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λευκός

leukós

G3022 attributive adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

Bright, gleaming, or shining white—refers primarily to the color white but also connotes brightness, brilliance, or radiance. Commonly used to describe clothing, hair, stones, horses, and other objects or beings that are luminous or dazzling in appearance. Figuratively, can denote purity, honor, or victory in certain literary and religious contexts.

Semantic Range

white (literal color); bright, shining, radiant; of garments: dazzling or brilliant white; of hair: bright white; of stones or animals: light or pale in color; figurative: pure, honorable, victorious (contextual)

Root / Etymology

Derived from the Greek root λευκ-, meaning 'white' or 'light-colored'; related to the verb λεύσσω ('to see, to look at') and possibly linked to the Proto-Indo-European root *leuk- ('light, brightness, whiteness').

Historical & Contextual Notes

Classically, λευκός is the typical Greek word for 'white,' but often suggests luminosity or conspicuous brightness rather than a dull or matte white. In Koine (esp. New Testament and Septuagint), λευκός describes supernatural brilliance (e.g., clothing in transfiguration scenes, angelic figures). In the Septuagint, it is frequently used to translate Hebrew לָבָן (lavan). In Greek literary usage, can contrast with μέλας ('black, dark'). In some contexts (e.g., apocalyptic visions), λευκός may symbolize purity, holiness, or victory, but these are contextual rather than intrinsic to the word's basic meaning. English versions often translate as 'white,' but this may miss the sense of dazzling brightness or glory, especially in visionary or symbolic passages. Common especially in Greco-Roman color symbolism and rituals.

Translation Consistency

primary "white" 25 occurrences

λευκός most commonly denotes the color/appearance “white” (garments, hair, stones, animals) and that literal sense is primary; while it can imply brightness or figurative purity, using “white” yields the most natural, consistent English rendering across contexts and still allows figurative senses to be conveyed by context.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ("light"); white:--white.

Root Family

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

Root λευκ- to be white, to be bright, to shine
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G3021 λευκαίνω they made white

Word Forms

9 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3022-07 λευκοῖς leukois ADJ.S DAT N PL white to bright white ones to bright white ones 5
G3022-08 λευκὸν leukon ADJ.P NOM N SG white bright white bright white 4
G3022-01 λευκὰ leuka ADJ.P NOM N PL white bright white ones white 3
G3022-06 λευκὴν leuken ADJ.A ACC F SG white bright white bright white 3
G3022-09 λευκὸς leukos ADJ.P NOM M SG white bright white bright white 3
G3022-02 λευκαί leukai ADJ.P NOM F PL white bright white ones bright white ones 2
G3022-04 λευκάς leukas ADJ.A ACC F PL white bright white (feminine plural accusative) white (feminine plural accusative) 2
G3022-05 λευκή leuke ADJ.A NOM F SG white bright white white 2
G3022-03 λευκαῖς leukais ADJ.A DAT F PL white to bright-white ones white 1

Occurrences in Scripture

25 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3022-06 Matthew 5:36 λευκὴν leuken ADJ.A ACC F SG white bright white bright white
G3022-01 Matthew 17:2 λευκὰ leuka ADJ.P NOM N PL white bright white ones white
G3022-08 Matthew 28:3 λευκὸν leukon ADJ.P NOM N SG white bright white bright white
G3022-01 Mark 9:3 λευκὰ leuka ADJ.S NOM N PL white bright white ones white ones
G3022-06 Mark 16:5 λευκήν leuken ADJ.A ACC F SG white bright white bright white
G3022-09 Luke 9:29 λευκὸς leukos ADJ.P NOM M SG white bright white bright white
G3022-02 John 4:35 λευκαί leukai ADJ.P NOM F PL white bright white ones bright white ones
G3022-07 John 20:12 λευκοῖς leukois ADJ.S DAT N PL white to bright white ones bright white garments
G3022-03 Acts 1:10 λευκαῖς leukais ADJ.A DAT F PL white to bright-white ones white
G3022-02 Revelation 1:14 λευκαὶ leukai ADJ.P NOM F PL white bright white ones bright white ones
G3022-08 Revelation 1:14 λευκόν leukon ADJ.A NOM N SG white bright white bright white
G3022-06 Revelation 2:17 λευκήν leuken ADJ.A ACC F SG white bright white bright white
G3022-07 Revelation 3:4 λευκοῖς leukois ADJ.S DAT N PL white to bright white ones white garments
G3022-07 Revelation 3:5 λευκοῖς leukois ADJ.A DAT N PL white to bright white ones bright white ones
G3022-01 Revelation 3:18 λευκὰ leuka ADJ.A ACC N PL white bright white ones white
G3022-07 Revelation 4:4 λευκοῖς leukois ADJ.A DAT N PL white to bright white ones to bright white ones
G3022-09 Revelation 6:2 λευκός leukos ADJ.A NOM M SG white bright white bright white
G3022-05 Revelation 6:11 λευκή leuke ADJ.A NOM F SG white bright white white
G3022-04 Revelation 7:9 λευκάς leukas ADJ.A ACC F PL white bright white (feminine plural accusative) white (feminine plural accusative)
G3022-04 Revelation 7:13 λευκὰς leukas ADJ.R ACC F PL white bright white (feminine plural accusative) white (feminine plural accusative)
G3022-05 Revelation 14:14 λευκή leuke ADJ.A NOM F SG white bright white white
G3022-09 Revelation 19:11 λευκός leukos ADJ.A NOM M SG white bright white bright white
G3022-07 Revelation 19:14 λευκοῖς leukois ADJ.A DAT M PL white to bright white ones to bright white ones
G3022-08 Revelation 19:14 λευκὸν leukon ADJ.A ACC N SG white bright white bright white
G3022-08 Revelation 20:11 λευκὸν leukon ADJ.A ACC M SG white bright white bright white
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