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ῥυπαρία

rhyparía

G4507 noun

SILEX Entry

Root ῥυπαρ- dirty, filthy, foul

Definition

State of being dirty or filthy, both in a literal sense (physical uncleanness) and metaphorically (moral impurity or baseness). In Koine usage, commonly refers to moral foulness, defilement of character, or disgraceful conduct. The term denotes more than mere physical dirt, often implying contemptible behavior or a disreputable condition.

Semantic Range

physical dirtiness, filth, moral impurity, baseness, disgraceful conduct, depravity, moral foulness, contemptible condition

Root / Etymology

From ῥυπαρός (rhyparos), meaning 'dirty, filthy, sordid.' The suffix -ία (-ia) forms an abstract noun indicating a state or quality. Thus, ῥυπαρία expresses the abstract concept of dirtiness or foulness. No Semitic origin is indicated; the formation is straightforward Greek.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ῥυπαρία denotes literal filth, pollution, or uncleanliness. By the Hellenistic and Koine period, the word predominantly acquires a moral and metaphorical sense, designating conduct or character that is disgraceful, ignoble, or morally corrupt. In the New Testament (e.g., James 1:21), ῥυπαρία is used for sinful conduct or moral defilement, rather than physical dirt. The English term 'filth' or 'filthiness' is common in translation, but may miss the sense of ethical defilement and shame present in the original Greek. The overlap with terms like ἀκαθαρσία (akatharsia, 'uncleanness') is partial: ῥυπαρία emphasizes disgrace or lack of honor more than ritual or cultic impurity. The term's use in Second Temple and early Christian literature reflects a broader Greco-Roman concern for purity of conduct and reputation as opposed to mere external or ritual cleanness.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ῥυπαρός; dirtiness (morally):--turpitude.

Root Family

ῥυπαρία (rhyparia) — dirtiness, filth, moral foulness

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G4507-01 ῥυπαρίαν ruparian N ACC F SG filthiness filthiness 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G4507-01 James 1:21 ῥυπαρίαν ruparian N ACC F SG filthiness filthiness
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