Word Study for G3068 (λούω) | Strong's Concordance

loúō /loo'-o/ Ask about this word

Meaninga primary verb; to bathe (the whole person; whereas νίπτω means to wet a part only, and πλύνω to wash, cleanse garments exclusively)

KJV usagewash.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of loúō — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word loúō, represented by G3068, is a primary verb meaning to bathe the whole person. It is used to signify a complete washing, in contrast to νίπτω, which refers to wetting only a part of the body, or πλύνω, which is used exclusively for washing garments. It appears 6 times across 6 unique verses in the Bible, indicating its specific and significant application.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, G3068 is used in both literal and figurative contexts. Literally, it describes compassionate care, as when the Philippian jailer washed the stripes of Paul and Silas Acts 16:33, and the customary preparation of a body for burial, as when Tabitha's body was washed Acts 9:37. Figuratively, it carries profound theological weight, such as in the statement that Jesus Christ has "washed us from our sins in his own blood" Revelation 1:5. A key distinction is made in John 13:10, where Jesus explains that one who is already washed (bathed) only needs to wash his feet, illustrating the difference between a complete, foundational cleansing and daily purification.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the concept of washing and purification:

G3538 níptō: The counterpart to loúō, this word means to wash a part of the body. It is used in John 13:10 to describe the washing of feet, highlighting a partial cleansing in contrast to the full-body washing implied by loúō.
G2513 katharós: This word means clean or pure, often describing the state achieved after washing. It is used directly with G3068 in Hebrews 10:22, which speaks of having "our bodies washed with pure water," and in John 13:10, where Jesus states that he who is washed is "clean every whit."
G4472 rhantízō: Meaning to sprinkle or asperse ceremonially, this word is used in parallel with G3068 in Hebrews 10:22. The verse calls for hearts to be sprinkled from an evil conscience and bodies to be washed, connecting external washing to internal purification.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of G3068 is primarily focused on the totality of spiritual cleansing.

Washing from Sin: The most powerful use of the term is in Revelation 1:5, which directly attributes the washing from sin to the blood of Christ. This act is not partial but a complete removal of guilt.
Total vs. Partial Cleansing: The dialogue in John 13:10 establishes a foundational principle. Being "washed" G3068 represents a complete, once-for-all salvation, after which only the "feet" require washing G3538, symbolizing the need for ongoing cleansing from the defilement of the world.
Figurative Purification: The word is used to describe a spiritual readiness for approaching God, as seen in Hebrews 10:22, where bodies "washed with pure water" is a component of drawing near in faith. In contrast, its use in the proverb of "the sow that was washed" 2 Peter 2:22 illustrates that an external washing without an internal change is futile.

Summary

In summary, G3068 is a specific term that moves beyond simple hygiene to convey a concept of complete cleansing. Whether used for the literal washing of a body, as an act of compassion, or for the profound theological reality of being washed from sin by the blood of Christ, loúō consistently points to a thorough, all-encompassing washing that is distinct from partial or superficial cleaning.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 6 occurrences, inflected in 6 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Aorist Active Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
Aorist Active Participle Dative Singular Masculine 1×
Aorist Active Participle Nominative Plural Masculine 1×
Aorist Middle Participle Nominative Singular Feminine 1×
Perfect Middle Participle Nominative Plural Masculine 1×
Perfect Middle Participle Nominative Singular Masculine 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Dative: The indirect object — often "to" or "for".
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
Feminine: Feminine grammatical gender.
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Perfect: A completed act whose results continue.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Middle: The subject acts on or for itself.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Participle: A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 6 verses across 5 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Acts (2 verses); never once in the other 22.

John

Acts

Hebrews

2 Peter

Revelation

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.