ἱεροσυλέω (hierosuleō)
hierosuleō
to despoil a temple
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb hierosuleō describes the specific act of robbing a sacred place or committing sacrilege against a temple. It is a rare word in Scripture, appearing only once in the New Testament at Romans 2:22. In this context, Paul uses it to highlight the hypocrisy of someone who claims to detest idols yet proceeds to plunder the very shrines dedicated to them.
The term combines words for "temple" and "plunder," pointing to a violent theft from a holy site. This distinguishes it from general dishonesty; it is a direct violation of religious sanctity. Paul’s usage underscores that outward reverence for God is meaningless if one simultaneously violates the sacred spaces associated with false worship.
Its singular occurrence gives it significant rhetorical weight in Romans. It serves as a concrete example of how moral inconsistency can manifest in tangible, offensive actions against the divine order. The word captures the gravity of treating holy things with contempt while claiming piety.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word hierosuleō describes the specific act of robbing a temple. It combines terms for "temple" and "plunder," pointing to a violent theft from a sacred site. This distinguishes it from general dishonesty; it is a direct violation of religious sanctity. Paul uses this rare term in Romans 2:22 to highlight the hypocrisy of someone who claims to detest idols yet proceeds to plunder the very shrines dedicated to them.
This word underscores that outward reverence for God is meaningless if one simultaneously violates the sacred spaces associated with false worship. It captures the gravity of treating holy things with contempt while claiming piety. The term serves as a concrete example of how moral inconsistency can manifest in tangible, offensive actions against the divine order. Its singular occurrence gives it significant rhetorical weight in Romans.
For your faith, this word invites you to examine the integrity of your own heart. It reminds us that true reverence involves more than just words or public displays. When we claim to love God, our actions should reflect a deep respect for what is holy. This call to integrity encourages a life where belief and behavior align, fostering a genuine relationship with the Creator.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- do you rob temples?1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἱεροσυλεῖς;1×
Key Verses
-
Romans 2:22
You who say a man shouldn’t commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
Paul uses this rare term to expose the hypocrisy of those who claim moral superiority while committing sacrilege.