καινότης
kainótēs
G2538 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
State or quality of being new, renewal; in contexts, indicates a distinct condition different from what preceded, characterized by transformation or a shift from an earlier state. Used especially to denote a moral, existential, or spiritual renewal or a new mode of existence, rather than mere chronological newness.
Semantic Range
quality of being new, newness of life, renewal, state of being qualitatively transformed, a new mode of existence
Root / Etymology
Formed from the adjective καινός ('new, fresh, recent, unused') with the abstract noun suffix -της, indicating state or quality. Thus, καινότητα expresses 'the state of being new' or 'newness.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
καινότης appears only in later Greek, with attestation in Koine texts such as the Septuagint and New Testament (notably in Romans 6:4 and Romans 7:6). It describes a qualitative kind of newness—frequently moral or existential renewal, particularly in contrast to an older order or practice. The term is distinct from ἀνακαίνωσις ('renewal, renovation'), which emphasizes the action or process of making new. The semantic nuance of καινότης focuses on inaugurated existence or mode of life, not simply something recent in time. In NT and early Christian usage, standard translations like 'newness' may not fully capture its implication of transformation or a new mode of being. In contrast to νέος (which denotes youth or recency), καινότης highlights qualitative difference. No pre-Koine classical usage is attested; the term is Hellenistic.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from καινός; renewal (figuratively):--newness.
Root Family
καιν- (enkaínia) — to make new, to dedicate, to renew
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| G1456 | ἐγκαίνια | dedication festivals |
| G1457 | ἐγκαινίζω | he inaugurated |
| G2537 | καινός | new things |
| G340 | ἀνακαινίζω | to make new again |
| G341 | ἀνακαινόω | being made new again |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2538-01 |
καινότητι | kainoteti | N DAT F SG |
newness | in newness | in newness | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2538-01 |
Romans 6:4 | καινότητι | kainoteti | N DAT F SG |
newness | in newness | newness |
G2538-01 |
Romans 7:6 | καινότητι | kainoteti | N DAT F SG |
newness | in newness | in newness |