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ῥυπαρός

rhyparós

G4508 attributive adjective

SILEX Entry

Root ῥυπ- to be dirty, to soil, to defile

Definition

Physically soiled, dirty, or unclean; extended to describe something or someone as shabby, squalid, or disreputable, especially in social or moral contexts. By figurative extension, refers to that which is morally unclean or impure, carrying a connotation of baseness or moral corruption. In certain contexts, the term can underscore a sense of disgrace or social contempt attached to impurity.

Semantic Range

physically dirty, soiled, squalid, shabby, socially disreputable, morally impure, base, vile, morally corrupt

Root / Etymology

From the noun ῥύπος (dirt, filth, refuse, moral impurity). Formed with the adjectival suffix -αρός, denoting a quality or state related to the root noun.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical and Hellenistic Greek, ῥυπαρός primarily denoted physical dirtiness or squalor, used of clothing, dwellings, or persons. In Koine, including the Septuagint and New Testament, the term acquires a broader metaphorical usage, often describing moral impurity, disgrace, or spiritual corruption (e.g., James 2:2, "in shabby clothing"; Revelation 22:11 for a morally defiled state). English translations typically render the term as 'filthy', 'vile', 'shabby', or 'foul', but may obscure the underlying reference to visible or social impurity which, in contemporary usage, can bear both physical and moral implications. In many contexts, ῥυπαρός is contrasted with καθαρός (clean, pure), highlighting both physical and ethical polarization.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ῥύπος; dirty, i.e. (relatively) cheap or shabby; morally, wicked:--vile.

Root Family

ῥυπαρός (rhyparos) — dirty, soiled, defiled, morally impure, base

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G4508-01 ῥυπαρᾷ rupara ADJ.A DAT F SG dirty to a filthy one 1
G4508-02 ῥυπαρὸς ruparos ADJ.S NOM M SG is filthy the defiled one 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G4508-01 James 2:2 ῥυπαρᾷ rupara ADJ.A DAT F SG dirty to a filthy one
G4508-02 Revelation 22:11 ῥυπαρὸς ruparos ADJ.S NOM M SG is filthy the defiled one
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