2434. hilasmos

Lexicon

hilasmos: Propitiation, Atoning Sacrifice

Original Word: ἱλασμός
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: hilasmos
Pronunciation: hē-läs-mos'
Phonetic Spelling: (hil-as-mos')
Definition: Propitiation, Atoning Sacrifice
Meaning: a propitiation (of an angry god), atoning sacrifice.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

propitiation, sin offering

Atonement, i.e. (concretely) an expiator -- propitiation.

HELPS Word-studies

2434 hilasmós – properly, propitiation; an offering to appease (satisfy) an angry, offended party. 2434 (hilasmós) is only used twice (1 Jn 2:2, 4:10) – both times of Christ's atoning blood that appeases God's wrath, on all confessed sin. By the sacrifice of Himself, Jesus Christ provided the ultimate 2434 /hilasmós ("propitiation").

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from hilaskomai
Definition
propitiation
NASB Translation
propitiation (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 2434: ἱλασμός

ἱλασμός, ἱλασμοῦ, ὁ (ἱλάσκομαι);

1. an appeasing, propitiating, Vulg.propitiatio (Plutarch, de sera num. vind. c. 17; plural joined with καθαρμοι, Plutarch, Sol. 12; with the genitive of the object τῶν θεῶν, the Orphica Arg. 39; Plutarch, Fab. 18; θεῶν μῆνιν ἱλασμοῦ καί χαριστηριων δεομένην, vit. Camill. 7 at the end; ποιεῖσθαι ἱλασμόν, of a priest offering an expiatory sacrifice, 2 Macc. 3:33).

2. in Alex. usage the means of appeasing, a propitiation: Philo, alleg. leg. 3: § 61; προσοίσουσιν ἱλασμόν, for חַטָּאת, Ezekiel 44:27; περί τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν, of Christ, 1 John 2:2; 1 John 4:10 (κριός τοῦ ἱλασμοῦ, Numbers 5:8; (cf. ἡμέρα τοῦ ἱλασμοῦ, Leviticus 25:9); also for סְלִיחָה, forgiveness, Psalm 129:4 (); Daniel 9:9, Theod.). (Cf. Trench, § lxxvii.)

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek verb ἱλάσκομαι (hilaskomai), meaning "to appease" or "to propitiate."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The concept of ἱλασμός in the Greek New Testament corresponds to several Hebrew terms related to atonement and propitiation, most notably:
• Strong's Hebrew 3722: כָּפַר (kaphar) • to cover, purge, make an atonement, make reconciliation.
• Strong's Hebrew 3725: כַּפֹּרֶת (kapporeth) • the mercy seat, the place of atonement.
• Strong's Hebrew 3724: כֹּפֶר (kopher) • a ransom, gift to secure favor, atonement.

These Hebrew terms collectively convey the idea of covering or atoning for sin, which is fulfilled in the New Testament through the person and work of Jesus Christ as the ultimate ἱλασμός.

Usage: The word ἱλασμός is used in the New Testament to describe the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, emphasizing His role in reconciling humanity to God by satisfying divine justice.

Context: The term ἱλασμός appears in the New Testament in two key passages, both in the First Epistle of John. In 1 John 2:2, it is written, "He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." This verse highlights the universal scope of Christ's atoning work, indicating that His sacrifice is sufficient for all humanity. In 1 John 4:10, the text states, "In this is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins." Here, the focus is on God's initiative in providing a means of reconciliation through His love, underscoring the self-giving nature of divine love manifested in Christ's sacrificial death.

The concept of ἱλασμός is deeply rooted in the Old Testament sacrificial system, where atonement was made through the offering of sacrifices to cover the sins of the people. In the New Testament, Jesus is portrayed as the ultimate fulfillment of these sacrificial types, offering Himself once for all as the perfect and final atonement for sin. This understanding is central to the doctrine of salvation, where faith in Christ's atoning work is the means by which believers are reconciled to God.

Theologically, ἱλασμός is significant because it encapsulates the essence of the Gospel message: that through Jesus' death and resurrection, the barrier of sin is removed, and believers are granted access to a restored relationship with God. This concept is foundational to Christian soteriology and underscores the transformative power of Christ's redemptive work.

Forms and Transliterations

ιλασμοί ιλασμον ιλασμόν ἱλασμὸν ιλασμος ιλασμός ἱλασμός ιλασμού ιλασμόυ hilasmon hilasmòn hilasmos hilasmós ilasmon ilasmos

Englishman's Concordance

1 John 2:2 N-NMS
GRK: καὶ αὐτὸς ἱλασμός ἐστιν περὶ
NAS: and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins;
KJV: he is the propitiation for our
INT: and he [the] propitiation is for

1 John 4:10 N-AMS
GRK: υἱὸν αὐτοῦ ἱλασμὸν περὶ τῶν
NAS: His Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins.
KJV: Son [to be] the propitiation for
INT: Son of him a propitiation for the

Strong's Greek 2434
2 Occurrences

ἱλασμὸν — 1 Occ.
ἱλασμός — 1 Occ.