What does ἁπλότης (haplótēs) mean in the Bible?
G572 can describe simplicity, sincerity, single-heartedness, or generosity depending on context. In Paul, it names an undivided quality of life before God and others.
Greek · G572
ἁπλότης
Openness
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ἁπλότης G572
Pronunciation haplótēs
What does ἁπλότης (haplótēs) mean in the Bible?
G572 can describe simplicity, sincerity, single-heartedness, or generosity depending on context. In Paul, it names an undivided quality of life before God and others.
Reader summary
Full entry for ἁπλότης (G572) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G572?
The BSB source-word alignment has 7 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include sincerity (2), [for the] generosity (1), be generous (1), generosity (1), let him give generously (1).
Where does ἁπλότης (haplótēs) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Romans 12:8. Its strongest book concentrations include 2 Corinthians (4), Colossians (1), Ephesians (1), Romans (1).
What This Word Actually Means
G572 can describe simplicity, sincerity, single-heartedness, or generosity depending on context. In Paul, it names an undivided quality of life before God and others. It appears in conscience language and in the generosity of the churches. The word helps teachers connect integrity of motive with open-handed love.
For preaching and teaching, this companion keeps the term tied to its cited Pauline settings before moving toward doctrine or application. The aim is not to turn a Greek gloss into a sermon by itself, but to help readers notice how the word functions inside Paul's argument, relationships, warnings, and gospel-centered exhortation with patient clarity.
How the Bible Uses It
G572 gathers Paul's concern for undivided sincerity and generous simplicity. It is not naivete, but a whole-hearted posture before God.
- 2Cor.1.12
For this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God—not in worldly wisdom, but in the grace of God.
Paul appeals to sincerity from God as part of a conscience-shaped ministry defense, not as image management.
- 2Cor.8.2
In the terrible ordeal they suffered, their abundant joy and deep poverty overflowed into rich generosity.
The Macedonians' poverty overflowed in rich generosity, showing that G572 can describe open-handed simplicity rather than abundance of resources.
- 2Cor.9.11
You will be enriched in every way to be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will produce thanksgiving to God.
Paul connects generosity with thanksgiving to God, keeping the gift from becoming a performance of donor status.
Passage context
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 sincerity 2× Ephesians 6:5, Colossians 3:22
[for the] generosity 1× 2 Corinthians 9:13
be generous 1× 2 Corinthians 9:11
generosity 1× 2 Corinthians 8:2
let him give generously 1× Romans 12:8
simple 1× 2 Corinthians 11:3
Show sample aligned rows
Romans 12:8 ἁπλότητι to let him give generously Noun - Dative Feminine Singular 2 Corinthians 8:2 ἁπλότητος to generosity Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular 2 Corinthians 9:11 ἁπλότητα to be generous Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular 2 Corinthians 9:13 ἁπλότητι to [for the] generosity Noun - Dative Feminine Singular 2 Corinthians 11:3 ἁπλότητος to simple Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular Ephesians 6:5 ἁπλότητι to sincerity Noun - Dative Feminine Singular Colossians 3:22 ἁπλότητι to sincerity Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Romans 12:8
Aligned rows 7
Books represented 4
Romans 1 2 Corinthians 4 Ephesians 1 Colossians 1
Source forms
ἁπλότητι 4x haplotēti Romans 12:8, 2 Corinthians 9:13, Ephesians 6:5, Colossians 3:22
ἁπλότητος 2x haplotētos 2 Corinthians 8:2, 2 Corinthians 11:3
ἁπλότητα 1x haplotēta 2 Corinthians 9:11
Parsing patterns
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular 4x Romans 12:8, 2 Corinthians 9:13, Ephesians 6:5, Colossians 3:22
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular 2x 2 Corinthians 8:2, 2 Corinthians 11:3
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular 1x 2 Corinthians 9:11
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Do not reduce G572 to personality style. Paul is describing grace-shaped sincerity and generosity, not social simplicity.
