βαπτ-ίζω G0907
To baptize or be baptized; to immerse in water as a rite of repentance, identification, or purification.
The verb that gives Christianity one of its defining sacraments, deriving from bapto ('to dip'). In the New Testament it spans three distinct uses: receiving baptism as a convert or penitent (Matt 3:6, 13-16; Acts 2:41), administering baptism as John or the apostles did (Matt 3:11; 28:19; Mark 1:4), and the broader Hellenistic sense of ritual washing unconnected to Christian initiation (Mark 7:4; Luke 11:38). The multilingual evidence is striking: Spanish 'bautizar,' French 'baptiser,' and German 'taufen' all derive from or calque the Greek root, testifying to how thoroughly this word shaped Western religious vocabulary.
Senses
1. be baptized, receive baptism — To be baptized or receive baptism—the passive/middle voice usage covering 49 occurrences. Denotes undergoing the rite of water immersion as a sign of repentance (Matt 3:6; Mark 1:5), identification with Christ's death and resurrection (Rom 6:3-4), or entry into the believing community (Acts 2:41; 8:12-13). Spanish 'ser bautizados,' French 'baptiser' (passive), and German 'getauft werden' all mark the recipient perspective. The phrase 'baptized into Christ' (Gal 3:27) shows how the passive form carries rich theological freight. 49×
AR["أَنْ-أَعْتَمِدَ", "أَنْ-أَعْتَمِدَهَا", "أَنْ-يَعْتَمِدُوا", "اعتَمَدَ", "اعتَمَدَت", "اعْتَمَدَ", "اعْتَمَدُوا", "اعْتَمَدْتُمْ", "لِيَعْتَمِدُوا", "يَعْتَمِدَ", "يَعْتَمِدُونَ", "ٱعْتَمَدُوا"]·ben["তোমরা-বাপ্তিস্ম-নিয়েছ", "বাপ্তিষ্ম-নিল", "বাপ্তিষ্ম-নিলেন", "বাপ্তিষ্ম-হয়েছিলে?", "বাপ্তিস্ম-নিচ্ছিল", "বাপ্তিস্ম-নিচ্ছিলেন", "বাপ্তিস্ম-নিতে", "বাপ্তিস্ম-নিতে,", "বাপ্তিস্ম-নিতেন", "বাপ্তিস্ম-নিল", "বাপ্তিস্ম-নিলেন", "বাপ্তিস্ম-নেওয়ার-সময়", "বাপ্তিস্ম-হতে"]·DE["taufen", "tauft"]·EN["being-baptized", "she-was-baptized", "they-were-being-baptized", "to-be-baptized", "was-baptized", "were-being-baptized", "were-you-baptized", "you-were-baptized"]·FR["baptiser"]·heb["הִטָּבֵל", "הֻטְבַּלְתֶּם", "לְהִטָּבֵל", "נִטְבְּלָה", "נִטְבְּלוּ", "נִטְבַּל", "נִטְבַּלְתֶּם"]·HI["उससे", "और", "बपतिस्मा-लिया", "बपतिस्मा-लेते-थे", "बपतिस्मा-लेते-थे।", "बपतिस्मा-लेना", "बपतिस्मा-लेने", "बपतिस्मा-लेने-की", "बपतिस्मा-लेने-को", "बपतिस्मा-लेने-से"]·ID["dia-dibaptis", "dibaptis", "dibaptis,", "dibaptis.", "itu", "kamu-dibaptis", "untuk-dibaptis", "untuk-dibaptiskan"]·IT["battezzare"]·jav["dibaptis", "dipun-baptis", "dipun-baptis,", "dipun-baptis.", "dipunbaptis", "dipunbaptis,", "kabaptis", "kabaptis.", "kabaptis;", "kabaptis?", "padha-dibaptis", "panjenengan-dipun-baptis", "panjenengan-kabaptis?", "supados-dipun-baptis", "supados-dipun-baptis,"]·KO["너희가-세례-받았느냐", "받을", "세례-받았느냐", "세례를-받고-있었다", "세례를-받았다", "세례받기-에", "세례받기-에서", "세례받다", "세례받았다", "세례받으라", "세례받으려고", "세례받지-않도록", "침례받고", "침례받았다"]·PT["eram-batizados", "eram-batizados.", "foi-batizada,", "foi-batizado", "foi-batizado,", "fostes-batizados", "fostes-batizados?", "para-serem-batizadas", "para-serem-batizados", "ser-batizado"]·RU["был-крещён", "вы-были-крещены?", "крестилась", "крестились", "крестился", "креститься"]·ES["a-ser-bautizadas", "a-ser-bautizados", "eran-bautizados", "fue-bautizada", "fue-bautizado", "fuisteis-bautizados", "fuisteis-bautizados?", "ser-bautizado", "ser-bautizados"]·SW["abatizwe", "akabatizwa", "alibatizwa", "kubatizwa", "kubatizwa.", "kubatizwa?", "mlibatizwa", "mlibatizwa?", "wakabatizwa", "walibatizwa", "walipobatizwa"]·TR["vaftiz-edildi", "vaftiz-edildiniz?", "vaftiz-edilince", "vaftiz-ediliyorlardı", "vaftiz-edilmek", "vaftiz-edilmekten", "vaftiz-edilmelerini", "vaftiz-olmak-için", "vaftiz-olmam", "vaftiz-oluyorlardı"]·urd["بپتسمہ-لیا", "بپتسمہ-لیتے-تھے", "بپتسمہ-لینے", "بپتسمہ-لینے-سے", "بپتسمہ-لینے-کی", "لینا-ہے"]
Matt 3:6, Matt 3:13, Matt 3:14, Matt 3:16, Matt 20:22, Matt 20:22, Matt 20:23, Matt 20:23, Mark 1:5, Mark 1:9, Mark 10:38, Mark 10:38 (+37 more)
2. baptize, administer baptism — To baptize or administer baptism—the active voice usage across 30 occurrences, where the subject performs the rite upon another. John declares 'I baptize you with water' (Matt 3:11; Mark 1:8); Jesus commands the disciples to 'baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit' (Matt 28:19). Spanish 'bauticé' (I baptized), English 'baptize/baptized,' and German 'taufen' (active) all reflect the agent's role. This sense distinguishes the baptizer's authority and commission from the recipient's experience. 30×
AR["أُعَمِّدُ", "أُعَمِّدُكُمْ", "سَيُعَمِّدُ", "سَيُعَمِّدُكُمْ", "عَمَّدَ", "عَمَّدَهُ", "عَمَّدْتُ", "عَمَّدْتُكُمْ", "مُعَمِّد", "مُعَمِّدُ", "يُعَمِّدُ"]·ben["বাপ্তাইজ-করিলেন", "বাপ্তিষ্ম-দিইনি,", "বাপ্তিষ্ম-দিয়েছিলাম", "বাপ্তিষ্ম-দিয়েছিলাম।", "বাপ্তিস্ম-দিই", "বাপ্তিস্ম-দিচ্ছিলেন", "বাপ্তিস্ম-দিতে", "বাপ্তিস্ম-দিয়েছিলেন", "বাপ্তিস্ম-দিল", "বাপ্তিস্ম-দিলাম", "বাপ্তিস্ম-দেন", "বাপ্তিস্ম-দেবেন", "বাপ্তিস্মদাতা"]·DE["taufen", "tauft"]·EN["I-baptized", "baptize", "baptized", "baptizing", "he-baptized", "will-baptize"]·FR["baptiser"]·heb["הִטְבִּיל", "הִטְבַּלְתִּי", "טוֹבֵל", "יַטְבִּיל", "מַטְבִּיל"]·HI["तुम्हें", "पानी-से", "बपतिस्मा-दिया", "बपतिस्मा-देगा", "बपतिस्मा-देता-हुआ", "बपतिस्मा-देता-हुआ।", "बपतिस्मा-देता-हूँ", "बपतिस्मा-देता-हूं", "बपतिस्मा-देने-वाला", "बपतिस्मा-देनेवाला", "बपतिस्मा-देनेवाला।"]