κονιάω (koniaō)
koniaō
to whitewash
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb koniaō means to cover a surface with lime or dust, specifically to whitewash it. In the first century, this was a practical maintenance task for tombs, where families would coat the entrance with white plaster to warn passersby not to touch the site and risk ritual defilement (Matthew 23:27). The act creates a bright, clean exterior that hides what lies beneath.
Jesus uses this image to describe religious hypocrites. He compares them to whitewashed tombs that look beautiful on the outside but are actually full of decay inside. Later, Paul applies the same metaphor to Saul of Tarsus before his conversion, noting how he persecuted Christians with a righteous appearance while hiding violent intent (Acts 23:3). The word captures the danger of a pious facade masking inner corruption.
Its root relates to konia, meaning dust or lime. Translators typically render it as "whitewash," preserving the vivid contrast between outward purity and inward death. This concrete imagery makes the spiritual warning unmistakable: appearance does not equal reality.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word koniaō describes a common practice in first-century Judea: coating tombs with white lime. This created a bright, clean surface that warned travelers to stay away and avoid ritual defilement from touching a grave. Yet beneath that pristine exterior lay decay and death. Jesus used this image to expose religious hypocrisy, showing how an outward appearance of piety can hide inner corruption.
Paul later applied the same metaphor to Ananias, calling him a "whitewashed wall" for judging others while breaking the law himself (Acts 23:3). This word reminds us that God sees beyond surface-level righteousness. He values honest humility over polished appearances. When we feel pressured to look perfect, this image invites us to bring our true selves to Him.
Our faith does not require a flawless facade. Instead, it calls for transparency before God and others. We can trust that He knows our hearts fully and still loves us. This truth frees us from the exhausting task of maintaining a false image. It encourages us to seek inner integrity rather than outward approval.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- whitewashed!1×
- whitewashed1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- κεκονιαμένοις1×
- κεκονιαμένε·1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 23:27
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitened tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men’s bones and of all uncleanness.
Jesus uses the whitewashed tomb imagery to condemn religious leaders who maintain an appearance of holiness while harboring inner corruption.
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Acts 23:3
Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to judge me according to the law, and command me to be struck contrary to the law?”
Paul calls Ananias a "whitewashed wall" to highlight the contradiction between his pious judgment of Paul and his own violation of the law.