"pr. an act of dipping or immersion: a baptism, Col. 2:12; Heb. 6:2; an ablution, Mk. 7:4; Heb. 9:10*"
Definition and meaning
pr. an act of dipping or immersion: a baptism, Col. 2:12; Heb. 6:2; an ablution, Mk. 7:4; Heb. 9:10*
In the original Greek the word is written: βαπτισμός
Historical context
The Gospel of Mark moves urgently — the word "immediately" appears over 40 times. It was written for a Roman audience familiar with power and action. Jesus is portrayed as a man who acts, heals, and commands authority that the Roman world had never seen from a Jewish teacher.
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 baptismos (G909) across the King James Bible.
And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.
For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
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Common questions
Strong's G909 (baptismos) is a Greek word that means: pr. an act of dipping or immersion: a baptism, Col. 2:12; Heb. 6:2; an ablution, Mk. 7:4; Heb. 9:10* It appears 4 times in the King James Bible.
The word baptismos (G909) appears 4 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G909 is baptismos, a Greek word defined as: pr. an act of dipping or immersion: a baptism, Col. 2:12; Heb. 6:2; an ablution, Mk. 7:4; Heb. 9:10*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
baptismos is a Greek word found in the New Testament.