πλύνω (plunō)
plunō
to wash
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb plunō means to wash, typically referring to cleaning inanimate objects such as clothing or hands. In the Gospels, it appears in concrete settings, such as when Jesus heals a man by spitting on the ground, making mud, and washing his eyes (Luke 5:2). This usage aligns with its common appearance in the Septuagint, where it translates Hebrew terms for ritual cleansing.
While the word denotes physical cleaning, it carries significant theological weight in the Book of Revelation. Here, John uses plunō metaphorically to describe spiritual purity. Believers are said to have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb, a striking image that connects physical cleansing with the redemptive work of Christ (Revelation 7:14; 22:14). This figurative use echoes Old Testament psalms where washing symbolizes moral purification from sin.
Etymologically, plunō is a prolonged form of an obsolete verb meaning "to flow," suggesting the action of water running over something. Translators usually render it simply as "wash," though the context determines whether the focus is on literal hygiene or spiritual cleansing. The distinction between physical and metaphorical washing highlights how early Christian writers viewed faith as both a tangible reality and a profound inner transformation.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word plunō simply means to wash. In everyday life, this is a practical act of cleaning dirt from clothes or nets, as seen when fishermen in Luke 5:2 tended to their work. It grounds our faith in reality. God cares about the tangible details of daily life, not just abstract ideas.
In Revelation, this physical act becomes a powerful picture of spiritual hope. Believers are described as washing their robes in the Lamb’s blood (Revelation 7:14). This shows that Jesus’ sacrifice brings true cleansing. It is not about our own effort to be clean, but about receiving His grace.
When you feel weighed down by guilt or past mistakes, remember this image. Your robes are made white through Christ. You do not need to scrub away your history yourself. Instead, rest in the finished work of Jesus, who makes you new and pure before God.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- were washing1×
- washing1×
- they have washed1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἔπλυνον1×
- ἔπλυναν1×
- πλύνοντες1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 5:2
He saw two boats standing by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.
This verse shows the literal, everyday use of the word for cleaning fishing nets.
-
Revelation of John 7:14
I told him, “My lord, you know.” He said to me, “These are those who came out of the great suffering. They washed their robes and made them white in the Lamb’s blood.
Here the word describes the spiritual cleansing believers receive through Christ's sacrifice.
-
Revelation of John 22:14
Blessed are those who do his commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city.
This occurrence links moral obedience with the right to enter the city, rooted in that same washing.