ἅγιος
hágios · G40 · Greek · 234 occurrences
A word for 3 things
- TabernacleTent of Meeting and Tabernacle296 verses
- Holy PlaceTabernacle115 verses
- Holy of Holies, Most Holy PlaceTabernacle56 verses
Meanings
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holy, pure, divine
Pertaining to being holy in the sense of superior moral qualities and possessing certain essentially divine qualities in contrast with what is human
ExamplesMatthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 1:20 But when he had thought this over, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 3:11 “As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
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devout, godly, dedicated
Pertaining to being dedicated or consecrated to the service of God
ExamplesMatthew 4:5 Then the devil took Him along into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple,
Matthew 7:6 “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
Matthew 24:15 “Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place—let the reader understand—
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God’s people
Persons who belong to God, and as such constitute a religious entity
ExamplesMatthew 27:52 Also the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;
Acts 9:13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints in Jerusalem;
Acts 9:32 Now as Peter was traveling through all those regions, he also came down to the saints who lived at Lydda.
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sanctuary
A sanctuary, the movable tabernacle or the temple in Jerusalem as a consecrated place
ExamplesMatthew 24:15 “Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place—let the reader understand—
Hebrews 8:2 a minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord set up, not man.
Acts 6:13 They put forward false witnesses who said, “This man does not stop speaking against this holy place and the Law;
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The interior (either the outer or the inner of the two rooms) of the sanctuary of the Jerusalem Temple or of the earlier tabernacle or of a corresponding ‘spiritual holy place,’ perhaps regarded as being in heaven (the holy place, (most) holy place)
ExamplesHebrews 9:2 For a tabernacle was equipped, the outer sanctuary, in which were the lampstand, the table, and the sacred bread; this is called the Holy Place.
Hebrews 9:3 Behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the Most Holy Place,
Hebrews 9:8 The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed while the outer tabernacle is still standing,
How it’s used In 10 roles
Every occurrence, grouped by the words it is grammatically related to.
the word studied the word it goes with
Whose, or of whatGenitive or possessive
9 occurrences in 4 groups
- θεόςGod 4
- αὐτόςhe, she, it, same 3
- ἅγιοςholy 1
- σύyou 1
Words describing itAdjectives, demonstratives, participles
5 occurrences in 4 groups
- κλητόςcalled 2
- καλέωto call, to name 1
- κοσμικόςearthly 1
- χειροποίητοςman-made 1
Named alongside itApposition
17 occurrences in 17 groups
- εἰμίto be 3
- Other words · 16 groups that occur once or twice (17) 17
What it doesIt is the subject
5 occurrences in 4 groups
- ἀσπάζομαιto greet, to send greetings 2
- κρίνωto judge 1
- λέγωto say 1
- ἁγιάζωto sanctify, to consecrate 1
What is done to itIt is the object
10 occurrences in 7 groups
- διακονέωto serve 3
- ἀσπάζομαιto greet, to send greetings 3
- δίδωμιto give, to grant 1
- ἔχωto have 1
- λέγωto say 1
- φωνέωto call, to cry out 1
It is given or told toIndirect object
4 occurrences in 4 groups
- παραδίδωμιto hand over, to betray 1
- ποιέωto do, to make 1
- τάσσωto appoint 1
- φανερόωto reveal, to make known, to appear 1
Second object ofSecond object
1 occurrences in 1 groups
- παρίστημιto stand by, to present 1
What is said to be itIt is the predicate
14 occurrences in 13 groups
- Other words · 13 groups that occur once or twice (14) 14
After prepositionsPrepositional phrases
22 occurrences in 10 groups
- εἰςto 15
- ἐνin 3
- μετάwith, after 3
- σύνwith, together with 3
- Other words · 6 groups that occur once or twice (8) 8
In phrases “… of it”It is the genitive
24 occurrences in 20 groups
- αἷμαblood 3
- προσευχήprayer 3
- Other words · 18 groups that occur once or twice (19) 19
When two words share a role, as in “Paul and Barnabas said”, the verse appears under each, so a section’s counts can add up to more than the number of occurrences.
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.
Near synonyms 1 word
- ὅσιος hósios · G3741 · holy, pure, divine
- Both terms describe holiness, but ὅσιος emphasizes intrinsic divine character or covenant faithfulness (often describing God's character or promises), while ἅγιος has broader application to sacred status, consecrated persons or objects, and moral/ceremonial purity. The terms overlap in describing divine holiness but are not fully interchangeable across all contexts.
