### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek noun κύλισμα (kýlisma, `{{G2946}}`) is derived from the verb κυλιόω (kylioō, `{{G2947}}`), meaning "to roll" or "to wallow." As a noun, κύλισμα denotes the *result* or *effect* of such rolling or wallowing. Its core semantic range encompasses the state or substance acquired through this action, specifically "filth" or "mire," often associated with an animal's habit of rolling in dirt or dung. It conveys a strong sense of defilement, impurity, and degradation, emphasizing not merely a superficial dirtiness but a thorough saturation in what is unclean and repulsive.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term κύλισμα (kýlisma, `{{G2946}}`) appears only once in the New Testament, found in a potent proverbial statement in the Epistle of 2 Peter:
* **[[2 Peter 2:22]]**: "The proverb says, 'A dog returns to its vomit,' and, 'A sow, after washing, returns to its wallowing in the mire.'" (κύλισμα βορβόρου)
In this sole occurrence, κύλισμα is used metaphorically in conjunction with βορβόρου (borborou, "of mire" or "of mud"). The full phrase "wallowing in the mire" vividly illustrates the spiritual state of those who, having "escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" ([[2 Peter 2:20]]), subsequently become entangled again and overcome by them. The context is a severe warning against apostasy and reversion to a life of sin after having experienced divine truth and cleansing. The imagery of a pig returning to its natural, unclean habit after being washed underscores the complete and repulsive spiritual degradation of such individuals, implying a deep-seated inclination towards impurity despite external cleansing.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary lexical root of κύλισμα (kýlisma, `{{G2946}}`) is the verb κυλιόω (kylioō, `{{G2947}}`), meaning "to roll" or "to wallow." This connection highlights the active process that leads to the state of filth.
Related concepts and semantic fields include:
* **Impurity/Defilement:** Words like μιασμός (miasmos, "defilement" `{{G3393}}`) or ἀκαθαρσία (akatharsia, "uncleanness" `{{G167}}`) share the theme of spiritual or moral impurity, though κύλισμα adds a unique dimension of active, willing re-engagement with that impurity.
* **Sin/Transgression:** The concept of ἁμαρτία (hamartia, "sin" `{{G266}}`) is the underlying reality that leads to the state described by κύλισμα.
* **Apostasy/Backsliding:** The context in 2 Peter links κύλισμα directly to the theological concept of falling away from faith, a reversion to a prior state of spiritual bondage and defilement.
* **Cleansing/Purification:** In contrast, words related to purity (καθαρός - katharos `{{G2513}}`) and cleansing (καθαρίζω - katharizo `{{G2511}}`) stand in stark opposition to the state of κύλισμα, emphasizing the grace that was rejected.
### Theological Significance
The singular use of κύλισμα (kýlisma, `{{G2946}}`) in [[2 Peter 2:22]] carries profound theological weight, serving as a powerful and repulsive metaphor for spiritual reversion.
1. **The Nature of Sin's Defilement:** The image of a sow returning to its wallowing in the mire vividly portrays sin not merely as a mistake or a lapse, but as a deeply defiling and degrading state. For those who have been "washed" by the knowledge of Christ, returning to sin is depicted as an unnatural and abhorrent act, akin to an animal's instinctive return to its inherent uncleanliness. It underscores the complete immersion in impurity that sin represents.
2. **The Gravity of Apostasy:** This proverb highlights the severe consequences and nature of apostasy. It suggests that for some, their prior "escape" from defilement was superficial, not a true transformation of their nature. Their return to κύλισμα indicates a fundamental preference for the mire, revealing a lack of genuine change of heart or a deliberate rejection of the path of righteousness.
3. **Divine Cleansing vs. Human Propensity:** The passage implicitly contrasts the divine act of cleansing and liberation from sin's power with the human propensity to revert to former habits. While God offers deliverance and purification, the individual's choice to return to the κύλισμα reveals a tragic spiritual condition where the love for impurity outweighs the appreciation for holiness.
4. **Warning and Exhortation:** The use of such a graphic and repulsive image serves as a stark warning to believers about the dangers of spiritual complacency and the dire consequences of abandoning the truth. It underscores the necessity of persevering in holiness and guarding against any return to the "filth" from which one has been redeemed.
### Summary
κύλισμα (kýlisma, `{{G2946}}`) is a Greek noun derived from the verb "to roll," meaning "wallowing" or "filth." Its sole biblical occurrence in [[2 Peter 2:22]] is within a proverb, describing a sow's return to "wallowing in the mire" (κύλισμα βορβόρου). This vivid metaphor powerfully illustrates the spiritual degradation of those who, having known the way of righteousness, revert to their former state of sin and defilement. The term emphasizes the repulsive, degrading, and complete immersion in impurity that characterizes such spiritual backsliding, serving as a severe warning against apostasy and a reminder of the profound defiling nature of sin.
TRV