Innocency, as a concept in the Bible, refers to the state of being free from sin, guilt, or moral wrong. It is often associated with purity, righteousness, and blamelessness. The Bible presents innocency as an ideal state, reflecting the original condition of humanity before the fall and as a goal for believers to strive towards through faith and obedience to God.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word often translated as "innocent" is "naqiy," which conveys the idea of being clean or free from guilt. Innocency is frequently mentioned in the context of justice and righteousness. For example, in Genesis 20:5, Abimelech defends his actions by claiming his innocency: "Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister,’ and she herself said, ‘He is my brother’? I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands."

The Psalms frequently appeal to God’s justice in defending the innocent. Psalm 26:6-7 states, "I wash my hands in innocence that I may go about Your altar, O LORD, to raise my voice in thanksgiving and declare all Your wonderful works." Here, the psalmist expresses a desire to maintain a state of innocency as a prerequisite for worship and communion with God.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the Greek word "akakos" is used to describe innocence, meaning "without evil" or "harmless." Jesus Christ is the ultimate example of innocency, living a sinless life and serving as the spotless Lamb of God. Hebrews 7:26 describes Him as "holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens."

Believers are called to emulate Christ’s innocency. In Matthew 10:16 , Jesus instructs His disciples, "Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves." This call to innocence is a call to live wisely yet without malice or deceit.

Theological Significance

Innocency is foundational to the biblical understanding of humanity's relationship with God. The fall of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3 marks the loss of original innocency, introducing sin and guilt into the human experience. However, through Christ’s redemptive work, believers are offered a path to restored innocency. Romans 5:18-19 explains, "So then, just as one trespass brought condemnation for all men, so also one act of righteousness brought justification and life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous."

Practical Implications

Innocency in the life of a believer involves a commitment to live in accordance with God’s commandments and to seek forgiveness and cleansing from sin through repentance. It is a state of heart and mind that reflects trust in God’s justice and mercy. The pursuit of innocency is not merely about avoiding wrongdoing but actively cultivating a life that honors God and reflects His holiness.

The Bible encourages believers to maintain a clear conscience before God and others. Acts 24:16 records Paul’s testimony: "In this hope, I strive always to maintain a clear conscience before God and man." This pursuit of innocency is integral to the Christian walk, enabling believers to stand blameless before God through the righteousness of Christ.(n.) Innocence.INNOCENCE; INNOCENCY; INNOCENT

in'-o-sens, in'-o-sen-si, in'-o-sent (zakhu, niqqayon, chinnam, chaph, naqi; athoos): the King James Version and the American Standard Revised Version have innocency in Genesis 20:5 Psalm 26:6; Psalm 73:13 Daniel 6:22 Hosea 8:5. In Daniel the Hebrew is zakhu, and the innocence expressed is the absence of the guilt of disloyalty to God. In all the other places the Hebrew is niqqayon, and the innocence expressed is the absence of pollution, Hosea having reference to the pollution of idolatry, and the other passages presenting the cleansing under the figure of washing hands. the King James Version has innocent not fewer than 40 times. In one place (1 Kings 2:31) the Hebrew is chinnam, meaning "undeserved," or "without cause," and, accordingly, the American Standard Revised Version, instead of "innocent blood. shed," has "blood. shed without cause." In another place (Job 33:9) the Hebrew is chaph, meaning "scraped," or "polished," therefore "clean," and refers to moral purity. In all the other places the Hebrew is naqi, or its cognates, and the idea is doubtless the absence of pollution. In more than half the passages "innocent" is connected with blood, as "blood of the innocent," or simply "innocent blood." In some places there is the idea of the Divine acquittal, or forgiveness, as in Job 9:28: "I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent" (compare Job 10:14, where the same Hebrew word is used). The New Testament has "innocent" twice in connection with blood-"innocent blood," and "innocent of the blood" (Matthew 27:4, 24).

E. J. Forrester

5356. niqqayon -- innocency
... 5355b, 5356. niqqayon or niqqayon. 5357 . innocency. Transliteration: niqqayon
or niqqayon Phonetic Spelling: (nik-kaw-yone') Short Definition: innocence. ...
/hebrew/5356.htm - 6k

5355b. naqi -- innocency
... naqi. 5356 . innocency. Transliteration: naqi Short Definition: innocent. Word
Origin from naqah Definition innocency NASB Word Usage innocent (2). ...
/hebrew/5355b.htm - 5k

2136. zaku -- purity, innocence
... innocence. (Aramaic) from a root corresponding to zakah; purity -- innocency. see
HEBREW zakah. 2135, 2136. zaku. 2137 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/2136.htm - 6k

