ὁσι-ότης G3742
holiness, piety; devoutness toward God and reverence toward parents
This noun denotes the disposition to observe divine law and show reverence—piety, devoutness, holiness. Classical usage covers both religious devotion toward gods and filial piety toward parents (like Latin pietas). In Luke 1:75, Zechariah's prophecy describes serving God 'in holiness and righteousness.' Ephesians 4:24 speaks of the new self 'created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.' The word emphasizes the inner disposition and outward practice of reverent devotion, oriented both vertically (toward God) and horizontally (toward others).
Senses
1. sense 1 — Both New Testament uses appear in dative form, describing the manner of life or character. Luke 1:75 pairs it with 'righteousness' (dikaiosune) to describe service before God—the translations render it as 'holiness' (Spanish 'santidad,' French 'sainteté,' German 'heilig'). Ephesians 4:24 similarly couples it with righteousness in describing the recreated human nature. The multilingual evidence emphasizes the quality of sacred devotion and moral purity that characterizes those who live in proper relationship with the divine. 2×
AR["قَداسَةِ", "قَدَاسَةٍ"]·ben["পবিত্রতায়"]·DE["heilig", "ὁσιότητι"]·EN["holiness"]·FR["sainteté"]·heb["קְדֻשָּׁה"]·HI["पवित्रत", "पवित्रता"]·ID["kekudusan"]·IT["osioteti", "osiotēti"]·jav["kasucèn"]·KO["거룩함-과", "거룩함에"]·PT["santidade"]·RU["святости"]·ES["santidad"]·SW["utakatifu"]·TR["kutsalliginda", "kutsallık"]·urd["پاکیزگی"]
Related Senses
H2896a 1. good (quality or moral) (305×)H7563 1. wicked person (259×)H7451c 1. moral evil or wickedness (234×)H5771 1. iniquity, sin, wrongdoing (222×)H6662 1. righteous person (substantive) (195×)G0266 1. sin, failure, transgression (173×)H2403b 1. sin, transgression (170×)H2617a 1. Covenant faithfulness, steadfast love (167×)H2398 1. Qal: to sin, commit sin (165×)H6666 1. righteousness, moral uprightness (145×)G5485 1. grace, divine favor (141×)H7451a 1. morally evil, wicked (129×)H2403b 2. sin-offering, sacrifice for sin (120×)G2570 1. good, right, excellent (98×)H6588 1. transgression, offense against God (88×)G0018 1. good (moral quality) (85×)H2896b 1. good, what is good (85×)H7451b 1. evil, wickedness (moral) (83×)H7451a 2. evil, harm, calamity (80×)G1342 1. righteous, upright (of persons) (70×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ὁσι-ότης, ητος, ἡ, disposition to observe divine law, piety, Refs 5th c.BC+; πρὸς θεῶν ὁ. piety towards them, Refs 1st c.AD+; also, like Latin pietas, ἡ πρὸς γονεῖς ὁ. Refs 1st c.BC+