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Expiation

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 · G129

αἷμα

ahima — blood

αἷμα, ατος, τό, [in LXX for דָּם ;] blood. 1. In the ordinary sense: Mrk.5:25, Luk.8:43,44 22:44, Jhn.19:34, Act.15:20,29 21:25, Rev.8:7,8 11:6 16:3,4,6 19:13. 2. In special senses: (a) of generation, origin, kinship (cl.): Jhn.1:13 (see MM, VGT, see word); (b) as in OT (AR on Eph, l.with), in the phrase σάρξ καὶ αἷ. (αἷ. κ. σ.), to indicate human nature as opposite to God and created spirits: Mat.16:17, 1Co.15:50, Gal.1:16, Eph.6:12, Heb.2:14; (with) of things in colour resembling blood: Act.2:19,20, Rev.6:12 14:18-20. (d) of bloodshed, a bloody death (cl.): Mat.23:30,35 27:4,6,8,24,25, Luk.11:50,51 13:1, Act.1:19 5:28 18:6 20:26 22:20, Heb.12:4, Rev.6:10 17:6 18:24 19:2 ; αἷ. ἐκχέειν (Deiss., LAE, 428; MM, VGT, see word, αἷ.), Rom.3:15, Rev.16:6; (e) of sacrificial blood, as an expiation: Heb.9:7,12,13,18-22,25 10:4 11:28 13:11; of the blood of Christ, Mat.26:28, Mrk.14:24, Luk.22:20, Jhn.6:53,54,56, Act.20:28, Rom.3:25 5:9, 1Co.10:16 11:25,27, Eph.1:7 2:13, Col.1:20, Heb.9:12,14 10:19,29 12:24 13:20, 1Pe.1:2,19, 1Jn.1:7 (cf. 5:6,8), Rev.1:5 5:9 7:14 12:11. (Cremer, 69 f., 612 f.) † (AS)

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GREEK · G4027

περικάθαρμα

perikatharma — garbage

περι-κάθαρμα, -τος, τό (περικαθαίρω, to purify on all sides or completely, Deu.18:10, Jos.5:4, 4Ma.1:29*), [in LXX: Pro.21:18 (כֹּפֶר)* ;] 1. a victim, expiation (Pr, l.with). 2. refuse, rubbish: pl., 1Co.4:13 (see ICC, in l).† (AS)

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GREEK · G4067

περίψημα

peripsēma — scum

περί-ψημα, -τος, τό (περιψράω, to wipe off all round), [in LXX: Tob.5:18 * ;] that which is wiped off, offscouring: metaphorically (assoc. with περικάθαρμα, which see), 1Co.4:13 (and so prob., To, l.with, as EV; but see Thayer, see word, for the meaning expiation, ransom, in To; and cf. LS, see word κάθαρμα; Lft., Notes, 200 f., and on Ign., Eph., 8).† (AS)

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GREEK · G6120

ἅγνισμα

hagnisma — purification

a purification, expiation , (Aeschulus Tragicus) (ML)

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Historical dictionary entry

Guilt is said to be expiated when it is visited with punishment falling on a substitute. Expiation is made for our sins when they are punished not in ourselves but in another who consents to stand in our room. It is that by which reconciliation is effected. Sin is thus said to be “covered” by vicarious satisfaction. The cover or lid of the ark is termed in the LXX. hilasterion, that which covered or shut out the claims and demands of the law against the sins of God’s people, whereby he became “propitious” to them. The idea of vicarious expiation runs through the whole Old Testament system of sacrifices. (See PROPITIATION.)

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

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