In the Estate of Innocency the Love of Man Seemed Nothing but the ...
... THE FOURTH CENTURY 87 In the estate of innocency the love of man seemed
nothing but the beams of love reverted upon another. In the ...
/.../traherne/centuries of meditations/87 in the estate of.htm

That Innocency Asks with Confidence, and Obtains.
... Third Book. 79. That innocency asks with confidence, and obtains. In the Epistle
of John: "If our heart blame us not, we have confidence ...
/.../three books of testimonies against the jews/79 that innocency asks with.htm

That Even a Baptized Person Loses the Grace that He Has Attained ...
... Third Book. 27. That even a baptized person loses the grace that he has
attained, unless he keep innocency. In the Gospel according ...
/.../cyprian/three books of testimonies against the jews/27 that even a baptized.htm

Of the Worship of the True God, and of Innocency, and of The
... the divine institutes Book VI. Of True Worship. Chap. I."Of the Worship of the
True God, and of Innocency, and of the. Worship of False Gods. ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap i of the worship of.htm

Chapter xx
... And she, even she herself said to me, He is my brother. In the integrity
of my heart and the innocency of my hands have I done this. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xx.htm

In Divinity we are Entertained with all Objects from Everlasting ...
... And man, as he is a creature of God, capable of celestial blessedness, and a subject,
in His Kingdom, in his fourfold estate of innocency, misery, grace and ...
/.../traherne/centuries of meditations/43 in divinity we are.htm

"If we Say that we have no Sin, we Deceive Ourselves, and the ...
... own perfection, and immunity from sin, and, it may be, deceived some others too,
when they have lived some time in this golden dream of innocency, the time ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xvi if we say.htm

Continual Union in Spirit with God the End of Man's Creation...
... co??perating with His divine grace, and persevering therein) to a new right unto
eternal happiness, (perhaps) more sublime than man in innocency was destined to ...
/.../chapter i continual union in.htm

Self-Respect and Self-Righteousness
... Psalm 7:8. Give sentence for me, O Lord, according to my righteousness; and according
to the innocency that is in me. Is this speech self-righteous? ...
/.../kingsley/the good news of god/sermon xi self-respect and self-righteousness.htm

To Charles ii.
... Therefore the sense of their innocency did no doubt greatly contribute to move thee,
three years ago, to cause some hundreds of them to be set at liberty: for ...
/.../to charles ii.htm

Innocency (5 Occurrences)
... (n.) Innocence. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. INNOCENCE; INNOCENCY; INNOCENT. ...
EJ Forrester. Multi-Version Concordance Innocency (5 Occurrences). ...
/i/innocency.htm - 10k

Innocence (10 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. INNOCENCE; INNOCENCY; INNOCENT. in'-o-sens,
in'-o-sen-si, in'-o-sent (zakhu, niqqayon, chinnam, chaph ...
/i/innocence.htm - 12k

Attain (30 Occurrences)
... as he is able" (Ezekiel 46:7 margin), "not attained unto the days" (Genesis 47:9);
yakhol or yakhowl ="be able," "overcome," "attain to innocency" (Hosea 8:5 ...
/a/attain.htm - 17k

Innocent (97 Occurrences)
... 8. (n.) An unsophisticated person; hence, a child; a simpleton; an idiot. Int.
Standard Bible Encyclopedia. INNOCENCE; INNOCENCY; INNOCENT. ...
/i/innocent.htm - 37k

Ere (14 Occurrences)
... Hosea 8:5 Thy calf, O Samaria, hath cast thee off; mine anger is kindled against
them: how long will it be ere they attain to innocency? (KJV JPS ASV WBS). ...
/e/ere.htm - 10k

Encompass (20 Occurrences)
... round. (Root in JPS DBY RSV). Psalms 26:6 I will wash my hands in innocency,
and will encompass thine altar, O Jehovah, (DBY). Psalms ...
/e/encompass.htm - 12k

Ablution
... David's words, "I will wash my hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar,
O Yahweh" (Psalm 26:6; compare Psalm 73:13), are regarded by them as ...
/a/ablution.htm - 18k

Simplicity (12 Occurrences)
... And she, even she herself said, He is my brother. In the integrity of my heart
and the innocency of my hands have I done this. (See JPS). ...
/s/simplicity.htm - 13k

Purified (44 Occurrences)
... and my heart. (YLT). Psalms 73:13 Truly have I purified my heart in vain,
and washed my hands in innocency: (DBY YLT). Proverbs 20:9 ...
/p/purified.htm - 20k

Compass (51 Occurrences)
... (KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS). Psalms 26:6 I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will
I compass thine altar, O LORD: (KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT). ...
/c/compass.htm - 26k

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