ῥυπόω
rhypóō
G4510 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To make dirty or defile; properly, to soil or cover with filth, whether physical or metaphorical. In the context of Hellenistic and Koine Greek, may denote literal physical soiling (to make unclean, to be rendered impure by dirt), or, especially in later and figurative usage, to become morally defiled or impure. The verb can function both transitively (to soil, to defile) and intransitively (to become soiled, to become filthy), with application to both external and internal states depending on context.
Semantic Range
to make physically dirty, to soil; to become dirty; to defile or pollute (metaphorically); to become morally impure or contaminated
Root / Etymology
From the noun ῥύπος (rhypos, dirt, filth), itself of uncertain origin; derived by adding the verbal ending -όω to create a denominative verb meaning 'to make dirty' or 'to become dirty.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek literature, the root noun ῥύπος refers primarily to physical dirt or filth (e.g., mud or grime on the body or objects). The verb ῥυπόω is relatively rare in classical sources but is found more often in later Greek, especially in Hellenistic, Koine, and Christian literature. In the Septuagint and New Testament, ῥυπόω generally takes on a metaphorical meaning related to moral or ritual defilement, extending from the literal sense of being dirty to the concept of being impure or unclean in conduct or attitude. This transition mirrors a common development in Greek (and Hebrew) where physical impurity forms the metaphorical basis for moral impurity or corruption. English translations often render the term as 'to be filthy' or 'to defile,' but may obscure the more original physical-and-moral range inherent in the verb. The word is found in Revelation 22:11, where it indicates moral pollution or defilement, contrasting with righteous or pure behavior. While similar in semantic domain to ἁγνίζω ('to purify') or καθαρίζω ('to cleanse'), ῥυπόω carries a more negative connotation, with an emphasis on the state of filth or moral taint, and is less frequent in early non-Christian texts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ῥύπος; to soil, i.e. (intransitively) to become dirty (morally):--be filthy.
Root Family
ῥυπόω (rhypoō) — to soil, to make dirty, to defile
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4510-01 |
ῥυπανθήτω | rupantheto | V AOR PASS IMP 3P SG |
let him be filthy | let him be defiled | let him be defiled | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4510-01 |
Revelation 22:11 | ῥυπανθήτω | rupantheto | V AOR PASS IMP 3P SG |
let him be filthy | let him be defiled | let him be defiled |