ἁγιωσύνη (hagiōsunē)
hagiōsunē
holiness
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun hagiōsunē denotes holiness as a settled condition or state of being. Derived from the root for "holy," it describes the moral purity and sanctified character that results from God’s work in a person. Unlike terms for the act of making holy, this word focuses on the resulting quality of life—a life set apart and aligned with God’s nature.
Its usage is sparse but significant, appearing only three times in the New Testament: Romans 1:4, 2 Corinthians 7:1, and 1 Thessalonians 3:13. In these contexts, it characterizes the ethical outcome of faith. For instance, Paul links it to the resurrection power that defines Jesus’ sonship (Romans 1:4) and prays for believers to be kept blameless in spirit and soul at Christ’s coming (1 Thessalonians 3:13).
Lexical sources note its close relationship to hagiasmos, distinguishing the process of sanctification from the state of holiness itself. It carries a weight of majesty and moral integrity, reflecting a life that has been cleansed and preserved for God. This term anchors the believer’s identity in a concrete reality of purity, rather than an abstract ideal.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Holiness is not a distant ideal reserved for saints, but a settled condition of being set apart for God. When we read about hagiōsunē, we see it as the moral purity that results from God’s work in us. It is less about the struggle to become holy and more about the reality of having been cleansed and aligned with His nature.
This word appears in passages where Paul prays for believers to stand blameless before God. In 2 Corinthians 7:1, he urges us to perfect holiness in the fear of God, cleansing ourselves from defilement. This is an invitation to live in a way that reflects who we are in Christ. It is a life marked by integrity and peace.
As you walk with God, remember that this holiness is a gift sustained by His power. It anchors your identity in a concrete reality of purity. May you find comfort in knowing that your heart can be established blameless in holiness, ready for the coming of our Lord Jesus.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- holiness2×
- of holiness1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἁγιωσύνῃ1×
- ἁγιωσύνης1×
- ἁγιωσύνην1×
Key Verses
-
II Corinthians 7:1
Having therefore these promises, beloved, let’s cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
This verse shows holiness as an active pursuit where believers cleanse themselves from defilement to perfect this state in the fear of God.
-
I Thessalonians 3:13
to the end he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
Here Paul prays for hearts to be established blameless in holiness at Christ's coming, highlighting it as a preserved condition for believers.
-
Romans 1:4
who was declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,
The term describes the Spirit of holiness that declared Jesus the Son of God through His resurrection, linking holiness to divine power.