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Clean

Original Hebrew / Aramaic / Greek connected to this term

How to read this: there is rarely one magic “true meaning” hidden behind an English word. A lexicon records a word’s semantic range. The intended meaning is narrowed by grammar, sentence, author, historical usage and context.

GREEK · G2513

καθαρός

katharos — clean

καθαρός, -ά, -όν [in LXX chiefly for טָהוֹר ;] pure, clean. 1. Physically: Mat.23:26 27:59, Jhn.13:10-11 (fig.), Jhn.15:3 (figuratively, as of a vine cleansed by pruning), Heb.10:22, Rev.15:6 19:8, 14 21:18, 21. 2. Ceremonially: Luk.11:41, Rom.14:20, Tit.1:15. 3. Ethically; (a) of persons: Jhn.13:16, Act.18:6, Tit.1:15; ό κ. τῇ καρδίᾳ (καθαρὸς χεῖρας, Hdt., i, 35), Mat.5:8; before ἀπό (cl. with genitive simp.; ΒΙ., § 36, 11; Deiss., BS, 196; MM, Exp., xv), Act.20:26; (b) of things: καρδία, 1Ti.1:6, 2Ti.2:22; συνείδησις, 1Ti.3:9, 2Ti.1:3; θρησκεία, Jas.1:27.† SYN.: see: ἁγνός. (AS)

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GREEK · G40

ἅγιος

hagios — holy

ἅγιος, -α, ον (τό ἅγός, religious awe; ἅζω, to venerate), [in LXX chiefly for קֹ֫דֶשׁ ;] primarily, dedicated to the gods, sacred (Hdt.; rare in Att., never in Hom., Hes. and Trag., who use ἁγνός), hence, holy, characteristic of God, separated to God, worthy of veneration. 1. Its highest application is to God himself, in his purity, majesty, and glory: Luk.1:49, Jhn.17:11, Rev.4:8. Hence (a) of things and places which have a claim to reverence as sacred to God, e.g. the Temple: Mat.24:15, Heb.9:1; (b) of persons employed by him, as angels: 1Th.3:13; prophets, Luk.1:70; apostles, Eph.3:5. 2. Applied to persons as separated to God's service: (a) of Christ, Mrk.1:24, Jhn.6:69, Act.4:30; (b) of Christians, Act.9:13, Rom.1:7, Heb.6:10, Rev.5:8. 3. In the moral sense of sharing God's purity: Mrk.6:20, Jhn.17:11, Act.3:14, Rev.3:7. 4. Of pure, clean sacrifices and offerings: 1Co.7:14, Eph.1:4. SYN.: ἁγνός, pure, both in ceremonial and spiritual sense; ἱερός (sacer), sacred, that which is inviolable because of its (external) relation to God; ὅσιος (sanctus as opposite to nefas), that which is based on everlasting ordinances of right. (Cf. Tr., Syn., §lxxxviii; DB, ii, 399 f.; Cremer, 34, 594-601; MM, VGT, see word) (AS)

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H2398

חָטָא

cha.ta — to sin

1) to sin, miss, miss the way, go wrong, incur guilt, forfeit, purify from uncleanness 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to miss 1a2) to sin, miss the goal or path of right and duty 1a3) to incur guilt, incur penalty by sin, forfeit 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to bear loss 1b2) to make a sin-offering 1b3) to purify from sin 1b4) to purify from uncleanness 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to miss the mark 1c2) to induce to sin, cause to sin 1c3) to bring into guilt or condemnation or punishment 1d) (Hithpael) 1d1) to miss oneself, lose oneself, wander from the way 1d2) to purify oneself from uncleanness

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H3581

כֹּחַ

ko.ach — reptile

1) a small reptile, probably a kind of lizard, which is unclean 1a) perhaps an extinct animal, exact meaning is unknown

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H2930

טָמֵא

ta.me — to defile

1) to be unclean, become unclean, become impure 1a) (Qal) to be or become unclean 1a1) sexually 1a2) religiously 1a3) ceremonially 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to defile oneself, be defiled 1b1a) sexually 1b1b) by idolatry 1b1c) ceremonially 1b2) to be regarded as unclean 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to defile 1c1a) sexually 1c1b) religiously 1c1c) ceremonially 1c2) to pronounce unclean, declare unclean (ceremonially) 1c3) to profane (God's name) 1d) (Pual) to be defiled 1e) (Hithpael) to be unclean 1f) (Hothpael) to be defiled

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H2889

טָהוֹר

ta.hor — pure

1) pure, clean 1a) clean (ceremonially-of animals) 1b) pure (physically) 1c) pure, clean (morally, ethically)

