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ἁγνίζω

hagnízō

G48 verb

SILEX Entry

Root ἁγν- to make pure, to cleanse, to purify

Definition

To make pure, to cleanse from ritual or moral impurity. The primary sense is to carry out a process of purification, either in a literal/ritual context (e.g., ceremonial washing, participation in purification rites) or in a moral/ethical sense (purging from defilement or sin). In the New Testament and related literature, the term can be used for physical, ritual, or inner purification.

Semantic Range

to perform ritual purification, to purify oneself or another, to undergo ceremonies for removal of impurity, to cleanse morally or ethically, to abstain for purposes of purity, to sanctify (in the sense of rendering pure rather than merely set apart)

Root / Etymology

From ἁγνός (hagnós, 'pure, chaste, unblemished'), with the denominative verb ending -ίζω indicating the making or rendering into a particular state.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἁγνίζω typically refers to the act of purifying in both religious (ritual cleansing, sacrifices, rites) and broader cultural contexts. It is used for washing, abstaining, or performing acts required to remove impurity before entering sacred spaces. In the Septuagint, ἁγνίζω is often used for the purification rituals prescribed in the Torah (e.g., Numbers 19 for impurity from contact with the dead). In Hellenistic and Second Temple Judean settings, the term continues to refer to ritual purification but is broadened in some texts to mean inner or moral cleansing as well. In the New Testament (e.g., John 11:55, Acts 21:24, 26; James 4:8; 1 John 3:3), it ranges from formal purification before festivals to the idea of ethical or internal purity. English translations such as 'purify' commonly render the meaning, but sometimes the connection with specific ancient purification rituals is not fully clear to modern readers. Distinction should be made between this and related terms such as καθαρίζω (katharízō), which can mean 'to cleanse' more broadly, while ἁγνίζω is more strictly tied to ideas of purity, especially religious or moral.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἁγνός; to make clean, i.e. (figuratively) sanctify (ceremonially or morally):--purify (self).

Root Family

ἁγνίζω (hagnizō) — to make pure, to cleanse, to purify

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G48-01 ἁγνίσατε agnisate V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL purify Purify! 1
G48-07 ἡγνισμένον egnismenon V PRF PASS PTCP ACC M SG purified having been purified 1
G48-04 ἁγνίσθητι agnistheti V AOR PASS IMP 2P SG purify yourself Be purified 1
G48-05 ἁγνίζει agnizei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG purifies is purifying 1
G48-03 ἁγνισθεὶς agnistheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG purifying himself having been purified 1
G48-06 ἡγνικότες egnikotes V PRF ACT PTCP NOM M PL having purified having made pure 1
G48-02 ἁγνίσωσιν agnisosin V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P PL purify they might purify 1

Occurrences in Scripture

7 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G48-02 John 11:55 ἁγνίσωσιν agnisosin V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P PL purify they might purify
G48-04 Acts 21:24 ἁγνίσθητι agnistheti V AOR PASS IMP 2P SG purify yourself Be purified
G48-03 Acts 21:26 ἁγνισθεὶς agnistheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG purifying himself having been purified
G48-07 Acts 24:18 ἡγνισμένον egnismenon V PRF PASS PTCP ACC M SG purified having been purified
G48-01 James 4:8 ἁγνίσατε agnisate V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL purify Purify!
G48-06 1 Peter 1:22 ἡγνικότες egnikotes V PRF ACT PTCP NOM M PL having purified having made pure
G48-05 1 John 3:3 ἁγνίζει agnizei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG purifies is purifying
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