ἁγνίζω (G48) — Greek Lexicon

ἁγνίζω

hagnízō

G48 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To make pure, to cleanse from ritual or moral impurity. The primary sense is to carry out a process of purification, either in a literal/ritual context (e.g., ceremonial washing, participation in purification rites) or in a moral/ethical sense (purging from defilement or sin). In the New Testament and related literature, the term can be used for physical, ritual, or inner purification.

Semantic Range

to perform ritual purification, to purify oneself or another, to undergo ceremonies for removal of impurity, to cleanse morally or ethically, to abstain for purposes of purity, to sanctify (in the sense of rendering pure rather than merely set apart)

Root / Etymology

From ἁγνός (hagnós, 'pure, chaste, unblemished'), with the denominative verb ending -ίζω indicating the making or rendering into a particular state.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἁγνίζω typically refers to the act of purifying in both religious (ritual cleansing, sacrifices, rites) and broader cultural contexts. It is used for washing, abstaining, or performing acts required to remove impurity before entering sacred spaces. In the Septuagint, ἁγνίζω is often used for the purification rituals prescribed in the Torah (e.g., Numbers 19 for impurity from contact with the dead). In Hellenistic and Second Temple Judean settings, the term continues to refer to ritual purification but is broadened in some texts to mean inner or moral cleansing as well. In the New Testament (e.g., John 11:55, Acts 21:24, 26; James 4:8; 1 John 3:3), it ranges from formal purification before festivals to the idea of ethical or internal purity. English translations such as 'purify' commonly render the meaning, but sometimes the connection with specific ancient purification rituals is not fully clear to modern readers. Distinction should be made between this and related terms such as καθαρίζω (katharízō), which can mean 'to cleanse' more broadly, while ἁγνίζω is more strictly tied to ideas of purity, especially religious or moral.

Translation Consistency

primary "purify" 3 occurrences

ἁγνίζω’s primary sense is to make or render pure—ritually, physically, or morally. “Purify” cleanly covers ceremonial washing and inner moral cleansing, matches standard English Bible usage, and will produce natural, consistent renderings across all forms of this lemma.

Alternatives (4 occurrences):

"having been purified" (2x) "having purified" (1x) "purifies" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἁγνός; to make clean, i.e. (figuratively) sanctify (ceremonially or morally):--purify (self).

Root Family

ἁγνίζω (hagnizō) — to make pure, to cleanse, to purify

Root ἁγν- to make pure, to cleanse, to purify

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G48-01`	ἁγνίσατε	agnisate	`V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL`	purify	Purify!	Purify	1
`G48-07`	ἡγνισμένον	egnismenon	`V PRF PASS PTCP ACC M SG`	purified	having been purified	having been purified	1
`G48-04`	ἁγνίσθητι	agnistheti	`V AOR PASS IMP 2P SG`	purify yourself	Be purified	purify yourself	1
`G48-05`	ἁγνίζει	agnizei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	purifies	is purifying	purifies	1
`G48-03`	ἁγνισθεὶς	agnistheis	`V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG`	purifying himself	having been purified	having been purified	1
`G48-06`	ἡγνικότες	egnikotes	`V PRF ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	having purified	having made pure	having purified	1
`G48-02`	ἁγνίσωσιν	agnisosin	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P PL`	purify	they might purify	they might purify	1

Occurrences in Scripture

7 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G48-02`	John 11:55	ἁγνίσωσιν	agnisosin	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P PL`	purify	they might purify	they might purify
`G48-04`	Acts 21:24	ἁγνίσθητι	agnistheti	`V AOR PASS IMP 2P SG`	purify yourself	Be purified	purify yourself
`G48-03`	Acts 21:26	ἁγνισθεὶς	agnistheis	`V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG`	purifying himself	having been purified	having been purified
`G48-07`	Acts 24:18	ἡγνισμένον	egnismenon	`V PRF PASS PTCP ACC M SG`	purified	having been purified	having been purified
`G48-01`	James 4:8	ἁγνίσατε	agnisate	`V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL`	purify	Purify!	Purify
`G48-06`	1 Peter 1:22	ἡγνικότες	egnikotes	`V PRF ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	having purified	having made pure	having purified
`G48-05`	1 John 3:3	ἁγνίζει	agnizei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	purifies	is purifying	purifies

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