In the other Testament 4 words
- קֹדֶשׁ qôdesh · H6944 · holiness, holy
- Hebrew קֹדֶשׁ (qodesh) is the standard Old Testament term for holiness/sacredness that Greek ἅγιος (hagios) regularly translates in the Septuagint, both denoting the fundamental concept of being set apart for divine purposes, whether applied to objects (sanctuary, consecrated things), persons (saints), time (holy day), or abstract quality (holiness itself).
- קָדוֹשׁ qâdôwsh · H6918 · holy, consecrated
- Greek ἅγιος and Hebrew קָדוֹשׁ both denote the core concept of holiness/sacredness, with overlapping semantic ranges covering moral purity, ceremonial consecration, and divine attribution; ἅγιος serves as the standard LXX rendering of קָדוֹשׁ across cultic, ethical, and theophoric contexts.
- מִקְדָּשׁ miqdâsh · H4720 · holiest part, holy place, sanctuary
- Greek ἅγιος and Hebrew מִקְדָּשׁ correspond as an adjective-to-noun pair: the sanctuary named by מִקְדָּשׁ is the physical space set apart by the very quality of holiness that ἅγιος expresses. Where the Hebrew names the holy place itself, the Greek adjective attributes that same sacred status to persons, objects, or spaces.
- קַדִּישׁ qaddîysh · H6922 · holy, saint
- The Aramaic קַדִּישׁ (qaddîysh, H6922) directly translates the Greek ἅγιος (hágios, G40) in the sense of 'holy/sacred,' particularly in Daniel's Aramaic sections where both terms denote divine holiness and consecrated status.
Semantic domains 5 entries
- God’s people11.27
- This adjective, used substantivally, denotes those called to belong to God, as in Romans 1:7's greeting to those in Rome who are beloved of God, called as saints.
- Devout, godly, dedicated53.46
- The adjective also denotes a devout manner of life set apart to God, as in 1 Peter 1:15's instruction to be holy in all one's behavior, like the Holy One who called.
- Sanctuary7.18
- The adjective also denotes the outer sanctuary of the tabernacle, as in Hebrews 9:2's description of the tabernacle's outer chamber, called the Holy Place.
- The holy place, (most) holy place7.35
- The adjective also denotes the innermost sanctuary chamber, as in Hebrews 9:3's description of the tabernacle behind the second veil, called the Most Holy Place.
- Holy, pure, divine88.24
- The adjective also denotes moral and divine purity generally, as in Matthew 1:18's account of Mary being found with child by the Holy Spirit.
Word family 13 words
Words formed from the same root. They share a form, not always a meaning.
Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon (from τό ἀγός religious awe, reverence; ἄζω, ἅζομαι, to venerate, revere, especially the…
1. properly reverend, worthy of veneration: τό ὄνομα τοῦ Θεοῦ, Lk 1:49; God, on account of his incomparable majesty, Rev 4:8 (Isa 6:3, etc.), equivalent to ἔνδοξος. Hence, used:
a. of things which on account of some connection with God possess a certain distinction and claim to reverence, as places sacred to God which are not to be profaned, Acts 7:33; τόπος ἅγιος the temple, Mt 24:15 (on which passage see βδέλυγμα, c.); Acts 6:13; Acts 21:28; the holy land or Palestine, 2 Macc. 1:29 2Macc. 2:18; τό ἅγιον and τά ἅγια (Winer's Grammar, 177 (167)) the temple, Heb 9:1, Heb 9:24 (cf. Bleek on Heb. vol. ii. 2, p. 477f); specifically that part of the temple or tabernacle which is called 'the holy place' (מִקְדָּשׁ, Ezek 37:28; Ezek 45:18), Heb 9:2 (here Rec.st reads ἅγια); ἅγια ἁγίων (Winer's Grammar, 246 (231), cf. Ex 29:37; Ex 30:10, etc.) the most hallowed portion of the temple, 'the holy of holies,' (Ex 26:33 (cf. Josephus, Antiquities 3, 6, 4)), Heb 9:3, in reference to which the simple τά ἅγια is also used: Heb 9:8, Heb 9:25; Heb 10:19; Heb 13:11; figuratively of heaven, Heb 8:2; Heb 9:8, Heb 9:12; Heb 10:19; ἅγια πόλις Jerusalem, on account of the temple there, Mt 4:5; Mt 27:53; Rev 11:2; Rev 21:2; Rev 22:19 (Isa 48:2; Neh 11:1, Neh 11:18 (Complutensian LXX), etc.); τό ὄρος τό ἅγιον, because Christ's transfiguration occurred there, 2 Pet 1:18; ἡ (Θεοῦ) ἅγια διαθήκη i. e. which is the more sacred because made by God himself, Lk 1:72; τό ἅγιον, that worshipful offspring of divine power, Lk 1:35; the blessing of the gospel, Mt 7:6; ἁγιωτάτῃ πίστις, faith (quae creditur i. e. the object of faith) which came from God and is therefore to be heeded most sacredly, Jude 1:20; in the same sense ἅγια ἐντολή, 2 Pet 2:21; κλῆσις ἅγια, because it is the invitation of God and claims us as his, 2 Tim 1:9; ἅγιαι γραφαί (τά βιβλία τά ἅγια, 1 Macc. 12:9), which came from God and contain his Words, Rom 1:2.
