ἅγιος

ἅγιος, -α, ον

(τό ἅγός, religious awe; ἅζω, to venerate), [in LXX chiefly for קֹ֫דֶשׁ ;]

primarily, dedicated to the gods, sacred (Hdt.; rare in Att., never in Hom., Hes. and Trag., who use ἁγνός), hence, holy, characteristic of God, separated to God, worthy of veneration.

1. Its highest application is to God himself, in his purity, majesty, and glory: Luk 1,49, Joh 17,11, Åb 4,8. Hence

(a) of things and places which have a claim to reverence as sacred to God, e.g. the Temple: Matt 24,15, Hebr 9,1;

(b) of persons employed by him, as angels: 1 Thess 3,13 prophets, Luk 1,70 apostles, Ef 3,5,

2. Applied to persons as separated to God's service:

(a) of Christ, Mark 1,24, Joh 6,69, ApG 4,30;

(b) of Christians, ApG 9,13, Rom 1,7, Hebr 6,10, Åb 5,8.

3. In the moral sense of sharing God's purity: Mark 6,20, Joh 17,11, ApG 3,14, Åb 3,7.

4. Of pure, clean sacrifices and offerings: 1 Kor 7,14, Ef 1,4.

SYN.: ἁγνός, pure, both in ceremonial and spiritual sense; ἱερός (sacer), sacred, that which is inviolable because of its (external) relation to God; ὅσιος (sanctus as opposite to nefas), that which is based on everlasting ordinances of right. (Cf. Tr., Syn., §lxxxviii; DB, ii, 399 f.; Cremer, 34, 594-601; MM, VGT, see word)