ἀπολούω

I wash off, wash away

Definition

The verb ἀπολούω means 'to wash off' or 'to wash away.' In its two New Testament occurrences, it specifically refers to the washing away of sins in a spiritual sense, closely associated with baptism. In Acts 22:16, Ananias tells Paul, 'Get up, be baptized, and wash away (ἀπόλουσαι) your sins, calling on his name,' directly linking the act of baptism to the cleansing from sin. In 1 Corinthians 6:11, Paul reminds the Corinthians, 'But you were washed (ἀπελούσασθε), you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God,' where the washing is a past, completed action that signifies the comprehensive spiritual cleansing received through Christ.

Biblical Usage

ἀπολούω is used only twice in the New Testament, both times in the middle voice (ἀπολούομαι), emphasizing the subject's participation in the action. It appears in narrative (Acts) and epistolary (1 Corinthians) contexts. In both instances, the word is used metaphorically for the spiritual cleansing from sin that is connected to baptism and salvation in Jesus Christ. The usage pattern shows it is a theologically charged term for the definitive washing associated with conversion.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition ἀπό (meaning 'away from') and the verb λούω (meaning 'to wash' or 'to bathe'). Thus, it literally means 'to wash off' or 'to wash away.' It intensifies the basic action of washing to indicate a thorough cleansing or removal. The root λούω is used elsewhere in the New Testament for physical washing (e.g., Acts 9:37, 2 Peter 2:22) and for spiritual washing (Revelation 1:5).

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it directly connects the physical rite of baptism with the inward, spiritual reality of sins being washed away through the name of Jesus (Acts 22:16). It underscores baptism as the moment of cleansing and initiation into the Christian community. In 1 Corinthians 6:11, it is part of a powerful triad—washed, sanctified, justified—describing the complete transformative work of God. Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by highlighting the definitive and complete nature of the cleansing believers receive in Christ, distinct from ongoing purification.

In the Greco-Roman world, ritual washings for purification were common in various religious practices. For Jewish audiences, ceremonial washings (mikveh) were familiar. The New Testament use of ἀπολούω appropriates this cultural concept of ritual cleansing but redefines it around a once-for-all, spiritual cleansing tied directly to faith in Jesus Christ, not a repeated physical act. This represented a significant shift in understanding purification.

λούω (louō, G3068) — A more general term for washing or bathing, used for both physical and spiritual cleansing. νίπτω (niptō, G3538) — Typically means to wash a part of the body (e.g., hands, feet), not a full bathing. βαπτίζω (baptizō, G907) — Means to dip, immerse, or wash; the specific ritual act of baptism, of which ἀπολούω describes the spiritual effect.

Word Details

Scripture References