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H2931

טָמֵא

ta.me — unclean

1) unclean, impure 1a) ethically and religiously 1b) ritually 1c) of places

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H8441

תּוֹעֵבַה

to.e.vah — abomination

1) a disgusting thing, abomination, abominable 1a) in ritual sense (of unclean food, idols, mixed marriages) 1b) in ethical sense (of wickedness etc)

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H2891

טָהֵר

ta.her — be pure

1) to be clean, be pure 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be clean (physically-of disease) 1a2) to be clean ceremonially 1a3) to purify, be clean morally, made clean 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to cleanse, purify 1b1a) physically 1b1b) ceremonially 1b1c) morally 1b2) to pronounce clean 1b3) to perform the ceremony of cleansing 1c) (Pual) to be cleansed, be pronounced clean 1d) (Hithpael) 1d1) to purify oneself 1d1a) ceremonially 1d1b) morally 1d2) to present oneself for purification

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H7364

רָחַץ

ra.chats — to wash: wash

: wash 1) to wash, wash off, wash away, bathe 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to wash, wash off, wash away 1a2) to wash, bathe (oneself) 1b) (Pual) to be washed 1c) (Hithpael) to wash oneself 2a) (Hithpael Passive) to be regarded clean, trustworthy

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H8552

תָּמַם

ta.mam — to finish

1) to be complete, be finished, be at an end 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be finished, be completed 1a1a) completely, wholly, entirely (as auxiliary with verb) 1a2) to be finished, come to an end, cease 1a3) to be complete (of number) 1a4) to be consumed, be exhausted, be spent 1a5) to be finished, be consumed, be destroyed 1a6) to be complete, be sound, be unimpaired, be upright (ethically) 1a7) to complete, finish 1a8) to be completely crossed over 1b) (Niphal) to be consumed 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to finish, complete, perfect 1c2) to finish, cease doing, leave off doing 1c3) to complete, sum up, make whole 1c4) to destroy (uncleanness) 1c5) to make sound 1d) (Hithpael) to deal in integrity, act uprightly

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H5838

עֲזַרְיָ֫הוּ

a.zar.yah — Azariah

A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ki.4.2; son of: Ahimaaz (H0290H); father of: Johanan (H3110J) § Azariah = "Jehovah has helped" 1) son of king Amaziah of Judah and king of Judah himself for 52 years; also 'Uzziah' 2) the godly friend of Daniel who Nebuchadnezzar renamed Abednego; one of the three friends who with Daniel refused to make themselves unclean by eating food from the king's table which went against the dietary laws which God had given the Jews; also one of the three who were thrown into the fiery furnace for refusing to bow down to a graven image of Nebuchadnezzar and who were saved by the angel of the Lord 2a) also, 'Abednego' (H5664 or H5665) 3) son of Nathan and an officer of Solomon; perhaps David's grandson and Solomon's nephew 4) a prophet in the days of king Asa of Judah 5) son of king Jehoshaphat of Judah and brother to 5 6) another son of king Jehoshaphat of Judah and brother to 4 7) a priest, son of Ahimaaz, grandson of Zadok and high priest in the reign of king Solomon 8) the high priest in the reign of king Uzziah of Judah 9) a priest who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah; probably same as 18 10) a Kohathite Levite, father of Joel in the reign of king Hezekiah of Judah 11) a Merarite Levite, son of Jehalelel in the reign of king Hezekiah of Judah 12) a Kohathite Levite, son of Zephaniah and ancestor of Samuel the prophet 13) a Levite who helped Ezra in instructing the people in the law 14) son of Jeroham and one of the temple captains of Judah in the time of queen Athaliah; probably the same as 21 15) son of Maaseiah who repaired part of the wall of Jerusalem in the time of Nehemiah 16) one of the leaders who returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel 17) a man who assisted in the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem in the time of Nehemiah; probably the same as 10 18) son of Johanan, one of the captains of Ephraim in the reign of king Ahaz of Judah 19) a Judaite, son of Ethan of the sons of Zerah 20) a Judaite, son of Jehu of the family of the Jerahmeelites and descended from Jarha the Egyptian slave of Sheshan; probably one of the captains of the time of queen Athaliah and the same as 15 21) a priest, son of Hilkiah 22) a priest, son of Johanan 23) son of king Jehoram of Judah; probably clerical error for 'Ahaziah' 24) son of Meraioth 25) son of Hoshaiah and one of the proud men who confronted Jeremiah

