Greek · G3538, G909 · unreviewed

νίψωνται / βαπτισμοὺς

To wash · ablution (ceremonial or Christian)

These lexicon entries are being actively developed. If you notice missing content, incorrect definitions, or have suggestions, we'd love to hear from you. Share a note on our Connect page and include a screenshot if helpful.

Words in this compound — expand to study each participant

νίπτω G3538 to wash

Pronunciation níptō

Washing a specific body part, contrasting with λούω which means bathing the whole body.

Open lexicon entry →

βαπτισμός G909 ablution (ceremonial or Christian)

Pronunciation baptismós

Emphasizes the physical act of washing/dipping itself, distinct from the resulting state or the sacrament as institution.

Open lexicon entry →

What does νίψωνται / βαπτισμοὺς (nipsōntai / baptismous) mean in the Bible?

νίπτω · βαπτισμός is a Greek word meaning "washings".

Full entry for νίψωνται / βαπτισμοὺς (G3538, G909) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

washings

Grammatical Forms

How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.

Tenses

Aorist Present

Voices

Middle Active

Imperative command or strong request 3×

Aorist Middle Matt 6:17 · John 9:7 · John 9:11 3×

Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract 3×

Present Active John 13:5 · John 13:14 2×

Aorist Middle John 13:10 1×

Indicative states a fact or reality 7×

Aorist Active John 13:12 · 1 Tim 5:10 · John 13:14 3×

Aorist Middle John 9:7 · John 9:15 2×

Present Middle Matt 15:2 1×

Present Active John 13:6 1×

Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose 3×

Aorist Active John 13:8 2×

Aorist Middle Mark 7:3 1×

Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 1×

Aorist Middle John 9:11 1×

Discourse Aspect

How this verb appears across 17 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).

Aspect

completed 5 ongoing 2 imperative 3 subjunctive 3 infinitive 3 participle 1

Tense

aorist 13 present 4

Voice

middle 9 active 8

Mood

indicative 7 imperative 3 infinitive 3 subjunctive 3 participle 1

NT Occurrences

Matthew 6:17 νίψαι aorist middle imperative imperative Matthew 15:2 νίπτονται present middle indicative ongoing Mark 7:3 νίψωνται aorist middle subjunctive subjunctive John 9:11 νίψαι aorist middle imperative imperative John 9:11 νιψάμενος aorist middle participle participle John 9:15 ἐνιψάμην aorist middle indicative completed John 9:7 νίψαι aorist middle imperative imperative John 9:7 ἐνίψατο aorist middle indicative completed John 13:10 νίψασθαι aorist middle infinitive infinitive John 13:12 ἔνιψεν aorist active indicative completed John 13:14 ἔνιψα aorist active indicative completed John 13:14 νίπτειν present active infinitive infinitive John 13:5 νίπτειν present active infinitive infinitive John 13:6 νίπτεις present active indicative ongoing John 13:8 νίψῃς aorist active subjunctive subjunctive John 13:8 νίψω aorist active subjunctive subjunctive 1 Timothy 5:10 ἔνιψεν aorist active indicative completed

Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.

Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

John 13 — The Servant-Lord, the Washed Disciples, and the New Command of Love John 9 — The Man Born Blind, the Light of the World, and the Blindness of Religious Unbelief Mark 7 — True Defilement and Boundary-Crossing Mercy Matthew 15 — Tradition, the Heart, Gentile Faith, and the Compassionate Bread of the Messiah

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

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

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

Full license details