ἀκαθαρσία (akatharsia)
akatharsia
impurity
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 10 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek word akatharsia denotes uncleanness or impurity, covering both physical dirt and moral defilement. In the New Testament, it most often describes a state of moral corruption rather than mere physical uncleanliness. The sources highlight its use in Romans 1:24 and 4:19 to portray the degradation of human behavior that results from turning away from God.
This term appears ten times across key Pauline letters, including Ephesians, Colossians, and Thessalonians. It is frequently linked with lustful living or motives driven by selfish desire. For instance, in Ephesians 5:3 and Colossians 3:5, it stands alongside other vices as a characteristic of the old life that believers are called to leave behind.
Its root meaning emphasizes a lack of purity or cleanliness. While it can refer to physical impurity, as seen in Matthew 23:27 regarding tomb-like appearances, its primary theological weight lies in describing the inner moral state of those who live without regard for God’s standards. Translators often render it as "impurity" or "uncleanness" to capture this broad sense of defilement.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word akatharsia points to a deep-seated impurity that goes beyond surface-level dirt. In the New Testament, it describes a moral state where selfish desires and lusts distort our inner character. It is not merely about breaking rules, but about a heart that has drifted from God’s standard of holiness.
Paul uses this term to contrast our old nature with our new identity in Christ. He reminds us that God did not call us to live in this kind of defilement, but for sanctification (1 Thessalonians 4:7). This offers a clear path forward: we are invited to leave behind the habits that degrade our humanity and instead present ourselves as instruments of righteousness.
Recognizing this impurity is not meant to shame us, but to highlight the grace available through Jesus. By acknowledging where our hearts have become clouded by selfishness, we can turn back to the purity Christ offers. This word serves as a gentle but firm call to examine our motives and seek a life that honors God.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 10 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- impurity5×
- impurity,2×
- to impurity1×
- of impurity1×
- impurity.1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀκαθαρσίᾳ3×
- ἀκαθαρσίας2×
- ἀκαθαρσίας.1×
- ἀκαθαρσίαν,1×
- ἀκαθαρσίαν1×
- ἀκαθαρσία,1×
- ἀκαθαρσία1×
Key Verses
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I Thessalonians 4:7
For God called us not for uncleanness, but in sanctification.
This verse defines the believer's calling by contrasting uncleanness with sanctification, showing that purity is central to God's purpose for us.
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Romans 1:24
Therefore God also gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves;
Here, impurity is described as a consequence of turning away from God, illustrating how moral corruption leads to the dishonoring of our bodies.
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Ephesians 5:3
But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be mentioned among you, as becomes saints;
Paul instructs believers that even mentioning uncleanness should be absent from their lives, emphasizing the high standard of holiness expected of saints.