"literally: unwashed; figuratively: ceremonially unclean Mt. 15:20; Mk. 7:2*"
Definition and meaning
literally: unwashed; figuratively: ceremonially unclean Mt. 15:20; Mk. 7:2*
In the original Greek the word is written: ἄνιπτος
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 aniptos (G449) across the King James Bible.
These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.
And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.
Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?
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Common questions
Strong's G449 (aniptos) is a Greek word that means: literally: unwashed; figuratively: ceremonially unclean Mt. 15:20; Mk. 7:2* It appears 3 times in the King James Bible.
The word aniptos (G449) appears 3 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G449 is aniptos, a Greek word defined as: literally: unwashed; figuratively: ceremonially unclean Mt. 15:20; Mk. 7:2*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
aniptos is a Greek word found in the New Testament.