ὅσιος (hosios)
hosios
sacred
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 8 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective hosios describes someone who is religiously right, pure, and free from wickedness. It conveys a sense of piety that observes every moral obligation without being defiled by sin. While it shares ground with the more common word for holy (hagios), hosios emphasizes a specific quality of integrity and blamelessness in conduct.
In Scripture, this term carries significant weight when applied to God and to Jesus. It appears in Revelation to describe God’s character as truly holy and righteous (Revelation 15:4; 16:5). More notably, it is used as a title for the Messiah in Acts 2:27 and 13:35, where Peter quotes Psalm 16 to argue that Jesus did not see decay because He was the "Holy One" preserved from corruption.
The word also appears in practical instructions for believers. In Titus 1:8, it describes the character required of church leaders, who must be devout and self-controlled. Similarly, 1 Timothy 2:8 links hosios hands to prayer, suggesting that outward acts of worship must reflect an inner state of moral purity.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word hosios points to a deep, enduring purity that keeps a person free from corruption. It is not merely about following rules, but about an inner integrity that remains steady even when circumstances change. When we look at how this word is used in Scripture, we see it applied to Jesus as the one preserved from decay, and to God as the source of righteous judgment.
For your daily life, this concept invites a quiet confidence. It suggests that true holiness is visible in practical ways, such as lifting hands in prayer without anger or doubting (1 Timothy 2:8). It calls church leaders and believers alike to be self-controlled and fair, showing that spiritual health affects how we treat others.
Knowing that God is the Holy One who judges with righteousness offers comfort. It means our faith rests on a foundation that cannot decay or fail. We can approach prayer and service with the hope that our lives, by grace, reflect this same steady purity.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 8 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- holy,2×
- Holy One2×
- sacred,1×
- holy [blessings]1×
- holy One,1×
- holy1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ὅσιος,3×
- ὅσιόν2×
- ὅσιον,1×
- ὅσια1×
- ὁσίους1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 2:27
because you will not leave my soul in Hades, neither will you allow your Holy One to see decay.
This verse applies the title to Jesus, emphasizing his preservation from decay as proof of his resurrection.
-
Revelation of John 16:5
I heard the angel of the waters saying, “You are righteous, who are and who were, O Holy One, because you have judged these things.
The angel addresses God as the Holy One, connecting his holiness with his righteous judgment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does hosios mean in the Bible?
How is hosios different from hagios?
Why is Jesus called the Holy One in Acts?
Every Occurrence (8 verses across 5 books)
Acts 3 verses
because you will not leave my soul in Hades, neither will you allow your Holy One to see decay.
Acts 13:34“Concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he has spoken thus: ‘I will give…
Acts 13:35Therefore he says also in another psalm, ‘You will not allow your Holy One to see decay.’