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κονιάω

koniáō

G2867 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To cover with a white substance, especially to apply a layer of lime or plaster in order to whiten, conceal, or beautify a surface. The term primarily refers to the act of whitewashing as a building practice, but in figurative contexts, can mean to disguise imperfections or to present a deceptively clean or innocent appearance. In some contexts, the sense is neutral—renovation or beautification—but can also carry negative connotations of superficiality or hypocrisy, especially in moral or social discourse.

Semantic Range

to whitewash, to cover with lime or plaster, to make white or clean in appearance, to beautify, to conceal flaws or corruption under a surface appearance, to disguise by outward show

Root / Etymology

Derived from κονία (konía, powdered lime, mortar, or dust), itself from κοινός (common, by way of 'shared dust, earth'), but primarily associated in Koine Greek with lime or plaster. The verb κονιάω is a denominative formation meaning 'to cover with lime or plaster.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical and Hellenistic Greek, κονιάω is attested in technical and architectural contexts, describing the process of coating a structure—such as a tomb, wall, or interior—with lime or gypsum to create a smooth, whitened surface. In the Septuagint and New Testament, the term can carry a pejorative tone, as in Matthew 23:27, where whitewashed tombs are metaphorically used to depict outward purity masking inner decay. The metaphor depends upon familiar building practices: tombs and other structures in Judea were often whitewashed to make them visible and ritually clean, particularly before festivals. Standard English translations as 'whitewash' or 'whiten' sometimes miss the negative or hypocritical implication present in specific biblical passages. The figurative use for hypocrisy or superficiality develops precisely because the act of whitewashing creates an appearance that conceals underlying reality. Related terms include ψευδοῦν (to lie, to falsify) and ὑποκριτής (hypocrite), though κονιάω specifically refers to the process of outward covering, not the act of deceit itself.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from (dust; by analogy, lime); to whitewash:--whiten.

Root Family

κονι- (koniáō) — to cover with lime, to whitewash, to whiten

Root κονι- to cover with lime, to whitewash, to whiten
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G2868 κονιορτός fine dust

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2867-01 κεκονιαμένε kekoniamene V PRF PASS PTCP VOC M SG whitewashed having been whitewashed having been whitewashed 1
G2867-02 κεκονιαμένοις kekoniamenois V PRF PASS PTCP DAT M PL whitewashed to the ones having been whitewashed to the ones having been whitewashed 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2867-02 Matthew 23:27 κεκονιαμένοις kekoniamenois V PRF PASS PTCP DAT M PL whitewashed to the ones having been whitewashed to the ones having been whitewashed
G2867-01 Acts 23:3 κεκονιαμένε kekoniamene V PRF PASS PTCP VOC M SG whitewashed having been whitewashed having been whitewashed
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