ἑορτάζω

I keep a feast

Definition

ἑορτάζω means to celebrate or observe a festival, specifically to keep a feast. In its literal sense, it refers to participating in religious or communal celebrations, such as the Jewish feasts prescribed in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, it appears only in 1 Corinthians 5:8, where Paul uses it allegorically, urging believers to 'keep the feast' not with old leaven but with sincerity and truth, shifting the focus from physical observance to spiritual reality. This single usage highlights a transition from external ritual to internal, Christ-centered devotion.

Biblical Usage

This verb is used only once in the New Testament, in 1 Corinthians 5:8. Here, Paul employs it in a metaphorical context, applying the imagery of the Passover feast to the Christian life. He encourages believers to celebrate spiritually, emphasizing moral purity and truth rather than literal festival observance. The usage is distinctive, as it takes a term for physical celebration and repurposes it for ethical and spiritual exhortation within the early Christian community.

Etymology

Derived from the noun ἑορτή (eortē, G1859), meaning 'feast' or 'festival.' The verb form ἑορτάζω literally means 'to keep a feast' or 'to celebrate a festival.' It is built on the root concept of a set time for religious observance, common in Greek culture and adopted into Jewish and Christian contexts to describe sacred celebrations.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it bridges Old Testament ritual and New Testament spirituality. In 1 Corinthians 5:8, Paul uses it to teach that Christian life is a continuous feast of redemption, rooted in Christ as the Passover Lamb. Understanding this Greek term enriches Bible reading by revealing how early Christians reinterpreted Jewish traditions through the lens of Jesus' sacrifice, emphasizing internal transformation over external ceremony.

In the ancient Greco-Roman and Jewish worlds, festivals were central to religious and social life, involving communal meals, sacrifices, and remembrance of divine acts. ἑορτάζω would have been understood as active participation in these events. Paul's allegorical use in 1 Corinthians 5:8 subverts this cultural expectation, redirecting focus from physical celebration to spiritual integrity, which would have challenged both Jewish and Gentile readers to rethink the purpose of feasting in light of Christ.

ἑορτή (eortē, G1859) — the noun for 'feast' or 'festival,' referring to the event itself rather than the act of celebrating. εὐωχέω (euōcheō, G2165) — means 'to feast' or 'to entertain lavishly,' often with a focus on banqueting and enjoyment, less on religious observance. ἑορτάζω specifically implies observance of a religious or traditional festival.

Word Details

Scripture References