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μιαίνω

miaínō

G3392 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To stain, make impure, or pollute. The primary lexical meaning of μιαίνω is to cause something or someone to become unclean, by staining or contaminating; in extended usage, to render ceremonially unacceptable, or to involve in moral impurity. It often refers to both literal pollution (such as of objects or places) and metaphorical defilement (such as by sinful actions or associations).

Semantic Range

to stain or soil physically, to pollute or contaminate (ritually or ceremonially), to profane or desecrate, to defile by immoral behaviour, to sully reputation or standing, to make unclean in a ritual, ethical, or figurative sense

Root / Etymology

The origin is uncertain; it is likely a primary Greek verb with no clear Indo-European cognates. It may be related by association with words for 'stain' or 'dye,' but definitive etymological connections are lacking.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, μιαίνω is used for physical staining—especially by blood, dirt, or dye—and for polluting or profaning sacred things, homicide being a prime example of defilement through bloodguilt. In the Septuagint, it is regularly used to render Hebrew terms denoting ritual or cultic impurity, as well as moral uncleanness, thus expanding its semantic range. In the New Testament, it appears with both ritual and moral connotations—usually for rendering someone or something unacceptable for participation in sacred activities, or morally corrupt. The term can thus signify both external (ritual) and internal (moral/spiritual) contamination. English translations often simply render it 'defile,' though this can obscure the breadth of physical, ceremonial, and ethical dimensions present in Greek usage.

Translation Consistency

primary "defile" 5 occurrences

μιαίνω primarily carries the idea of making unclean—ritually, morally, or figuratively. “Defile” naturally covers ceremonial pollution, moral corruption, and metaphorical soiling while remaining the common English Bible rendering, so it best preserves the typical semantic range and reads naturally across contexts.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

perhaps a primary verb; to sully or taint, i.e. contaminate (ceremonially or morally):--defile.

Root Family

μιαίνω (miainō) — to stain, to pollute, to sully, to defile

Root μιαί- to stain, to pollute, to sully, to defile

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3392-04 μιανθῶσιν mianthosin V AOR PASS SUBJ 3P PL be defiled they may be defiled they may be defiled 2
G3392-02 μεμίανται memiantai V PRF PASS IND 3P SG are defiled has been defiled have been defiled 1
G3392-03 μιαίνουσιν miainousin V PRS ACT IND 3P PL defile they are defiling they are defiling 1
G3392-01 μεμιαμμένοις memiammenois V PRF PASS PTCP DAT M PL defiled to the defiled ones who are defiled 1

Occurrences in Scripture

5 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3392-04 John 18:28 μιανθῶσιν mianthosin V AOR PASS SUBJ 3P PL they should be defiled they may be defiled they may be defiled
G3392-01 Titus 1:15 μεμιαμμένοις memiammenois V PRF PASS PTCP DAT M PL defiled to the defiled ones who are defiled
G3392-02 Titus 1:15 μεμίανται memiantai V PRF PASS IND 3P SG are defiled has been defiled have been defiled
G3392-04 Hebrews 12:15 μιανθῶσιν mianthosin V AOR PASS SUBJ 3P PL be defiled they may be defiled they may be defiled
G3392-03 Jude 1:8 μιαίνουσιν miainousin V PRS ACT IND 3P PL defile they are defiling they are defiling
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