βαπτ-ιστής G0910
Baptist, Baptizer — title applied exclusively to John son of Zechariah, the forerunner who baptized in the Jordan
The Greek baptistēs, derived from baptizō (to immerse, baptize), functions as a title rather than a generic noun in the New Testament, attached exclusively to John son of Zechariah. All twelve occurrences identify 'John the Baptist' — the prophetic voice who prepared Israel for the Messiah through a baptism of repentance. Jesus himself declared that among those born of women none was greater than John the Baptist (Matt 11:11; Luke 7:28). The title distinguishes this John from other figures of the same name, particularly the apostle. Spanish 'Bautista,' French 'Baptiste,' and German 'Täufer' all function as recognizable proper epithets.
Senses
1. Baptist — A substantival title meaning 'the one who baptizes,' used exclusively as an epithet for John son of Zechariah. Appears in narrative introductions (Matt 3:1; Mark 6:25; Luke 7:20), in Jesus' testimony about John's greatness (Matt 11:11-12; Luke 7:28), and in Herod's fearful identification of the man he beheaded (Matt 14:2, 8; Mark 6:24-25). The articular form ho baptistēs functions as a quasi-surname, distinguishing this John from all others. Spanish 'el Bautista' and German 'der Täufer' replicate this titular force. 12×
AR["المَعمَدانُ", "المَعمَدانِ", "المَعْمَدانِ", "المَعْمَدَانَ", "المَعْمَدَانُ", "المَعْمَدَانِ", "الْمَعْمَدانَ", "الْمَعْمَدَانُ", "مَعْمَدَانَ"]·ben["বাপ্তিস্মদাতা", "বাপ্তিস্মদাতা,", "বাপ্তিস্মদাতাকে", "বাপ্তিস্মদাতার"]·DE["Taeufer", "Täufer"]·EN["Baptist", "Baptizer", "baptizer"]·FR["Baptiste"]·heb["הַמַּטְבִּיל", "מַטְבִּיל"]·HI["बपतिस्मा-देनेवाला", "बपतिस्मा-देनेवाले-ने", "बप्तिस्तēस", "बप्तिस्तēस-के", "बप्तिस्तēस-से"]·ID["Pembaptis", "pembaptis,"]·IT["Battista"]·jav["Mbaptis,", "Mbaptis.", "Pambaptis", "Pambaptis.", "Pambaptis:", "Pambaptis;", "Pembaptis", "Pembaptis,", "Pembaptis."]·KO["세례요한", "세례요한의", "세례요한이", "세례자", "세례자라고", "세례자에-대하여", "세례자의", "세례자의."]·PT["Batista"]·RU["Крестителе", "Крестителем", "Креститель", "Крестителя"]·ES["Baptistḗn", "Baptistḗs", "Baptístēs", "Bautista", "bautizador"]·SW["Mbatizaji", "Mbatizaji.", "mbatizaji"]·TR["Vaftizci", "Vaftizci'nin", "Vaftizci,", "Vaftizci;", "vaftizci"]·urd["بپتسمہ-دینے-والا", "بپتسمہ-دینے-والے", "بپتسمہ-دینے-والے-کا", "نہ-کھاتا", "ہمیں"]
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-ιστής, οῦ, ὁ, one that dips: baptizer, ὁ β. the Baptist, NT+1st c.AD+: metaphorically of the Passion, NT