ἱεροσυλέω

I commit sacrilege

Definition

The verb ἱεροσυλέω means to commit sacrilege, specifically the act of robbing or desecrating a sacred place, object, or offering. In its most concrete sense, it refers to stealing from a temple, as seen in its classical usage. In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul uses it in a rhetorical and spiritual sense in Romans 2:22, accusing those who condemn idolatry yet commit sacrilege themselves. Here, it extends beyond physical theft to encompass a violation of God's holy law and covenant, treating what is consecrated to God with contempt.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Romans 2:22. Paul employs it in a list of accusations within a diatribe against Jewish hypocrisy. The context is a spiritual application: while condemning those who rob pagan temples (a possible literal meaning), the interlocutor is guilty of robbing God by breaking his law, thus committing a form of sacrilege against the true temple of God's covenant relationship with Israel.

Etymology

Derived from the combination of ἱερός (hieros, G2413), meaning 'holy' or 'sacred,' and συλάω (sylaō), meaning 'to plunder' or 'rob.' It literally means 'to rob the sacred.' The related noun ἱερόσυλος (hierosylos, G2417) means 'temple robber.'

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it highlights the seriousness of hypocrisy and the true nature of sin against God. Paul's use shifts the focus from a physical crime against pagan temples to a spiritual crime against the holy God of Israel. It teaches that sacrilege is not merely a violation of a physical space but of the sacred relationship established by God's law. Understanding this Greek term enriches the reading of Romans 2 by revealing the profound accusation that breaking God's commands is equivalent to plundering his temple.

In the Greco-Roman world, temples were repositories of great wealth from votive offerings and treasury funds. Robbing them was considered one of the most heinous crimes, an offense against the gods and the state. For Jews, the concept carried even greater weight regarding the Jerusalem Temple. Paul's audience would have understood the gravity of the charge, which he then masterfully applies to moral and covenant fidelity.

ἁρπάζω (harpazō, G726) — to seize, snatch away; a more general term for taking by force, not necessarily with a sacred connotation.

Word Details

Scripture References