ἀμίαντος

ἁγνός hagnós · G53 · pure, without defect

Greek adjective denoting moral and ritual purity, especially chastity and freedom from defilement. Closely overlaps with ἀμίαντος in describing undefiled states, though ἁγνός emphasizes positive holiness while ἀμίαντος emphasizes freedom from stain.

καθαρός katharós · G2513 · clean, clear, pure

Greek adjective for cleanness and purity, both ritual and moral. Broadly synonymous with ἀμίαντος in denoting freedom from defilement, though καθαρός is more general and can apply to physical cleanliness while ἀμίαντος is typically figurative/moral.

ἄσπιλος áspilos · G784 · spotless, without stain, morally spotless

Greek adjective meaning spotless or unstained, formed with the same privative α- prefix construction as ἀμίαντος. Both denote freedom from moral blemish or defilement, with ἄσπιλος emphasizing absence of spots/blemishes and ἀμίαντος emphasizing absence of staining/tainting.

טָהוֹר ṭâhôwr · H2889 · clean

Standard Hebrew adjective for ritual and moral purity, the direct translation equivalent for ἀμίαντος in contexts describing undefiled/pure states (e.g., pure religion, undefiled marriage bed). Both denote freedom from contamination or defilement.

תָּמִים tâmîym · H8549 · whole, complete, full

Hebrew adjective denoting wholeness and unblemished state, often used for sacrificial purity and moral integrity. Overlaps significantly with ἀμίαντος in contexts requiring spotlessness and freedom from defect or defilement.

Undefiled, untainted53.36

In Hebrews 13:4, “the marriage bed is to be undefiled (amíantos); for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers,” describing a state kept free from moral defilement.

Words formed from the same root. They share a form, not always a meaning.

Meanings adapted from the UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament, © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0 and the UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew (from the Semantic Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew), © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0; MACULA Greek Linguistic Datasets, available at https://github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-greek/, licensed CC BY 4.0; MACULA Hebrew Linguistic Datasets © 2022-2024 by Biblica, Inc., CC BY 4.0. Westminster Leningrad Codex (tanach.us). OpenScriptures Hebrew Bible morphology (hb.openscriptures.org), CC BY 4.0.