βεβηλ-όω G0953
to profane, to desecrate, to violate what is sacred, to treat holy things as common
This verb means to profane or desecrate something sacred, treating the holy as common or polluting what should remain pure. The Septuagint uses it for violating the Sabbath or defiling holy things, and this usage continues in the New Testament. Jesus references how temple priests 'profane the Sabbath' by their necessary work yet remain guiltless (Matt 12:5), while Paul's accusers claim he attempted 'to profane the temple' (Acts 24:6). The word captures the serious violation of crossing boundaries between sacred and profane, though Jesus's usage shows that ritual profanation may be justified by higher obligations.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Matthew 12:5 uses the present active form in Jesus's argument about Sabbath law: priests by necessity 'profane' the Sabbath through temple service yet bear no guilt, establishing a principle that mercy and temple service supersede strict Sabbath rest. Acts 24:6 contains the infinitive in the accusation that Paul tried 'to profane the temple,' a serious charge that Paul vigorously denies. Spanish 'profanan/profanar', French 'profaner', and German forms all maintain this sense of desecrating the holy. The two contexts show the word's range: justified necessity (Matthew) versus serious accusation of sacrilege (Acts). 2×
AR["أَنْ-يُنَجِّسَ", "يُنَجِّسُونَ"]·ben["অপবিত্র-করিতে", "অপবিত্র-করে"]·DE["βεβηλοῦσιν", "βεβηλῶσαι"]·EN["profane", "to-desecrate"]·FR["profaner"]·heb["לְחַלֵּל", "מְחַלְּלִים"]·HI["अपवित्र-करते-हैन", "अपवित्रकरने;"]·ID["menajiskan", "menajiskan,"]·IT["bebelousin", "profanare"]·jav["najisaken,", "nerak,"]·KO["더럽히기를", "범하되"]·RU["нарушают", "осквернить"]·ES["profanan", "profanar"]·SW["kulinajisi", "wanainajisi,"]·TR["bozuyorlar", "kirletmeye"]·urd["توڑتے-ہیں", "ناپاک-کرنے-کی"]
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
βεβηλ-όω, profane, τὸ σάββατον LXX+NT+4th c.AD+ __2 pollute, defile, τινά LXX+3rd c.AD+