ἀνόσιος
anósios
G462 substantive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Not reverent toward the sacred, impious; characterized by violation of what is considered holy or morally inviolable. Expands to 'irreverent', 'profane', and, by extension in some contexts, 'unlawful' or 'unethical' when referring to behavior or persons acting against divine or moral law.
Semantic Range
impious, unholy, profane, irreverent, desecrating, violating divine law, irreligious, unlawful (in a sacred sense), sacrilegious
Root / Etymology
ἀνόσιος is formed from the privative prefix ἀ- (indicating negation) and ὅσιος ('devout', 'pious', 'holy'). The compound thus means 'not holy', 'impious'.
Historical & Contextual Notes
ἀνόσιος appears in classical Greek literature with the sense of violating what is deemed sacred, particularly in reference to actions that transgress religious boundaries or offend divine law. In Hellenistic and Koine Greek, including the Septuagint and the New Testament (e.g., 1 Timothy 1:9), it denotes persons or deeds that are irreverent, profane, or 'unholy.' The term is typically used in opposition to ὅσιος (devout/holy), and may encompass both religious and broadly moral violations. Conventional English translations such as 'unholy' or 'wicked' may under-represent the nuance relating to breaches of the sacred or the profane nature of attitudes or behaviors. In some contexts, ἀνόσιος has a more social or legal implication, indicating an offense not only against divine standards but against societal norms viewed as under divine sanction. In contrast, words like ἄδικος ('unjust') focus more on fairness or justice, while ἀνόσιος focuses specifically on violations of the sacred or inviolable.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from Α (as a negative particle) and ὅσιος; wicked:--unholy.
Root Family
ἀνόσιος (anosios) — impious, unholy, profane, irreverent toward the sacred
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G462-01 |
ἀνόσιοι | anosioi | ADJ.S NOM M PL |
unholy | impious ones | impious ones | 1 |
G462-02 |
ἀνοσίοις | anosiois | ADJ.S DAT M PL |
unholy | to impious ones | to unholy ones | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G462-02 |
1 Timothy 1:9 | ἀνοσίοις | anosiois | ADJ.S DAT M PL |
unholy | to impious ones | to unholy ones |
G462-01 |
2 Timothy 3:2 | ἀνόσιοι | anosioi | ADJ.S NOM M PL |
unholy | impious ones | impious ones |