ἀκᾰθαρ-σία G0167
Impurity, uncleanness — moral defilement, especially sexual immorality and spiritual corruption
The noun ἀκαθαρσία (akatharsia) denotes moral impurity or uncleanness, primarily in the sphere of sexual sin and spiritual corruption. Paul pairs it consistently with πορνεία (sexual immorality) in vice lists (Gal 5:19; Eph 5:3; Col 3:5), and contrasts it sharply with sanctification: 'God did not call us to impurity but to holiness' (1 Thess 4:7). Romans 1:24 links it to God's judicial handing-over of humanity to degrading passions. While the term has roots in Levitical ritual impurity, its NT usage is overwhelmingly ethical. Spanish 'impureza,' Arabic 'نَجَاسَة,' Hindi 'अशुद्धता,' Korean '더러움,' Swahili 'uchafu.'
Senses
1. impurity, uncleanness — Moral or spiritual impurity, filthiness, or corruption, used predominantly for sexual immorality and ethical defilement in the Pauline epistles. Listed among the works of the flesh alongside πορνεία and ἀσέλγεια (Gal 5:19; Eph 5:3; Col 3:5), it appears in the context of God's judicial abandonment of humanity (Rom 1:24), the contrast between the believer's former and present life (Rom 6:19; Eph 4:19), and Paul's pastoral concern over unrepentant congregants (2 Cor 12:21). The antonym is ἁγιασμός, sanctification (1 Thess 4:7). 10×
AR["النَّجاسَةَ", "النَّجاسَةُ", "النَّجاسَةِ", "نَجاسَةٍ"]·ben["অশুচিতা", "অশুচিতা,", "অশুচিতা-র", "অশুচিতায়", "অশুচিতার", "অশুদ্ধতা", "অশুদ্ধতা,"]·DE["Unreinheit"]·EN["impurity", "of-uncleanness", "uncleanness"]·FR["impureté"]·heb["טֻמְאָה"]·HI["अशुदधत", "अशुदधत,", "अशुद्धता", "अशुद्धता-की", "अशुद्धता-को", "सब"]·ID["kecemaran", "kecemaran,", "kenajisan", "kenajisan,"]·IT["akatharsias", "impurita", "impurità"]·jav["najis,", "reged", "reged,", "regedan", "reregeding", "reregeding,"]·KO["더러움", "더러움,", "모든-더러움-이", "부정함", "부정함과", "불결의,", "불결함", "불결함에", "불결함에서도"]·PT["de-toda-impureza,", "impureza"]·RU["-беззаконие", "нечистота", "нечистоте", "нечистоту", "нечистоты", "нечистоты,"]·ES["de-impureza", "impureza"]·SW["hivyo", "uchafu", "uchafu,"]·TR["her", "isine", "kirlilik", "kirlilikten", "murdarligi", "pislik", "pisliğe"]·urd["ناپاکی"]
Related Senses
H3548 1. priest, cultic officiant (750×)G5547 1. Christ, Messiah, Anointed One (540×)H5030 1. Prophet, divine spokesperson (317×)H5930a 1. burnt offering (sacrifice) (286×)H3881 1. Levites (priestly class) (283×)G4396 1. prophet, spokesperson of God (146×)H6944 1. sanctuary, holy place (129×)G0749 1. high priest, chief priest (123×)H6944 2. holiness, sacredness (abstract quality) (123×)G5330 1. Pharisee (99×)G4336 1. pray to God (86×)H6944 3. holy things, sacred offerings (plural) (86×)H3722a 1. make ritual atonement (Piel) (85×)H6912 1. bury (Qal active) (82×)H6419 1. pray (Hitpael) (80×)H6944 4. holiness (with possessive pronoun) (77×)H6942 1. sanctify, consecrate (Piel factitive) (76×)H2930a 1. Qal: be/become unclean (75×)H7819a 1. slaughter an animal (Qal active) (72×)H1486 1. lot (object cast for decisions) (71×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἀκᾰθαρ-σία, ἡ, uncleanness, foulness, of a wound or sore, Refs 5th c.BC+ __b dirt, filth, Refs 1st c.BC+ __2 in moral sense, depravity, Refs 4th c.BC+ __3 ceremonial impurity, LXX