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Greek · G908 · unreviewed

βάπτισμα

Baptism (technically or figuratively)

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βάπτισμα G908
Pronunciation báptisma

What does βάπτισμα (báptisma) mean in the Bible?

βάπτισμα (báptisma) is a Greek word meaning "baptism (technically or figuratively)". βάπτισμα, -τος, τό (βαπτίζω), prop. Refers to Christ’s overwhelming suffering at the cross. This term runs through the canonical themes of Messiah, Redemption.

Full entry for βάπτισμα (G908) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

baptism (technically or figuratively)
Extended definition

Emphasizes the completed state or result of immersion rather than the act itself; marks entry into covenant community.

immersion, baptism;

1metaphorically, of affliction: Mrk.10:38, 39 Luk.12:50.
2Of the religious rite of baptism;
aof John's baptism: Mat.3:7 21:25, Mrk.11:30, Luk.7:29 20:4, Act.1:22 10:37 18:25 19:3; β. μετανοίας, Mrk.1:4, Luk.3:3, Act.13:24 19:4;
bof Christian baptism; Rom.6:4, Eph.4:5, Col.2:12 (Tr., -μῷ, which see), 1Pe.3:21 (cf. Cremer, 130; Tr., Syn. §xcix).
Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith
Why This Word Matters
Refers to Christ’s overwhelming suffering at the cross. 1 Peter 3:13-22
Distinguishes preparatory baptism from Christian identification in Christ. Acts 19:1-7
Clarifies that salvation rests in Christ’s resurrection, which baptism publicly signifies. Luke 12:49–53
Grammatical Forms

How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.

Nominative · Singular · Neuter Matt 21:25 · Mark 11:30 · Luke 20:4 · Eph 4:5 · 1 Pet 3:21 5×
Genitive · Singular · Neuter Acts 1:22 · Rom 6:4 2×
Accusative · Singular · Neuter Matt 3:7 · Mark 1:4 · Mark 10:38 · Mark 10:39 · Luke 3:3 · Luke 7:29 · Luke 12:50 · Acts 10:37 · Acts 13:24 · Acts 18:25 · Acts 19:3 · Acts 19:4 12×
19 total occurrences across all forms in the biblical text Morphology: MorphGNT SBLGNT — CC BY-SA 3.0
Canonical Themes
Messiah Redemption
Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

New Testament Witnesses
1 Peter 3:13-22 baptism báptisma Nominative · Singular · Neuter
immersion, symbolic washing
Acts 19:1-7 Baptism báptisma Accusative · Singular · Neuter
Immersion or ceremonial washing.
Luke 12:49–53 βάπτισμα báptisma Accusative · Singular · Neuter
immersion
Additional Occurrences
Luke 12:49–53 βάπτισμα báptisma
Baptism
Luke 20:1–8 βαπτίσματος báptisma
Baptism
Luke 3:1–6 βάπτισμα báptisma
Baptism
Mark 11:27–33 βάπτισμα báptisma
ritual washing; sign of repentance
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.

Acts 19 — The Word of the Lord Grows Mightily in Ephesus Luke 12 — Fear God, Confess Christ, Seek the Kingdom, and Be Ready Luke 20 — The Rejected Son, the Questioned Authority, and the Lord Who Silences His Opponents Luke 3 — The Way Prepared, the Son Revealed, and the Lineage Traced Mark 10 — The Way of the Servant King: Marriage, Children, Wealth, Cross, Ransom, and Sight Mark 11 — The King Comes to Jerusalem: Fig Tree, Temple Judgment, Faith, Forgiveness, and Authority Matthew 21 — The King Enters Jerusalem, Judges Fruitless Religion, and Exposes Rejected-Son Leadership

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

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