- Do not use the word to pressure giving by emotional display. The Pauline context directs generosity toward thanksgiving to God.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not reduce G572 to personality style. Paul is describing grace-shaped sincerity and generosity, not social simplicity.
- Do not use the word to pressure giving by emotional display. The Pauline context directs generosity toward thanksgiving to God.
lexicalPastoral applicationPassage context
Evidence Summary
Greek word. Simplicity of heart and motive, especially in generous giving without ulterior designs or self-interest.
Strong's G572
Lexical occurrences 7 verses Greek text appearances 8 times Word forms 3 forms 7 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Ephesians 6:5-9 Source Gloss
openness
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
8 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
Romans 12:8 Noun Dative Singular Feminine
ἁπλότητι· aplothti
simplicity, sincerity, purity
Read verse 2 Corinthians 1:12 Noun Dative Singular Feminine
ἁπλότητι aplothti
simplicity, sincerity, purity
Read verse 2 Corinthians 8:2 Noun Genitive Singular Feminine
ἁπλότητος aplothtov
simplicity, sincerity, purity
Read verse 2 Corinthians 9:11 Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
ἁπλότητα, aplothta
simplicity, sincerity, purity
Read verse 2 Corinthians 9:13 Noun Dative Singular Feminine
ἁπλότητι aplothti
simplicity, sincerity, purity
Read verse 2 Corinthians 11:3 Noun Genitive Singular Feminine
ἁπλότητος aplothtov
simplicity, sincerity, purity
Read verse Ephesians 6:5 Noun Dative Singular Feminine
ἁπλότητι aplothti
simplicity, sincerity, purity
Read verse Colossians 3:22 Noun Dative Singular Feminine
ἁπλότητι aplothti
simplicity, sincerity, purity
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.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
This word appears as a noun across 3 case and number patterns. The form changes show how the word functions in a sentence; they do not change the basic lexical meaning by themselves.
Form patterns 3 Aligned forms 7 Case pattern Dative (4) Number pattern Singular (7)
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
Genitive · Singular · Feminine 2 Cor 8:2 · 2 Cor 11:3 2×
Dative · Singular · Feminine Rom 12:8 · 2 Cor 9:13 · Eph 6:5 · Col 3:22 4×
Accusative · Singular · Feminine 2 Cor 9:11 1×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Servants serving masters with sincerity of heart as unto Christ
Generous giving and liberality of Macedonian churches in their poverty
Liberality and bountifulness produced by thanksgiving and grace
Gift of giving or sharing done with simplicity and sincerity
Showing 4 selected witnesses from 7 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
ἁπλότης is built from this root:
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.
For the Preacher and Teacher
G572 helps teachers connect inward integrity with outward generosity. Paul does not separate sincerity from conduct or giving. A single-hearted life can defend itself by openness before God, and a generous church can give without manipulation or display. The pastoral question is whether the heart is divided by self-protection, worldly wisdom, or status-seeking.
Anchor passage
2Cor.1.12
Doctrinal connections
- 2Cor.1.12 - Paul appeals to sincerity from God as part of a conscience-shaped ministry defense, not as image management.
- 2Cor.8.2 - The Macedonians' poverty overflowed in rich generosity, showing that G572 can describe open-handed simplicity rather than abundance of resources.
- 2Cor.9.11 - Paul connects generosity with thanksgiving to God, keeping the gift from becoming a performance of donor status.
Simplicity, sincerity, or generosity is the reviewed display gloss for G572. In this Pauline-focused companion, local STEP TAGNT evidence shows about 8 Pauline use(s), with common forms including N-DSF 5, N-GSF 2, N-ASF 1. Treat these form signals as support for reading the passage, not as a replacement for context.
From Old to New Testament
Paul's use of G572 joins integrity and generosity. A sincere heart before God becomes an open hand toward others.
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