"impure, unclean; lewd; foul"
Definition and meaning
impure, unclean; lewd; foul
In the original Greek the word is written: ἀκάθαρτος
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of akathartos (G169) across the King James Bible.
And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,
And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.
And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.
And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.
Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.
And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,
For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.
And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea,(they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.
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Common questions
Strong's G169 (akathartos) is a Greek word that means: impure, unclean; lewd; foul It appears 29 times in the King James Bible.
The word akathartos (G169) appears 29 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G169 is akathartos, a Greek word defined as: impure, unclean; lewd; foul. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
akathartos is a Greek word found in the New Testament.