from Α (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of καθαίρω (meaning cleansed); impure (ceremonially, morally (lewd) or specially, (demonic)):--foul, unclean.
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word ἀκάθαρτος (akáthartos - `{{G169}}`) is a compound term, formed from the privative alpha (α-), meaning "not" or "un-," and a presumed derivative of καθαίρω (kathaírō - `{{G2508}}`), which signifies "to cleanse" or "to purify." Thus, its core meaning is "unclean," "impure," or "not cleansed." The semantic range of ἀκάθαρτος in the New Testament is notably broad, encompassing three primary applications:
1. **Ceremonial Impurity:** Referring to ritual defilement as understood in the Mosaic Law, which rendered individuals or objects unfit for sacred contact or worship.
2. **Moral Impurity:** Describing ethical defilement, particularly associated with sexual immorality, lewdness, and other forms of sin that corrupt the inner person.
3. **Demonic Impurity:** Characterizing evil spirits or demons, highlighting their inherent defiling and corrupting nature, antithetical to God's holiness.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term ἀκάθαρτος appears frequently in the New Testament, with distinct contextual nuances.
**Demonic Usage:** This is perhaps the most prominent usage, especially in the Synoptic Gospels and Acts. ἀκάθαρτος is consistently used to describe "unclean spirits" (πνεῦμα ἀκάθαρτον). Examples include [[Mark 1:23]], [[Mark 1:26]], [[Mark 5:2]], [[Mark 5:8]], [[Luke 4:33]], [[Luke 4:36]], [[Acts 5:16]], and [[Acts 8:7]]. These spirits are portrayed as malevolent entities that afflict individuals, causing physical and mental distress, and are fundamentally opposed to the divine will. Jesus' authority over these "unclean spirits" is a recurring theme, demonstrating His power to cast them out and restore the afflicted, signifying the inauguration of God's kingdom and the triumph over forces of darkness.
**Ceremonial Usage:** While the New Testament largely moves beyond the strictures of the Old Testament ceremonial law, ἀκάθαρτος still appears in this context. A significant instance is Peter's vision in [[Acts 10:14]] and [[Acts 10:28]], where previously forbidden "unclean" foods are declared clean by God. This vision symbolizes the breaking down of barriers between Jews and Gentiles, signifying that God's salvation is for all people, and that ceremonial distinctions no longer define spiritual purity. [[Revelation 18:2]] also uses the term to describe Babylon as a dwelling place for "every unclean spirit and every unclean bird," echoing Old Testament prophetic imagery of desolation and moral decay.
**Moral Usage:** In the Pauline epistles, ἀκάθαρτος is frequently used to denote moral impurity, often linked with sexual sin and idolatry. In [[2 Corinthians 6:17]], believers are exhorted to "touch no unclean thing," a call for separation from idolatrous practices and immoral ways of the world. [[Ephesians 5:5]] explicitly states that no "unclean person" (οὐδὲ ἀκάθαρτος) has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God, directly linking moral defilement with spiritual exclusion. This usage emphasizes that true defilement originates from within, from sinful desires and actions, which pollute the individual and the community.
### Related Words & Concepts
The understanding of ἀκάθαρτος is enriched by examining its linguistic and conceptual relatives:
* **Antonym:** The direct opposite is καθαρός (katharós - `{{G2513}}`), meaning "clean," "pure," or "undefiled." This contrast highlights what ἀκάθαρτος is not, emphasizing the ideal state of purity.
* **Verb:** The root verb is καθαίρω (kathaírō - `{{G2508}}`), "to cleanse," "to purify," or "to prune." This verb underscores the action required to remove impurity and achieve a state of cleanness.
* **Noun:** The corresponding noun is ἀκαθαρσία (akatharsía - `{{G167}}`), meaning "uncleanness" or "impurity." This noun often appears alongside ἀκάθαρτος and is frequently used in lists of vices, particularly sexual sins (e.g., [[Romans 1:24]], [[Galatians 5:19]], [[Ephesians 4:19]], [[Colossians 3:5]], [[1 Thessalonians 4:7]]).
* **Old Testament Parallel:** The Hebrew equivalent in the Old Testament, especially in the Pentateuch, is טָמֵא (tamé - `{{H2931}}`), which also means "unclean" and forms the basis for the extensive purity laws concerning diet, disease, bodily fluids, and contact with the dead. While the New Testament shifts focus from ceremonial to moral and spiritual impurity, the Old Testament background provides the foundational understanding of what it means to be ἀκάθαρτος in the eyes of a holy God.
### Theological Significance
The concept of ἀκάθαρτος carries profound theological weight:
* **God's Holiness and Separation:** The existence of "uncleanness" underscores the absolute holiness and purity of God. Anything ἀκάθαρτος stands in stark opposition to God's nature and cannot fully dwell in His presence or participate in His kingdom without prior purification. This highlights the inherent separation between a holy God and a sinful creation.
* **Sin as Defilement:** In the New Testament, ἀκάθαρτος serves as a powerful metaphor for sin, particularly those sins that defile the inner person and the community. Sexual immorality, idolatry, and other forms of moral corruption are not merely transgressions of a law but acts that pollute and corrupt, making one unfit for divine fellowship.
* **Jesus' Authority and Cleansing Ministry:** Jesus' frequent encounters with and exorcisms of "unclean spirits" are central to His ministry. These acts demonstrate His divine authority over the forces of evil and spiritual defilement. Unlike Old Testament figures who became unclean by touching the defiled, Jesus touches the unclean (e.g., lepers, demon-possessed) and makes them clean, signifying a new redemptive power that purifies rather than being polluted. His death and resurrection provide the ultimate cleansing for all forms of ἀκάθαρτος sin.
* **The Church's Call to Purity:** Believers are called to be separate from all forms of ἀκάθαρτος practices and influences ([[2 Corinthians 6:17]]). This call to purity is not merely external adherence to rules but an internal transformation of the heart, empowered by the Holy Spirit ([[1 Thessalonians 4:7]]). The Church, as the body of Christ, is to reflect God's holiness in a world permeated by various forms of impurity.
* **Eschatological Purity:** The ultimate triumph of God's kingdom will be the complete eradication of all ἀκάθαρτος elements. [[Revelation 21:27]] declares that "nothing unclean" (πᾶν κοινὸν καὶ ποιῶν βδέλυγμα καὶ ψεῦδος) will ever enter the New Jerusalem, signifying a perfected state of absolute purity and holiness in God's eternal presence.
### Summary
The Greek word ἀκάθαρτος (akáthartos - `{{G169}}`) means "unclean" or "impure," derived from the negation of "cleansed." Its usage in the New Testament is comprehensive, encompassing ceremonial, moral, and especially demonic impurity. In the Gospels, its frequent association with "unclean spirits" highlights Jesus' divine authority to conquer spiritual defilement and bring liberation. In the Epistles, ἀκάθαρτος and its related noun ἀκαθαρσία (`{{G167}}`) underscore the defiling nature of sin, particularly sexual immorality and idolatry, which stand in direct opposition to God's holiness. Theologically, ἀκάθαρτος emphasizes the pervasive reality of sin's defilement, God's inherent purity, Jesus' transformative power to cleanse, and the Church's ongoing call to live a life of holiness, anticipating the ultimate eradication of all impurity in the consummation of God's kingdom.
TRV