ἱερός
hierós
G2413 substantive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Sacred, belonging to or connected with what is dedicated to a deity, especially the sphere, objects, or persons set apart for cultic or religious purposes. The term 'ἱερός' indicates intrinsic or formal association with the divine, as in temples, rites, or things commanded or set apart as sacred, rather than indicating moral holiness. Its usage spans to temples, places, objects, days, or persons regarded as consecrated or dedicated to a god or the gods. In extended usage, may refer to something venerable or held in high religious esteem.
Semantic Range
sacred, temple-related, consecrated, ritually set apart, belonging to a god or the cult, venerable
Root / Etymology
Related to the root ἱερ-; the precise Indo-European origin is debated, but it is consistently attested in classical and later Greek as signifying specialized cultic or religious sanctity. No clear derivation from other Greek or Semitic roots has been established.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, 'ἱερός' is one of the most common adjectives used to denote that an object, space, or person is sacred in the sense of set apart for divine use or under divine protection—its meaning is formal or cultic, not primarily ethical. It is regularly applied to temples (τὸ ἱερόν), sacred precincts, sacrificial offerings, or priesthood. In the Septuagint, 'ἱερός' is comparatively rare in direct translation of Hebrew קדושׁ (qadosh, holy) and more often renders terms relating to dedicated or cultic status rather than ethical holiness; the more specific θείος or ὅσιος may express different nuances of divine association (the former more broadly 'divine', the latter 'devout' or 'pious'). In the New Testament, 'ἱερός' typically refers to the temple complex or things or persons associated with its sacred function (e.g., τὸ ἱερόν for the Jerusalem temple), not to moral purity or spiritual holiness—these latter are typically expressed by ἅγιος. English translations with 'holy' sometimes obscure this distinction, as 'holy' in English can connote either ethical or cultic ideas. The term does not generally refer to a property of personal morality but rather to formal sacredness as determined by cultic status or dedication to a god.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of uncertain affinity; sacred:--holy.
Root Family
ἱερός (hieros) — sacred, dedicated to a deity, temple-related, consecrated
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2413-01 |
ἱερὰ | iera | ADJ.S ACC N PL |
holy | sacred things | sacred | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2413-01 |
1 Corinthians 9:13 | ἱερὰ | iera | ADJ.S ACC N PL |
holy things | sacred things | sacred things |
G2413-01 |
2 Timothy 3:15 | ἱερὰ | iera | ADJ.A ACC N PL |
holy | sacred things | sacred |