Pronunciation Guide: ah-LEES-ghay-mah

Basic Definition

Strong’s G234: ἀλίσγημα refers to ritual or moral defilement, specifically pollution from eating food offered to idols or engaging in practices associated with pagan worship. This rare term emphasizes ceremonial contamination that makes one ritually unclean. In biblical usage, it particularly relates to the mixing of pagan practices with the worship of the One True God.

Etymology and Morphology

• Noun (neuter)
• Derived from ἀλισγέω (alisgeō) – to pollute, contaminate
• Hellenistic Jewish origin
• Used primarily in religious and ceremonial contexts
• Found in narrative and teaching passages

ἀλίσγημα Morphology:

• ἀλίσγημα (nominative singular) – defilement/pollution
• ἀλισγήματος (genitive singular) – of defilement
• ἀλισγήματι (dative singular) – in/with defilement
• ἀλίσγηματα (nominative/accusative plural) – defilements

Origin & History

The term ἀλίσγημα emerged during the Hellenistic period, particularly within Jewish circles concerned with maintaining ritual purity amid growing Greek cultural influence. While rare in classical Greek literature, it appears in Jewish writings of the Second Temple period, reflecting the Jewish community’s struggle to maintain distinctiveness in a pagan world.

This word gained particular significance during the Maccabean period when Jews faced intense pressure to compromise their dietary laws and religious practices. The historian Josephus uses related forms when discussing Jewish dietary restrictions and ceremonial purity concerns in his work “Against Apion.”

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• Ritual contamination from contact with idolatrous practices
• Moral pollution resulting from participation in pagan customs
• Ceremonial defilement through forbidden foods
• Religious compromise that violates divine standards

ἀλίσγημα Translation Options:

• “Pollution” – Emphasizes the contaminating nature of the defilement
• “Defilement” – Captures both ritual and moral aspects
• “Contamination” – Highlights the spreading nature of the impurity
• “Ritual impurity” – Focuses on ceremonial aspects while maintaining theological significance

Biblical Usage

The term ἀλίσγημα appears most notably in Acts 15:20, where the Jerusalem Council addresses Gentile believers’ obligations regarding Jewish ceremonial laws. Its usage here is particularly significant as it bridges Old Testament purity laws with New Testament grace, demonstrating how the early church navigated cultural and religious boundaries.

The Septuagint uses related forms in contexts dealing with Daniel’s refusal to defile himself with the king’s food (Daniel 1:8) and in prophetic literature addressing Israel’s compromise with pagan practices.

Key verses:

• “That they abstain from pollutions [ἀλισγημάτων] of idols” Acts 15:20
• “To abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood” Acts 15:29
• “That you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols” Acts 21:25

Cultural Insights

In the first-century Roman world, most meat available in public markets had been offered to idols before sale. This created a significant dilemma for early believers, particularly Gentile converts. The term ἀλίσγημα addressed not just the physical act of eating such meat but the entire social and religious complex of pagan worship practices.

The Jerusalem Council’s use of this term reflects deep sensitivity to both Jewish concerns about ritual purity and the practical challenges faced by Gentile believers living in pagan societies. It represents a crucial bridge between maintaining holiness and extending grace to new believers from different cultural backgrounds.

Theological Significance

The use of ἀλίσγημα in Acts 15 reveals God’s balanced approach to holiness and grace. While the Jerusalem Council liberated Gentile believers from the full weight of Jewish ceremonial law, it maintained certain boundaries that reflected the unchanging character of God and His call to holy living.

This term helps us understand that while salvation is by grace through faith alone, God still calls His people to live distinctively in ways that honor Him. The specific prohibitions associated with ἀλίσγημα demonstrate that freedom in the Messiah doesn’t mean freedom to compromise with practices that dishonor God.

Personal Application

Understanding ἀλίσγημα challenges modern believers to examine areas where we might be compromising our witness through cultural conformity. Just as early believers had to navigate complex social and religious boundaries, we too must discern how to live distinctively while engaging our culture redemptively.

This word reminds us that holiness isn’t about rigid rule-keeping but about maintaining pure devotion to God in a world that often pulls us toward compromise. It calls us to examine our choices and affiliations, asking whether they draw us closer to God or lead us toward spiritual contamination.

Related Words

• μολύνω (molynō) – to stain, defile, contaminate – focuses on physical or moral staining. See G3435
• μιαίνω (miainō) – to defile, pollute – emphasizes ritual or moral corruption. See G3392
• κοινόω (koinoō) – to make common, defile – refers to making something ceremonially unclean. See G2840
• βεβηλόω (bebēloō) – to profane, desecrate – specifically relates to making something holy common. See G953

Did you Know?

• The concept behind ἀλίσγημα influenced the development of kosher food certification systems in modern Judaism, showing how ancient concerns about food purity continue to shape religious practice today.
• Archaeological evidence from first-century marketplaces shows inscriptions indicating which meats had been offered to specific deities, demonstrating the real-world complexity early Christians faced regarding food choices.
• The term’s rare usage (appearing only in Acts 15) but significant impact on early church policy shows how single words can shape entire religious movements and practices.

Remember This

ἀλίσγημα stands as an eternal reminder that God calls His people to maintain distinctive holiness while extending grace to others in their journey toward spiritual maturity.