Understanding ἀπολούω (apolouō) Strong’s G628: The Spiritual Cleansing that Symbolizes Complete Redemption

Pronunciation Guide: ah-po-LOO-oh (The ‘ou’ is pronounced like ‘oo’ in ‘moon’)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G628: A compound verb meaning “to wash away completely” or “to cleanse thoroughly,” combining the preposition ἀπό (from/away from) with λούω (to wash/bathe). This word emphasizes complete cleansing with special significance in ritual and spiritual contexts. It particularly denotes washing away of sin through baptism in early Christian usage.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of Speech: Verb
• Root Words: ἀπό (from) + λούω (to wash)
• Language Origin: Koine Greek
• Primary Usage: Ritual and ceremonial contexts
• Literary Genre: Primarily in narrative and didactic passages

ἀπολούω Morphology:

• ἀπόλουσαι (aorist middle imperative 2nd person singular) – wash yourself away
• ἀπελούσασθε (aorist middle indicative 2nd person plural) – you were washed
• ἀπολούσῃ (aorist middle subjunctive 2nd person singular) – you might wash away

Origin & History

The compound verb ἀπολούω emerges from classical Greek literature where it primarily described thorough physical cleansing. In medical writings of Hippocrates (On Regimen), it appears in contexts of cleaning wounds and preparing bodies for treatment. The intensifying prefix ἀπό emphasizes thoroughness of the washing action.

In Septuagint usage, ἀπολούω appears in ceremonial contexts, particularly in translations of ritual purification passages. The Jewish historian Josephus (Antiquities 4.4.6) employs it when discussing priestly purification rites, indicating its established role in Jewish religious vocabulary by the first century.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• Complete ritual cleansing with religious significance
• Thorough washing away of impurity
• Metaphorical spiritual purification

ἀπολούω Translation Options:

• “wash away completely” – emphasizes the thoroughness implied by the ἀπό prefix
• “cleanse thoroughly” – captures both physical and spiritual dimensions
• “purify through washing” – emphasizes ritual/ceremonial aspects
• “wash off” – reflects the separative force of ἀπό

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, ἀπολούω appears in contexts of spiritual cleansing and baptismal imagery. Its most significant usage is in Acts 22:16, where Ananias tells Paul to “arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins.” This passage creates a powerful connection between physical washing and spiritual cleansing.

The word carries profound theological weight in 1 Corinthians 6:11, where Paul reminds the Corinthian believers they were “washed” (ἀπελούσασθε), emphasizing complete transformation from their former lives.

Key Biblical References:

• “Arise and be baptized, and wash away [ἀπόλουσαι] your sins, calling on His name.” Acts 22:16
• “And such were some of you. But you were washed [ἀπελούσασθε]…” 1 Corinthians 6:11

Cultural Insights

In ancient Jewish culture, ritual washing (mikvah) played a crucial role in religious life. The use of ἀπολούω in Christian contexts would have resonated deeply with Jewish converts who understood the significance of ritual cleansing. The mikvah required complete immersion in living water, symbolizing both death to the old life and resurrection to the new.

The thorough nature of the washing implied by ἀπολούω aligns with the Jewish concept of tevilah (complete immersion), where even a single hair above water would invalidate the ritual. This cultural background illuminates why early Christians chose this specific term to describe baptismal cleansing.

Theological Significance

The use of ἀπολούω in baptismal contexts points to the completeness of redemption in the Messiah. Just as the prefix ἀπό intensifies the washing action, it theologically emphasizes the thoroughness of God’s cleansing work in believers’ lives. This connects powerfully with Old Testament prophecies like Ezekiel 36:25, where יהוה promises to “sprinkle clean water” upon His people.

This word choice reinforces the New Covenant’s fulfillment of Old Testament purification rituals, showing how the Messiah’s work accomplishes what ceremonial washing could only symbolize. It represents not just cleansing from sin’s guilt, but complete transformation of the believer’s identity.

Personal Application

When we grasp the thoroughness implied in ἀπολούω, we understand that God’s cleansing work in our lives is complete and transformative. Just as ritual washing required full immersion, following the Messiah involves complete surrender to His purifying work.

This understanding should encourage believers who struggle with guilt or shame, reminding them that God’s cleansing is thorough and final. The middle voice used in many instances (ἀπολούσασθε) suggests our active participation in receiving this cleansing through faith.

Related Words

• κατακλύζω (kataklyzō) – to flood, overwhelm with water; used of the great flood – connects to total cleansing but emphasizes judgment aspect See G2626
• βαπτίζω (baptizō) – to immerse, submerge; closely related in Christian usage but emphasizes immersion rather than cleansing See G907
• νίπτω (niptō) – to wash parts of the body; contrasts with ἀπολούω’s complete washing See G3538
• καθαρίζω (katharizō) – to cleanse, purify; emphasizes result rather than method See G2511

Did you Know?

• The ancient Greeks had specific washing terminology for different contexts – ἀπολούω was reserved for complete bathing, while νίπτω was used for washing hands or feet, showing the thoroughness implied in this word.
• In modern Greek, forms of ἀπολούω are still used in Orthodox baptismal ceremonies, maintaining its connection to spiritual cleansing after two millennia.
• The middle voice form used in Acts 22:16 (ἀπόλουσαι) implies both receiving cleansing from God and participating in the act, reflecting the biblical balance between divine grace and human response.

Remember This

ἀπολούω represents the complete spiritual cleansing available through the Messiah, where not a single stain of sin remains on those who are washed in His redemptive work.