ῥυπόω (rhupoō)
rhupoō
to defile
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb rhupoō means to make something filthy or to soil it, carrying a strong sense of physical dirtiness that extends into moral corruption. Derived from the noun for filth (rhupos), this word appears only once in the New Testament, found in Revelation 22:11 within John’s final vision.
In this context, the term underscores the irreversible nature of spiritual state at the end of time. The text uses it to describe those who remain morally stained or defiled, contrasting them with the pure. It serves as a stark warning about the consequences of persisting in sin without repentance before judgment arrives.
Translators typically render this word as "defile" or "make filthy," preserving its visceral impact. The usage highlights that moral impurity is not merely an abstract concept but a tangible condition that separates individuals from holiness, emphasizing the seriousness of one’s final standing before God.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word rhupoō carries a heavy weight in Scripture, describing a state of being soiled or stained beyond simple cleaning. In Revelation 22:11, it marks a final reality where spiritual condition becomes fixed. This is not about temporary mistakes but a settled heart that refuses to turn toward God’s light. The image is visceral: dirt that will not wash away because the person has chosen to remain in it.
For your faith, this serves as a solemn reminder of the value of repentance while there is still time. It invites you to examine where you might be holding onto habits or attitudes that separate you from holiness. The hope lies in the contrast offered right alongside this warning: those who are righteous are called to do righteousness still. You are invited to align your life with that purity now, before the moment of finality arrives.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- he should be defiled1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ῥυπανθήτω1×
Key Verses
-
Revelation of John 22:11
He who acts unjustly, let him act unjustly still. He who is filthy, let him be filthy still. He who is righteous, let him do righteousness still. He who is holy, let him be holy still.”
This single occurrence uses rhupoō to describe the irreversible state of those who persist in moral filth, highlighting the finality of judgment.