Lexical Summary loutron: Washing, Bath Original Word: λουτρόν Strong's Exhaustive Concordance washing. From louo; a bath, i.e. (figuratively), baptism -- washing. see GREEK louo HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 3067 loutrón – properly, a bath, public or private (both were very common in NT times). See 3068 (louō). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom louó Definition a washing, a bath NASB Translation washing (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3067: λουτρόνλουτρόν, λουτροῦ, τό (λούω), from Homer down (who uses λοετρόν, from the uncontracted form λοέω), a bathing, bath, i. e. as well the act of bathing (a sense disputed by some (cf. Ellicott on Ephesians 5:26)), as the place; used in the N. T. and in ecclesiastical writings of baptism (for examples see Sophocles' Lexicon, under the word): with τοῦ ὕδατος added, Ephesians 5:26; τῆς παλιγγενεσίας, Titus 3:5. Topical Lexicon Overview Strong’s Greek 3067, λουτρόν, occurs twice in the New Testament and consistently conveys a decisive act of washing that brings about spiritual cleansing. Both uses are metaphorical, yet they echo tangible practices of water-washing familiar from Old Testament ritual and Greco-Roman life, linking the physical act of bathing to the inner reality of redemption and renewal. Old Testament and Jewish Background Priestly service demanded ritual washings (Exodus 30:17-21; Leviticus 16:4), and prophetic hope anticipated a divine cleansing: “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean” (Ezekiel 36:25). In Second-Temple Judaism the mikveh supplied a concrete expression of that expectation. These antecedents prepare the reader to understand λουτρόν as more than hygiene; it represents God-given purity that equips His people for covenant fellowship. Usage in the New Testament 1. Ephesians 5:26: “to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing of water through the word.” Here λουτρόν describes the once-for-all purifying act Christ performs for His church. Water imagery merges with the spoken word, showing that the gospel itself is the cleansing agent, while the church is the bride thus prepared. Theological Significance Cleansing: λουτρόν underscores that sin is defilement requiring removal, not merely pardon. Sanctification: In Ephesians the term is tied to Christ’s ongoing purpose “to present the church to Himself in splendor” (Ephesians 5:27). Regeneration: Titus pairs λουτρόν with “rebirth,” identifying the event that initiates new life in Christ. Triune Activity: The Father’s mercy (Titus 3:5), the Son’s self-giving love (Ephesians 5:25-26), and the Spirit’s renewing power (Titus 3:5) converge in the washing, revealing coordinated Trinitarian grace. Relation to Baptism Although neither passage explicitly names baptism, both shaped early Christian baptismal language. Baptism visibly proclaims what λουτρόν teaches: union with Christ in death and resurrection, cleansing from sin, and incorporation into the church. The New Testament never treats the water as an independent means of salvation; rather, faith in Christ and the regenerating Spirit actualize what water signifies (Acts 22:16; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Peter 3:21). Ministry and Pastoral Application • Proclamation: Preachers may confidently announce that the gospel “washes” sinners clean, offering concrete imagery to describe conversion. Summary Λουτρόν gathers the Bible’s washing motif into a succinct expression of divine grace: God cleanses, regenerates, and sanctifies His people through Christ and by the Spirit, enabling a life that reflects the purity already bestowed. Forms and Transliterations λουτρου λουτρού λουτροῦ λουτρω λουτρώ λουτρῷ λυτρώνα loutro loutrō loutrôi loutrō̂i loutrou loutroûLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ephesians 5:26 N-DNSGRK: καθαρίσας τῷ λουτρῷ τοῦ ὕδατος NAS: her, having cleansed her by the washing of water KJV: and cleanse it with the washing of water INT: having cleansed by the washing of water Titus 3:5 N-GNS Strong's Greek 3067 |
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