ἄγναφος (agnaphos)
agnaphos
unshrunk
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective agnaphos describes fabric that is "unshrunk" or raw, specifically wool that has not been fulled or processed to tighten its fibers. In the ancient world, this meant the material was loose and prone to significant shrinkage when washed. The word appears only twice in the New Testament, both times within parallel accounts of Jesus’ teaching on newness.
Jesus uses this specific textile detail in Matthew 9:16 and Mark 2:21 to explain why his new message cannot be forced into old religious structures. He compares patching an unshrunk garment with old cloth, noting that the new patch will pull away when the fabric shrinks, tearing the hole worse than before. This concrete image highlights the incompatibility of rigid, traditional forms with the dynamic, transformative nature of the gospel.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word agnaphos refers to raw wool that has not been processed or fulled. In the ancient world, this fabric was loose and prone to significant shrinkage when washed. Jesus used this specific textile detail in Matthew 9:16 and Mark 2:21 to explain why his new message cannot be forced into old religious structures.
He compared patching an unshrunk garment with old cloth, noting that the new patch would pull away when the fabric shrinks. This concrete image highlights the incompatibility of rigid, traditional forms with the dynamic, transformative nature of the gospel. It reminds us that God’s work often requires fresh spaces rather than forcing new life into outdated containers.
When you encounter situations where old habits or structures no longer fit your growing faith, remember this truth. God invites you to embrace the newness He offers, trusting that His grace provides the right material for every season of life.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- unshrunk2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀγνάφου2×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 9:16
No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch would tear away from the garment, and a worse hole is made.
This verse uses 'unshrunk cloth' to illustrate why Jesus' new teaching cannot be patched onto old Jewish customs without causing damage.
-
Mark 2:21
No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, or else the patch shrinks and the new tears away from the old, and a worse hole is made.
Here the word emphasizes the physical tension between raw, shrinking fabric and stiff old cloth, mirroring the spiritual tension of the gospel.