βαπτ-ισμός G0909
Washing, immersion, baptism; a ceremonial or ritual cleansing by water, ranging from Jewish purification rites to Christian baptism.
Refers to the act of dipping or washing in water, encompassing both Jewish ceremonial washings and distinctly Christian baptism. In Mark 7:4, 8 it describes the Pharisees' traditional purification rituals—washing of cups, pots, and vessels—while Heb 9:10 similarly references Old Covenant 'washings.' Colossians 2:12 and Heb 6:2 apply the term to Christian baptism as a foundational doctrine. Spanish distinguishes 'inmersiones' (immersions) from 'bautismo' (baptism), revealing the semantic stretch from general ritual washing to the specific Christian sacrament. German 'Waschungen' (washings) likewise emphasizes the purificatory dimension.
Senses
1. sense 1 — A washing, immersion, or baptism—covering both Jewish ceremonial purification rites and Christian sacramental baptism. Mark 7:4, 8 and Heb 9:10 use the term for the Pharisaic and Levitical tradition of ritual washings (of hands, vessels, and bodies), while Col 2:12 and Heb 6:2 apply it to Christian baptism as a foundational element of the faith. The Spanish split between 'inmersiones' and 'bautismo' and the German 'Waschungen' illuminate the word's dual register: it can denote any ritual water-cleansing, yet in Christian theological context it becomes a technical term for the initiatory rite of baptism. 5×
AR["المَعموديَّةِ", "المَعْمودِيَّاتِ", "غَسْلَ", "غَسْلَاتٍ"]·ben["অবগাহনে", "ডুবানো", "বাপ্তিস্মে", "বাপ্তিস্মের"]·DE["Waschungen"]·EN["baptism", "of-baptisms", "washings"]·FR["ablution"]·heb["טְבִילָה", "טְבִילוֹת"]·HI["और", "बपतिस्मों", "बपतिस्मों,", "बप्तिस्म"]·ID["baptisan", "pembasuhan"]·IT["baptismois", "baptismō", "baptismōn", "immersione"]·jav["<pandilah", "baptisan", "pandilah", "siram"]·KO["세례-안에서", "세례들로", "세례들의", "씻는-것을", "지키기를"]·PT["abluções", "batismo", "batismos", "de-batismos"]·RU["крещении", "крещений", "омовения", "омовениях"]·ES["bautismo", "de-bautismos", "inmersiones", "lavamientos"]·SW["ubatizo"]·TR["vaftizde", "vaftizlerin", "yıkamalar", "yıkamaları"]·urd["بپتسموں-کی", "بپتسمہ", "دھونا", "غسلوں"]
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-ισμός, ὁ, dipping in water, immersion, NT+2nd c.AD+ __2 metaphorically, εἰς κακίας β. οἰχήσεται Refs __3 lethargic sleep, Archig.and Refs 2nd c.BC+ __4 baptism, Refs 1st c.AD+