What does ἀπολούω (apoloúō) mean in the Bible?
ἀπολούω (apoloúō): Cleansing that removes or washes away sin through baptism or ritual purification in early Christian practice.
Greek · G628
ἀπολούω
ἀπολούω (apoloúō): Cleansing that removes or washes away sin through baptism or ritual purification in early Christian practice.
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 theConnect page. Screenshots are helpful.
ἀπολούωG628
Pronunciationapoloúō
What does ἀπολούω (apoloúō) mean in the Bible?
Full entry for ἀπολούω (G628) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G628?
The BSB source-word alignment has 2 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include wash (1), you were washed (1).
Where does ἀπολούω (apoloúō) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Acts 22:16. Its strongest book concentrations include 1 Corinthians (1), 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 Itwash1×Acts 22:16
you were washed1×1 Corinthians 6:11
Show sample aligned rows
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowActs 22:16
Aligned rows2
Books represented2
Acts11 Corinthians1
Source forms
ἀπελούσασθε1xapelousasthe1 Corinthians 6:11
ἀπόλουσαι1xapolousaiActs 22:16
Parsing patterns
Verb - Aorist Imperative Middle - 2nd Person Singular1xActs 22:16
Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 2nd Person Plural1x1 Corinthians 6:11
Evidence Summary
Greek word. Cleansing that removes or washes away sin through baptism or ritual purification in early Christian practice.
Strong'sG628
Lexical occurrences0 versesGreek text appearances2 timesVerse guides0 guides
Study link1 Corinthians 6:11Source Gloss
to wash off
Extended definitionSource: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith
Cleansing that removes or washes away sin through baptism or ritual purification in early Christian practice.
to wash off, wash away; mid., metaphorically, with accusative of thing(s), to wash off oneself: ἀμαρτίας, Act.22:16; absol., ἀπελούσασθε, ye washed yourselves clean (cf. Cremer, 406), 1Co.6:11.
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpusGreek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
2 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
Acts 22:16Verb Second Person Singular Aorist Middle Imperative
ἀπόλουσαιapolousai
I wash off, wash away
Read verse1 Corinthians 6:11Verb Second Person Plural Aorist Middle Indicative
ἀπελούσασθε,apelousasqe
I wash off, wash away
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.
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 2 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
aorist2
Voice
middle2
Mood
indicative1imperative1
NT Occurrences
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)
Sampled Scripture Occurrences
Representative Scripture witnesses for this entry: passage, original form, and sense in context.
Biblical Witnesses
Metaphorical cleansing from sin through sanctification and justification
Word Origins
ἀπολούω is built from these roots: