ἁγνισμός (hagnismos)
hagnismos
purification
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun hagnismos refers to a state or act of ceremonial purification. In the New Testament, it appears only once, in Acts 21:26, where Paul participates in a ritual to demonstrate his respect for Jewish customs. The term describes the process of cleansing oneself according to the requirements of the Law, rather than an internal moral change.
Its root verb, hagnizō, carries the sense of making clean or sanctifying. In the Septuagint, this word family often translates Hebrew terms related to ritual washing or the completion of a vow of separation, such as the Nazirite dedication in Numbers 6:5. The usage here highlights the physical and legal aspects of cleanliness observed in first-century Jewish practice.
Translators typically render this word as "purification" or "cleansing." The context in Acts shows Paul undergoing these rites to reassure his fellow Jews that he did not teach against the Law. This single occurrence provides a specific glimpse into how early Christians navigated their relationship with traditional Jewish rituals.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word hagnismos describes a specific act of ceremonial cleansing found in Acts 21:26. Here, Paul undergoes ritual purification to show respect for Jewish customs and to reassure his fellow believers that he honors the Law. This historical moment highlights how early Christians navigated their faith within existing cultural frameworks.
For your daily life, this word reminds us that outward actions can reflect inner commitments. While Christian faith centers on spiritual cleansing through Christ, our behavior often communicates our respect for others and our unity with the broader community of believers. It invites us to consider how our practices might build bridges rather than barriers.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- purification1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἁγνισμοῦ,1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 21:26
Then Paul took the men, and the next day purified himself and went with them into the temple, declaring the fulfillment of the days of purification, until the offering was offered for every one of them.
This verse records Paul's specific act of purification to demonstrate his adherence to Jewish customs and ease tensions with believing Jews.