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H5355

נָקִי

na.qi — innocent

1) clean, free from, exempt, clear, innocent 1a) free from guilt, clean, innocent 1b) free from punishment 1c) free or exempt from obligations Also means: na.qi (נָקִיא "innocent" H5355B)

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H5352

נָקָה

na.qah — to clear

1) to be empty, be clear, be pure, be free, be innocent, be desolate, be cut off 1a) (Qal) to be empty, be clean, be pure 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be cleaned out, be purged out 1b2) to be clean, be free from guilt, be innocent 1b3) to be free, be exempt from punishment 1b4) to be free, be exempt from obligation 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to hold innocent, acquit 1c2) to leave unpunished

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GREEK · G169

ἀκάθαρτος

akathartos — unclean

ἀκάθαρτος, -ον (ἀ- neg., καθαίρω), [in LXX chiefly for טָמֵא ;] unclean, impure; (a) physically (LS, MM, VGT, see word); (b) ceremonially: Act.10:14,28 11:8, 1Co.7:14, 2Co.6:17, Rev.18:2; (with) morally: Eph.5:5, Rev.17:4; with πνεῦμα, as always in Gosp., Mat.10:1 12:43, Mrk.1:23,26,27 3:11,30 5:2,8,13 6:7 7:25 9:25, Luk.4:33,36 6:18 8:29 9:42 11:24, Act.5:16 8:7, Rev.16:13 (cf. Cremer, 320). † (AS)

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GREEK · G2511

καθαρίζω

katharizō — to clean

καθαρίζω (Hellenistic-FlJ, Inscr.-for Attic καθαίρω, which see, on the vulgar -ερ-, Mat.8:3, Mrk.1:42, see Bl., § 6, 1; Thackeray, Gr., 74) [in LXX chiefly for טָהֵר ;] to cleanse, make clean. 1. In physical sense: with accusative of thing(s), figuratively, Mat.23:25-26, Luk.11:39; of disease (leprosy), with accusative of person(s), Mat.8:2-3 10:8 11:5, Mrk.1:40-42 Luk.4:27 5:12-13 7:22 17:14, 17; ἡ λέπρα ἐκαθερίσθη (on the spelling see supr.), Mat.8:3. 2. In ethical sense: τ. καρδίας, Act.15:9 (cf. Sir.38:10); τ. χεῖρας, Jas.4:8; λαὸν ἑαυτῷ, Tit.2:14; τ. ἐκκλησίαν, Eph.5:26; with accusative of person(s) (of thing(s)), before ἀπό (131., § 36, 9; Deiss., BS, 216 f.), 2Co.7:1, Heb.9:14, 1Jn.1:7 Jn 1:9. 3. In ceremonial sense: Mrk.7:19, Act.10:15 11:9, Heb.9:22-23 10:2 (cf. δια-καθαρίζω).† (AS)

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H2608

חֲנַנְיָ֫הוּ

cha.nan.yah — Hananiah

A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.28.1; son of: Azzur (H5809H) § Hananiah = "God has favoured" 1) the godly friend of Daniel whom Nebuchadnezzar renamed Shadrach; one of the three friends who with Daniel refused to make themselves unclean by eating food from the king's table which went against the dietary laws which God had given the Jews; also one of the three who were thrown into the fiery furnace for refusing to bow down to a graven image of Nebuchadnezzar and who were saved by the angel of the Lord. See also, 'Shadrach' (H07714 or H07715) 2) one of the 14 sons of Heman and chief of the 16th course 3) a general in the army of King Uzziah 4) father of Zedekiah in the time of Jehoiakim 5) son of Azur, a Benjamite of Gibeon and a false prophet in the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah 6) grandfather of Irijah, the captain of the ward at the gate of Benjamin who arrested Jeremiah on the charge of deserting to the Chaldeans 7) a head of a Benjamite house 8) son of Zerubbabel from whom Christ derived His descent also called 'Joanna' by Luke 9) one of the sons of Bebai who returned with Ezra from Babylon 10) a priest, one of the makers of the sacred ointments and incense, who built a portion of the wall of Jerusalem in the days of Nehemiah 11) head of the priestly course of Jeremiah in the days of Joiakim 12) ruler of the palace at Jerusalem under Nehemiah and also, along with Hanani, the Tirshatha's brother, entrusted with the arrangements of guarding the gates of Jerusalem 13) Two post exilic Israelites

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H2932

טֻמְאָה

tum.ah — uncleanness

1) uncleanness 1a) sexual 1b) of filthy mass 1c) ethical and religious 1d) ritual 1e) local (of nations)

