ἱλάσκομαι
hiláskomai
G2433 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
to cause to be favorably disposed, to appease or propitiate; in religious contexts, to remove impediment to favor by addressing wrongdoing, often through offerings, rituals, or acts of mercy. In extended usage: to obtain mercy or forgiveness, to turn away potential anger or judgment.
Semantic Range
to appease or propitiate (chiefly of deities), to seek or make favorable, to obtain or show mercy, to atone, to conciliate, to bring about reconciliation, to seek or mediate restoration of favor
Root / Etymology
from ἵλεως (kind, gracious, merciful, propitious), forming a deverbative in -ομαι indicating middle or passive actions. Close in sense to ἱλαστήριον (place or means of propitiation).
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, ἱλάσκομαι means 'to render propitious,' often used of appeasing a deity by offering gifts or prayers, and occurs in epic and tragic literature for making peace with the gods. In the Septuagint (LXX), it frequently translates Hebrew words denoting the act of removing guilt or seeking divine favor, usually through atoning sacrifices. In New Testament contexts (e.g. Luke 18:13, Hebrews 2:17), the term reflects the concept of seeking or accomplishing the restoration of favor with God, occasionally via ritual or intercessory action, but also through entreaty for mercy. English translations often use 'to make atonement,' 'to propitiate,' or 'to be merciful,' but none fully capture the ancient nuance of restoring relational favor through ritual, appeal, or divine initiative. The term differs from ἀφίημι (to forgive, release) in focusing less on the direct removal of wrongdoing and more on the restoration of favor or relationship. The meaning of ἱλάσκομαι should be distinguished from later theological concepts of 'atonement.' The range of the term embraces ritual, supplication, and relational reconciliation, not strictly legal or transactional forgiveness.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
middle voice from the same as ἵλεως; to conciliate, i.e. (transitively) to atone for (sin), or (intransitively) be propitious:--be merciful, make reconciliation for.
Root Family
ἱλάσκομαι (hilaskomai) — to appease, to propitiate, to render favorable
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2433-02 |
ἱλάσθητί | ilastheti | V AOR PASS IMP 2P SG |
be merciful | Be propitiated! | 1 |
G2433-01 |
ἱλάσκεσθαι | ilaskesthai | V PRS PASS INF |
to be propitiated | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2433-02 |
Luke 18:13 | ἱλάσθητί | ilastheti | V AOR PASS IMP 2P SG |
be merciful | Be propitiated! |
G2433-01 |
Hebrews 2:17 | ἱλάσκεσθαι | ilaskesthai | V PRS PASS INF |
to be propitiated |