b. of persons whose services God employs; as for example, apostles, Eph 3:5; angels, 1 Thess 3:13; Mt 25:31 (Rec.); Rev 14:10; Jude 1:14; prophets, Acts 3:21; Lk 1:70 (Wis. 11:1); (οἱ) ἅγιοι (τοῦ) Θεοῦ ἄνθρωποι, 2 Pet 1:21 (R G L Tr text); worthies of the O. T. accepted by God for their piety, Mt 27:52; 1 Pet 3:5.
2. set apart for God, to be, as it were, exclusively his; followed by a genitive or a dative: τῷ κυρίῳ, Lk 2:23; τοῦ Θεοῦ (equivalent to ἐκλεκτός τοῦ Θεοῦ) of Christ, Mk 1:24; Lk 4:34, and according to the true reading in Jn 6:69, cf. Jn 10:36; he is called also ὁ ἅγιος παῖς τοῦ Θεοῦ, Acts 4:30, and simply ὁ ἅγιος, 1 Jn 2:20. Just as the Israelites claimed for themselves the title οἱ ἅγιοι, because God selected them from the other nations to lead a life acceptable to him and rejoice in his favor and protection (Dan 7:18, Dan 7:22; Dan 7:2 Esdr. 8:28), so this appellation is very often in the N. T. transferred to Christians, as those whom God has selected ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου (Jn 17:14, Jn 17:16), that under the influence of the Holy Spirit they may be rendered, through holiness, partakers of salvation in the kingdom of God: 1 Pet 2:9 (Ex 19:6), cf. Ex 19:5; Acts 9:13, Acts 9:32, Acts 9:41; Acts 26:10; Rom 1:7; Rom 8:27; Rom 12:13; Rom 16:15; 1 Cor 6:1, 1 Cor 6:2; Phm 4:21; Col 1:12; Heb 6:10; Jude 1:3; Rev 5:8, etc.; (cf. B. D. American edition under the word ).
3. of sacrifices and offerings; prepared for God with solemn rite, pure, clean (opposed to ἀκάθαρτος): 1 Cor 7:14 (cf. Eph 5:3); connected with ἄμωμος, Eph 1:4; Eph 5:27; Col 1:22; ἀπαρχή, Rom 11:16; θυσία, Rom 12:1. Hence,
4. in a moral sense, pure, sinless, upright, holy: 1 Pet 1:16 (Lev 19:2; Lev 11:44); 1 Cor 7:34; δίκαιος καί ἅγιος, of John the Baptist, Mk 6:20; ἅγιος καί δίκαιος, of Christ, Acts 3:14; distinctively of him, Rev 3:7; Rev 6:10; of God pre-eminently, 1 Pet 1:15; Jn 17:11; ἅγιαι ἀναστροφαί, 2 Pet 3:11; νόμος and ἐντολή, i. e. containing nothing exceptionable, Rom 7:12; φίλημα, such a kiss as is a sign of the purest love, 1 Thess 5:26; 1 Cor 16:20; 2 Cor 13:12; Rom 16:16. On the phrase τό ἅγιον πνεῦμα and τό πνεῦμα τό ἅγιον, see πνεῦμα, 4 a. Cf. Diestel, Die Heiligkeit Gottes, in Jahrbb. f. deutsch. Theol. iv., p. 1ff; (Baudissin, Stud. z. Semitisch. Religionsgesch. Heft ii., p. 3ff; Delitzsch in Herzog edition 2, see 714ff; especially) Cremer, Wörterbuch, 4te Aufl., p. 32ff (translation of 2nd edition, p. 84ff; Oehler in Herzog 19:618ff; Zezschwitz, Profangräcität as above with, p. 15ff; Trench, § lxxxviii; Campbell, Dissertations, diss. vi., part iv.; especially Schmidt, chapter 181).
Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (1889), public domain
Topical studies with this word 5 entries
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.
Sources
eRhema lexical overview, based on the UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew and the UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament (© United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Macula Hebrew and Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0); released under CC BY-SA 4.0
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