What does ἀλίσγεμα (alísgema) mean in the Bible?
ἀλίσγεμα (alísgema): Ceremonial pollution or contamination requiring ritual purification, particularly regarding food laws.
Greek · G234
ἀλίσγεμα
(Ceremonially) defilement
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
ἀλίσγεμα G234
Pronunciation alísgema
What does ἀλίσγεμα (alísgema) mean in the Bible?
ἀλίσγεμα (alísgema): Ceremonial pollution or contamination requiring ritual purification, particularly regarding food laws.
Full entry for ἀλίσγεμα (G234) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G234?
The BSB source-word alignment has 1 aligned row for this entry. Common renderings include polluted (1).
Where does ἀλίσγεμα (alísgema) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Acts 15:20. Its strongest book concentrations include Acts (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It polluted 1× Acts 15:20
Show sample aligned rows
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Acts 15:20
Aligned rows 1
Books represented 1
Acts 1
Source forms
ἀλισγημάτων 1x alisgēmatōn Acts 15:20
Parsing patterns
Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural 1x Acts 15:20
Evidence Summary
Greek word. Ceremonial pollution or contamination requiring ritual purification, particularly regarding food laws.
Strong's G234
Lexical occurrences 0 verses Greek text appearances 1 time Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Acts 15:12-21 Source Gloss
(ceremonially) defilement
Extended definition Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith
Ceremonial pollution or contamination requiring ritual purification, particularly regarding food laws.
(late ἀλισγέω, to pollute) pollution: Act.15:20.
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
1 Greek text appearance shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
Acts 15:20 Noun Genitive Plural Neuter
ἀλισγημάτων alisghmatwn
pollution, perhaps a polluted thing
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
Sampled Scripture Occurrences
Representative Scripture witnesses for this entry: passage, original form, and sense in context.
New Testament Witnesses
Defilements, especially related to idolatry.
Why This Word Matters
Clarifies ethical abstentions for Gentile believers. Acts 15:12-21
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain