λουτρόν (G3067) — Greek Lexicon

λουτρόν

loutrón

G3067 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A place or act of washing or bathing, primarily referring to a bath or washing place, and by extension the process or act of ritual or ceremonial washing. In metaphorical or figurative uses, can denote moral or spiritual cleansing, especially in the context of ritual purity or ethical renewal. The core sense remains that of an action or site of washing with water.

Semantic Range

a bath, a washing-place, act of bathing, ritual washing, cleansing (physical or moral), metaphorical purification

Root / Etymology

From the root λου- (lou-), meaning 'to wash.' λουτρόν is a nominal derivative, denoting both the place or act of washing. The term does not have a Semitic cognate and is formed from within Greek word-building patterns.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, λουτρόν referred to a place for bathing or the act itself, commonly used for public or private bathhouses. In the Septuagint, it often denotes the physical washing associated with ritual purification under Israelite cultic law (e.g., Leviticus). In Hellenistic and later Jewish-Greek usage, λουτρόν could imply both physical and ritual cleansing. In the New Testament, λουτρόν occurs twice: Ephesians 5:26 and Titus 3:5. In both instances, the term shifts toward a metaphorical meaning of cleansing or renewal, often interpreted by Christian writers as alluding to initiation rites or spiritual purification; however, in contemporary Hellenistic contexts, it did not specifically denote immersion or baptism per se. English translations may render it as "washing" or "bath," but the underlying imagery is broadly that of cleansing, whether physical, ritual, or moral. λουτρόν is distinct from βάπτισμα (baptisma, G908), which more precisely refers to ritual immersion.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from λούω; a bath, i.e. (figuratively), baptism:--washing.

Root Family

λουτρόν (loutron) — washing, bathing, bath, washing-place, ritual cleansing

Root λου- to wash, to bathe

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G3067-01`	λουτρῷ	loutro	`N DAT N SG`	washing	in washing	washing	1
`G3067-02`	λουτροῦ	loutrou	`N GEN N SG`	washing	of washing	of washing	1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G3067-01`	Ephesians 5:26	λουτρῷ	loutro	`N DAT N SG`	washing	in washing	washing
`G3067-02`	Titus 3:5	λουτροῦ	loutrou	`N GEN N SG`	washing	of washing	of washing

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