ἀκέραιος (akeraios)
akeraios
innocent
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective akeraios describes something that is unmixed or pure, originally referring to substances like wine or metal that have not been diluted with inferior materials. In Scripture, this literal sense shifts to describe moral and spiritual integrity. It characterizes people who are free from guile, simple in heart, and innocent of deceit.
This word appears in three key New Testament passages, including Jesus’ instruction to be "innocent as doves" in Matthew 10:16 and Paul’s call for believers to shine like stars in a crooked generation by being blameless (Philippians 2:15). Romans 16:19 also uses it to commend the obedience of the Roman Christians. Unlike words that emphasize active goodness, akeraios highlights an absence of corruption or hidden agenda.
Its etymology combines a negative prefix with a root related to mixing, literally meaning "unmixed." This imagery suggests a person whose character has not been compromised by worldly cynicism or malicious intent. Translators often render it as "innocent" or "blameless," capturing the idea of a heart that is straightforward and sincere in its devotion to God.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word akeraios paints a picture of purity by using the image of unmixed wine or unadulterated metal. In its original context, it described substances that had not been diluted with inferior fillers. When applied to human character, it shifts from physical composition to moral integrity. It describes a heart that is free from guile, simple in its devotion, and innocent of hidden agendas.
In the New Testament, this concept appears in moments where Jesus and Paul address the challenges of living faithfully in a complex world. In Matthew 10:16, Jesus instructs His followers to be harmless as doves while navigating dangerous circumstances. This does not mean naivety, but rather a refusal to adopt the deceitful tactics of those who oppose them.
Similarly, Paul encourages believers in Philippians to shine like lights in a crooked generation by remaining blameless and innocent. The call is not to withdraw from the world, but to engage it with a character that has not been compromised by cynicism or malice. This kind of integrity serves as a quiet witness, showing that trust in God produces a steady, uncorrupted spirit.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- innocent2×
- innocent,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀκέραιοι,1×
- ἀκέραιοι1×
- ἀκεραίους1×
Key Verses
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Matthew 10:16
“Behold, I send you out as sheep among wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
Jesus uses this term to define the specific kind of innocence required for disciples facing persecution, balancing wisdom with harmlessness.
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Romans 16:19
For your obedience has become known to all. I rejoice therefore over you. But I desire to have you wise in that which is good, but innocent in that which is evil.
Paul distinguishes between being wise in good and innocent in evil, showing that moral purity involves refusing to participate in wrongdoing even when pressured.
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Philippians 2:15
that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without defect in the middle of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you are seen as lights in the world,
The apostle links this innocence directly to the believer's role as a light in the world, suggesting that integrity makes the gospel visible in a distorted culture.