πλύνω
plýnō
G4150 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To wash (especially garments or objects) by plunging and thorough rinsing in water. The verb primarily refers to the process of cleaning textiles or articles by soaking, agitating, and rinsing them in water, distinct from the washing of the body (which is expressed by other Greek verbs). In extended contexts, it may denote ritual or ceremonial purification through washing clothing or items.
Semantic Range
to launder clothing, to wash garments or objects (by immersion, soaking, and rinsing), to cleanse items for ritual or practical purposes, to purify articles through washing
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root πλυ- (to wash), which may be connected to the idea of flowing water or plunging into water. This root is possibly related to the obsolete verb πλῶ (to flow) but the exact etymology is somewhat uncertain. It is cognate with the Latin 'pluo' ('to rain'), both deriving from the wider Indo-European root meaning 'to flow' or 'to wash'.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical and Hellenistic Greek, πλύνω primarily referred to the washing or laundering of clothes or objects, in contrast to λούω (louō, 'to wash' — usually one’s body) and νίπτω (niptō, 'to wash, cleanse hands or feet'). In the Septuagint and New Testament, πλύνω is most often employed for the ritual or practical washing of garments (e.g., Rev 7:14; Gen 49:11 LXX), with connotations of purification. English translations often render it simply as 'to wash', but do not always indicate its particular association with laundering as opposed to personal washing. In ancient literary and documentary usage, it is frequently contrasted with the physical cleansing of the body, highlighting its focus on outer objects, primarily textiles. The term is relatively rare compared to λούω and νίπτω in the NT and LXX.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a prolonged form of an obsolete (to "flow"); to "plunge", i.e. launder clothing:--wash. Compare λούω, νίπτω.
Root Family
πλύνω (plýnō) — to wash, to cleanse by plunging, to launder
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4150-01 |
ἔπλυναν | eplunan | V AOR ACT IND 3P PL |
they washed | they laundered | they laundered | 1 |
G4150-03 |
πλύνοντες | plunontes | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
wash | those laundering | those laundering | 1 |
G4150-02 |
ἔπλυνον | eplunon | V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL |
were washing | they were laundering | were washing | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4150-02 |
Luke 5:2 | ἔπλυνον | eplunon | V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL |
were washing | they were laundering | were washing |
G4150-01 |
Revelation 7:14 | ἔπλυναν | eplunan | V AOR ACT IND 3P PL |
they washed | they laundered | they laundered |
G4150-03 |
Revelation 22:14 | πλύνοντες | plunontes | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
wash | those laundering | those laundering |