ὁσιότης
hosiótēs
G3742 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
State or quality of being devoutly observant of what is considered divinely right; moral or ritual purity, piety, or holiness, especially in relation to reverence for the sacred and for proper conduct according to perceived divine norms. In various contexts, emphasizes both inward moral purity and outward ritual propriety.
Semantic Range
piety, devoutness, holiness (especially in relation to religious observance), moral purity, ritual propriety, reverent fulfillment of sacred duties
Root / Etymology
From the adjective ὅσιος (devout, pious, observant of sacred ordinances). The suffix -της forms abstract nouns indicating a state or quality. Thus, ὁσιότης denotes the state of being ὅσιος. Indo-European root *sak- ('to sanctify, make sacred') is distantly related, but immediate derivation is Greek.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical and Hellenistic Greek, ὁσιότης refers broadly to religious piety, especially the observance of what is ritually proper and morally upright, in accordance with divine law or custom (τὰ ὅσια). The term is distinct from δικαιοσύνη ('justice, righteousness') which denotes legal or ethical justice, and from ἁγιότης ('sacredness, holiness') which could refer to more abstract or ontological states of being set apart. In the Septuagint and New Testament (notably Luke 1:75), ὁσιότης is used to render Hebrew terms relating to piety before God, often emphasizing the aspect of devoutness or faithful fulfillment of duties to the divine. English translations as 'holiness' or 'piety' capture elements of meaning, but may not fully express the nuance of ritual-conformity and inward devotion implied by the Greek. Ὁσιότης is rare in the New Testament, with most attestations found in literary or religious Greek writings outside the biblical canon.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ὅσιος; piety:--holiness.
Root Family
ὁσι- (hósios) — pious, righteous, devout, in accord with divine law
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| G3741 | ὅσιος | devout things |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3742-01 |
ὁσιότητι | osioteti | N DAT F SG |
holiness | in devoutness | devoutness | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3742-01 |
Luke 1:75 | ὁσιότητι | osioteti | N DAT F SG |
holiness | in devoutness | devoutness |
G3742-01 |
Ephesians 4:24 | ὁσιότητι | osioteti | N DAT F SG |
holiness | in devoutness | holiness |