ὁσιότης (hosiotēs)
hosiotēs
holiness
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun hosiotēs denotes a life marked by piety and moral integrity before God. In the New Testament, it appears only twice, always paired with righteousness (dikaiosynē) to describe the ethical character expected of believers. Luke 1:75 uses it to depict the faithful serving God without fear, while Ephesians 4:24 lists it as part of the new self created in true holiness.
Its root adjective, hosios, implies a reverent devotion that respects divine boundaries. Unlike the broader term for sacredness (hagios), hosiotēs often carries a sense of upright conduct and fidelity to one’s obligations. The Septuagint uses it to translate Hebrew words meaning integrity or uprightness, linking it to a blameless walk before God.
This word highlights the practical outworking of faith. It is not merely a ritual state but a consistent pattern of behavior that honors God. By pairing it with righteousness, the biblical authors emphasize that right standing with God must be reflected in right living.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Holiness often feels like a distant standard, yet this word suggests something more grounded: faithful integrity. It describes a life that respects God’s boundaries through consistent, upright conduct. When paired with righteousness, it shows that our relationship with God is not just about status but about how we live each day.
In Luke 1:75, the phrase 'in holiness and righteousness' paints a picture of serving God without fear. This is not a perfect performance but a steady devotion. It invites us to view our daily actions as acts of worship, where integrity becomes our natural response to grace.
Ephesians 4:24 reminds us that this character is part of the 'new self' created in God’s likeness. We are called to put on this honesty and truth. It is a gentle invitation to align our hearts with God’s nature, finding peace in a life that honors Him through simple, faithful steps.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- holiness2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ὁσιότητι2×
Key Verses
-
Luke 1:75
in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.
This verse links holiness directly to serving God without fear, showing it as an attitude of reverent service rather than ritual purity.
-
Ephesians 4:24
and put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.
Here the word describes the ethical character of the 'new self,' emphasizing that true holiness is rooted in truth and reflects God's likeness.