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith
Why This Word Matters
Future hope generates active pursuit of holiness rather than passive waiting. 1 John 3:1-3
Grammatical Forms

How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.

Tenses
Aorist Perfect Present
Voices
Active Passive
Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose
Aorist Active John 11:55
Imperative command or strong request
Aorist Passive Acts 21:24
Aorist Active Jas 4:8
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality
Aorist Passive Acts 21:26
Perfect Passive Acts 24:18
Perfect Active 1 Pet 1:22
Indicative states a fact or reality
Present Active 1 John 3:3
Discourse Aspect

How this verb appears across 7 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).

Aspect
ongoing 1 imperative 2 subjunctive 1 participle 3
Tense
aorist 4 perfect 2 present 1
Voice
active 4 passive 3
Mood
participle 3 imperative 2 indicative 1 subjunctive 1

Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.

Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)

Canonical Themes
Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources