42. hagiósuné

Lexical Summary

hagiósuné: Holiness, sanctification

Original Word: ἁγιωσύνη
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: hagiósuné
Pronunciation: hah-gee-o-soo'-nay
Phonetic Spelling: (hag-ee-o-soo'-nay)
KJV: holiness
NASB: holiness
Word Origin: [from G40 (ἅγιος - Holy)]

1. sacredness
2. (properly) the quality of sacredness

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

holiness.

From hagios; sacredness (i.e. Properly, the quality) -- holiness.

see GREEK hagios

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 42 hagiōsýnē (another feminine noun derived from 40 /hágios) – holiness (sanctification) which focuses on the Holy Spirit's influence of preparing the believer for eternity. (The suffix, -synē, expresses this transformation as a character-quality that comes by the grace of God.) See 40 (hagios).

42 /hagiōsýnē ("holiness/sanctification") is "the brand" of God's sanctification that brings His gift of holiness so the believer can fully enjoy eternal life now and in the hereafter. This specific "holiness results from (the process of) 38 /hagiasmós" (Abbott-Smith).

[42 (hagiōsýnē) shares the same essential meaning as its root 40 /hágios ("holy, see there).]

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from hagios
Definition
holiness
NASB Translation
holiness (3).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 42: ἁγιωσύνη

ἁγιωσύνη (on the omega ω see references in ἀγαθωσύνη, at the beginning), (ης, ἡ, a word unknown to secular authors (Buttmann, 73 (64));

1. (God's incomparable) majesty (joined to μεγαλοπρέπεια, Psalm 95:6 (), cf. Psalm 144:5 ()): πνεῦμα ἁγιωσύνης a spirit to which belongs ἁγιωσύνη, not equivalent to πνεῦμα ἅγιον, but the divine (?) spiritual nature in Christ as contrasted with his σάρξ, Romans 1:4; cf. Rückert at the passage, and Zeller in his Theol. Jahrbb. for 1842, p. 486 ff; (yet cf. Meyer at the passage; Gifford (in the Speaker's Commentary). Most commentators (cf. e. g. Ellicott on Thess. as below) regard the word as uniformly and only signifying holiness).

2. moral purity: 1 Thessalonians 3:13; 2 Corinthians 7:1.

Topical Lexicon

Thematic Overview

A term denoting the moral purity, separateness, and divine consecration that belongs supremely to God and, by grace, is imparted to His Son and His people. It encompasses both positional consecration (set apart by God) and progressive transformation (growing in Christ-likeness).

Occurrences in the New Testament

• Romans 1:4 links holiness to the resurrection power of Jesus Christ, identifying the “Spirit of holiness” that attested Him as Son of God.
• 2 Corinthians 7:1 exhorts believers to pursue holiness by cleansing themselves from every defilement, showing that holiness is perfected in the fear of God.
• 1 Thessalonians 3:13 looks to the eschatological goal: believers presented “blameless in holiness” at Christ’s return.

Holiness as Divine Attribute

Holiness is first and foremost God’s own character (Isaiah 6:3). Romans 1:4 shows that the same divine holiness marks the Spirit who empowered Christ’s resurrection, underscoring perfect continuity between Father, Son, and Spirit. This divine holiness establishes the absolute moral standard by which all creation is judged (Habakkuk 1:13) and the gracious gift by which redeemed humanity is transformed (Ephesians 4:24).

Holiness and Christ

Jesus Christ embodies holiness perfectly. His incarnation revealed holiness in human flesh (Luke 1:35), His ministry displayed it in action (John 8:46), and His resurrection vindicated it permanently (Romans 1:4). Because believers are “in Christ,” they share in His holiness (Hebrews 2:11) and are called to reflect it (1 John 3:3).

Holiness and the Believer’s Sanctification

2 Corinthians 7:1 shows the dynamic tension between divine provision and human responsibility. God provides the new heart (Ezekiel 36:26) and indwelling Spirit (Galatians 5:25); believers respond by active purification. The process involves:

1. Reverent fear of God—motivated by His promises and presence.
2. Separation from defilement—renouncing both external and internal sin.
3. Ongoing perfection—continual growth until the day of Christ (Philippians 1:6).

1 Thessalonians 3:13 extends the horizon to Christ’s Parousia, when holiness will be complete and public.

Corporate Holiness in Church Life

Holiness is not merely individual. The Church is “a holy temple in the Lord” (Ephesians 2:21). Local congregations cultivate holiness through:
• Preaching the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27).
• Practicing discipline that restores and protects purity (1 Corinthians 5:7-13).
• Celebrating ordinances that proclaim separation unto Christ (Romans 6:3-4; 1 Corinthians 11:26).

Historical Background

Second Temple Judaism treasured holiness as covenant identity (Exodus 19:6). Communities like Qumran emphasized ritual purity, yet the New Testament deepens the concept: true holiness flows from the Spirit, not ceremonies alone (Hebrews 9:13-14). Early Christian writings (e.g., Didache, First Clement) echo Paul’s call to moral and doctrinal purity, showing that holiness remained central to apostolic and post-apostolic ministry.

Pastoral and Practical Significance

• Worship: Reverence becomes authentic when hearts are sanctified (Hebrews 12:28).
• Ethics: Holiness shapes decisions in sexuality, stewardship, speech, and justice (1 Peter 1:15-16).
• Mission: A holy life adorns the gospel and silences critics (Titus 2:10; 1 Peter 2:12).
• Suffering: Trials refine holiness, proving faith genuine (James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 1:6-7).
• Hope: Final glorification motivates present purity (1 John 3:2-3).

Old Testament Foundations and New Testament Fulfillment

• Exodus 19:6: Israel called “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”
• Leviticus 11:44: “Be holy, for I am holy.”
• 1 Peter 1:15-16 applies this mandate directly to the Church, showing continuity of the divine demand.

Related Terms and Concepts

• Sanctification (1 Thessalonians 4:3): the process toward practical holiness.
• Consecration (Romans 12:1): presentation of self as a living sacrifice.
• Purity (Matthew 5:8): inward cleanness necessary to see God.
• Fear of the Lord (Proverbs 9:10; 2 Corinthians 7:1): reverence that drives holiness.

Summary

Strong’s Greek 42 underscores the essential, God-centered quality of holiness that marks Christ, defines believers, and shapes the Church’s witness until the consummation of all things.

Forms and Transliterations

αγιωσυνη αγιωσύνη ἁγιωσύνῃ αγιωσυνην αγιωσύνην ἁγιωσύνην αγιωσυνης αγιωσύνης ἁγιωσύνης agiosune agiōsunē agiosunen agiōsunēn agiosunes agiōsunēs hagiosyne hagiōsynē hagiosýnei hagiōsýnēi hagiosynen hagiosýnen hagiōsynēn hagiōsýnēn hagiosynes hagiosýnes hagiōsynēs hagiōsýnēs

Englishman's Concordance

Romans 1:4 N-GFS
GRK: κατὰ πνεῦμα ἁγιωσύνης ἐξ ἀναστάσεως
NAS: to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus
KJV: to the spirit of holiness, by
INT: according to [the] Spirit of holiness by resurrection

2 Corinthians 7:1 N-AFS
GRK: πνεύματος ἐπιτελοῦντες ἁγιωσύνην ἐν φόβῳ
NAS: perfecting holiness in the fear
KJV: perfecting holiness in
INT: spirit perfecting holiness in fear

1 Thessalonians 3:13 N-DFS
GRK: ἀμέμπτους ἐν ἁγιωσύνῃ ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ
NAS: without blame in holiness before
KJV: unblameable in holiness before God,
INT: blameless in holiness before the

Strong's Greek 42
3 Occurrences

ἁγιωσύνῃ — 1 Occ.
ἁγιωσύνην — 1 Occ.
ἁγιωσύνης — 1 Occ.