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H1305

בָּרַר

ba.rar — to purify

1) to purify, select, polish, choose, purge, cleanse or make bright, test or prove 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to purge, purge out, purify 1a2) to choose, select 1a3) to cleanse, make shining, polish 1a4) to test, prove 1b) (Niphal) to purify oneself 1c) (Piel) to purify 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to purify 1d2) to polish arrows 1e) (Hithpael) 1e1) to purify oneself 1e2) to show oneself pure, just, kind

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H4336

מֵישַׁךְ

me.shakh — Meshach

A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Dan.1.6; also called Meshach at Dan.1.7; 2.49; 3.12,13,14,16,19,20,22,23,26,28,29,30; Aramaic of mi.sha.el (מִישָׁאֵל "Mishael" H4332I) § Meshach = "guest of the king" 1) the godly friend of Daniel who Nebuchadnezzar renamed Meshach; one of the three friends who with Daniel refused to make themselves unclean by eating food from the king's table which went against the dietary laws which God had given the Jews; also one of the three who were thrown into the fiery furnace for refusing to bow down to a graven image of Nebuchadnezzar and who were saved by the angel of the Lord 1a) original name 'Mishael'

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H5665

עֲבֵד נְגוֹ

a.ved ne.go — Abednego

A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Dan.1.6; also called Abednego at Dan.2.49; 3.12,13,14,16,19,20,22,23,26,28,29,30; Aramaic of a.zar.yah (עֲזַרְיָה "Azariah" H5838Z) § Abed-nego = "servant of Nebo" 1) the godly friend of Daniel who Nebuchadnezzar renamed Abednego; one of the three friends who with Daniel refused to make themselves unclean by eating food from the king's table which went against the dietary laws which God had given the Jews; also one of the three who were thrown into the fiery furnace for refusing to bow down to a graven image of Nebuchadnezzar and who were saved by the angel of the Lord 1a) also, 'Azariah' (H5838 or H5839)

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H7715

שַׁדְרַךְ

shad.rakh — Shadrach

A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Dan.1.6; also called Shadrach at Dan.1.7; 2.49; 3.12,13,14,16,19,20,22,23,26,28,29,30; Aramaic of cha.nan.yah (חֲנַנְיָ֫הוּ "Hananiah" H2608T) § Shadrach = "royal" or "the great scribe" 1) the godly friend of Daniel whom Nebuchadnezzar renamed Shadrach; one of the three friends who with Daniel refused to make themselves unclean by eating food from the king's table which went against the dietary laws which God had given the Jews; also one of the three who were thrown into the fiery furnace for refusing to bow down to a graven image of Nebuchadnezzar and who were saved by the angel of the Lord 1a) also, 'Hananiah' (H2608L)

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GREEK · G2839

κοινός

koinos — common: unsanctified

κοινός, -ή, -όν [in LXX: Pro.1:14 (אֶחָד) Pro.21:9 25:24 (חֶבֶר), Wis.7:3, al. ;] 1. common (general; = Lat. communis): Act.2:44 4:32; κ. πίστις, Tit.1:4; σωτηρία, Ju 3 2. common (ordinary; = vulgaris); hence in LXX (1Ma.1:47, al.) and NT, unhallowed, unclean (cl., βέβηλος, which see): Mrk.7:2, 5, Act.10:14, 28 11:8, Rom.14:14, Heb.10:29, Rev.21:27.† (AS)

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Historical dictionary entry

The various forms of uncleanness according to the Mosaic law are enumerated in Lev. 11-15; Num. 19. The division of animals into clean and unclean was probably founded on the practice of sacrifice. It existed before the Flood (Gen. 7:2). The regulations regarding such animals are recorded in Lev. 11 and Deut. 14:1-21. The Hebrews were prohibited from using as food certain animal substances, such as (1) blood; (2) the fat covering the intestines, termed the caul; (3) the fat on the intestines, called the mesentery; (4) the fat of the kidneys; and (5) the fat tail of certain sheep (Ex. 29:13, 22; Lev. 3:4-9; 9:19; 17:10; 19:26). The chief design of these regulations seems to have been to establish a system of regimen which would distinguish the Jews from all other nations. Regarding the design and the abolition of these regulations the reader will find all the details in Lev. 20:24-26; Acts 10:9-16; 11:1-10; Heb. 9:9-14.

Scripture references

Source: Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897). Historical dictionary wording reflects the scholarship and language of its era.

Compare other reference traditions

Look up Clean in Smith’s Bible Dictionary and ISBE →