·ID["akan-membaptis", "aku-baptis", "aku-membaptis", "membaptis", "membaptis.", "yang-membaptis"]·IT["battezzare"]·jav["badhé-mbaptis", "bakal-mbaptis", "ingkang-mbaptis", "kawula-baptis", "kawula-baptis,", "kawula-baptis.", "mbaptis", "mbaptis."]·KO["세례-주었다", "세례를-주고-있었다", "세례를-주던", "세례를-주며", "세례를-주시는-분", "세례를-주었다", "세례를-주지-않았다", "세례를-준다", "세례주는-자가", "세례주었다", "세례준다", "세례줄-것이다", "세례한다", "세례할-것이다", "침례를-주었다"]·PT["batizando", "batizando.", "batizará", "batizei", "batizo", "batizou", "que-batiza"]·RU["будет-крестить", "крестил", "крестит", "крестящий", "крестящий.", "крещу"]·ES["Bauticé", "bauticé", "bautizando", "bautizará", "bautizo", "bautizó", "que-bautiza"]·SW["Nilibatiza", "akambatiza", "akibatiza", "alibatiza", "anayebatiza", "atawabatiza", "nikibatiza", "nilimbatiza.", "niliwabatiza", "niliyembatiza,", "ninabatiza", "ninawabatiza"]·TR["suyla", "vaftiz etmedim", "vaftiz ettim", "vaftiz-edecek", "vaftiz-eden", "vaftiz-ederim", "vaftiz-ediyorum", "vaftiz-etti", "vaftiz-ettim"]·urd["بپتسمہ-دیا", "بپتسمہ-دیتا-تھا", "بپتسمہ-دیتا-ہوا", "بپتسمہ-دیتا-ہوں", "بپتسمہ-دیتے-ہوئے۔", "بپتسمہ-دینے-والا", "بپتسمہ-دے-گا"]
3. wash, immerse ritually — To wash or immerse in a ritual purification context outside of Christian or Johannine baptism, attested only twice. At Mark 7:4, Pharisees 'wash' (baptize) cups, pitchers, and kettles; at Luke 11:38, a Pharisee is astonished that Jesus did not first 'wash' before dinner. English 'washed,' Spanish 'se lavó/se sumerjan' (washed/immerse themselves) reveal that translators shift away from 'baptize' to 'wash' when the specifically sacramental context is absent, exposing the word's older, broader Hellenistic meaning of ceremonial immersion. 2×
AR["يَغْتَسِلُوا", "يَغْتَسِلْ"]·ben["ডুবায়", "ধুলেন"]·DE["taufen", "tauft"]·EN["he-washed", "they-wash"]·FR["baptiser"]·heb["טָבַל", "יִטְבְּלוּ"]·HI["नहीं", "बपतिस्मा-लिया"]·ID["Ia-membasuh", "membasuh"]·IT["battezzare"]·jav["dipun-sèlèh", "kabaptis"]·KO["씩었다", "씻지"]·PT["se-batizarem"]·RU["омоются", "омылся"]·ES["se-lavó", "se-sumerjan"]·SW["alinawa", "wajitawadhe"]·TR["yıkanmadı", "yıkanırlarsa"]·urd["دھویا", "غسل-کریں"]
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
βαπτ-ίζω, dip, plunge, ξίφος εἰς σφαγήν Refs 1st c.AD+:—passive, of a trephine, Refs 1st c.AD+ — in passive, to be drowned, Refs 1st c.AD+; of ships, sink or disable them, Refs 2nd c.BC+; ἐβάπτισαν τὴν πόλιν flooded the city, metaphorically, of the crowds who flocked into Jerusalem at the time of the siege, Refs 5th c.BC+:—passive, ὡς ἐκ τοῦ βεβαπτίσθαι ἀναπνέουσι Refs 5th c.BC+; to be drenched,…