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λευκαίνω

leukaínō

G3021 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To make white or brighten; primarily, to cause something to become white or take on a bright, white appearance. In extended usage, to cleanse, purify, or cause something to shine brightly, particularly in contexts involving garments, surfaces, or appearances. May also carry a metaphorical sense of purification or glorification when applied to objects or persons, especially in apocalyptic or visionary literature.

Semantic Range

to make white, to whiten, to cause to shine brightly, to cleanse (metaphorically), to glorify (metaphorically)

Root / Etymology

Formed from the adjective λευκός (white, bright) with the verb-forming suffix -αίνω, indicating a causative action ('to make white').

Historical & Contextual Notes

The verb λευκαίνω is relatively rare and appears primarily in Hellenistic and Koine Greek. In the Septuagint and New Testament, λευκαίνω often refers to the making white of garments, frequently in visionary or eschatological contexts (e.g., Revelation 7:14, the 'white robes' of those who have come through tribulation). In classical Greek, the verb is rare and more often one finds λευκόω for similar meanings. The use in the New Testament and apocalyptic literature carries both a literal sense (making garments white or bright) and a metaphorical sense (purification, victory, blessing). English Bible translations typically render the term as 'make white,' 'whiten,' or, in context, 'cleanse,' but these may not capture all the metaphorical implications. There is a distinction between λευκαίνω (to make white) and related verbs such as καθαρίζω (to purify, cleanse), which emphasizes ritual or moral cleanliness rather than the visual brightness or glory implied by λευκαίνω.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from λευκός; to whiten:--make white, whiten.

Root Family

λευκ- (leukaínō) — to make white, to cause to shine, to brighten

Root λευκ- to make white, to cause to shine, to brighten
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G3022 λευκός bright white ones

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3021-01 ἐλεύκαναν eleukanan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL made white they made white they made white 1
G3021-02 λευκᾶναι leukanai V AOR ACT INF whiten to make white to make white 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3021-02 Mark 9:3 λευκᾶναι leukanai V AOR ACT INF whiten to make white to make white
G3021-01 Revelation 7:14 ἐλεύκαναν eleukanan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL made white they made white they made white
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