Greek word · G1132

γυμνότης

gymnotēs

nakedness

Being naked or without enough clothing. In practice this means destitution, exposure to the elements, and sometimes the shame of being stripped.

Appears 3 times in 3 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

γυμνότης, -ητος, ἡ

(γυμνός), [in LXX for עֵירֹם, Deuteronomy 28:48 * ;]

nakedness: Romans 8:35, 2 Corinthians 11:27, Revelation 3:18.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Romans 8:35

Range of meaning

Being naked or without enough clothing. In practice this means destitution, exposure to the elements, and sometimes the shame of being stripped.

Against the English

Every major literal version says "nakedness". The NLT says "destitute", which captures the economic sense.

How it drifted

In modern English "nakedness" mostly suggests sexual exposure or immodesty. In the ancient world, having too little clothing was a sign of poverty and helplessness. Clothing was expensive, and the poor often owned only one garment.

Used elsewhere in the period

2 Cor 11:27: "in hunger and thirst... in cold and nakedness (gymnotēti)". Rev 3:18 uses it for shameful exposure. Compare also 1 Cor 4:11, "we hunger and thirst, we are poorly clothed (gymniteuomen)", and Matt 25:36.

From the study of 2 Corinthians 11:27

Range of meaning

Being naked or poorly clothed. Gymnos (naked) often meant "without your outer garment" or "inadequately dressed" (John 21:7; Jas 2:15, "a brother or sister is gymnos and lacks daily food").

Against the English

KJV, WEB and YLT have "nakedness". ESV, NASB and BSB have "exposure". NLT has "without enough clothing to keep me warm".

How it drifted

Modern English "naked" means no clothes at all and suggests sexual shame. In ancient usage the main sense was being in need: having no cloak.

Used elsewhere in the period

Paul lists it with famine, danger and sword in Romans 8:35. In Revelation 3:18 it is used for shameful exposure. Behind it lies the Israelite law of the poor man's cloak, which was his only blanket at night (Exod 22:26–27; Deut 24:12–13). Matthew 25:36 lists "naked" alongside hungry, sick and imprisoned as the condition of the destitute.

Where it appears

Romans · 1

  1. Romans 8:35 γυμνότης nakedness

    Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

    Here: Not having enough clothing. It means destitution and exposure to cold, and possibly being stripped for beating or in prison. It has nothing to do with sexual immorality.

2 Corinthians · 1

  1. 2 Corinthians 11:27 γυμνότητι· nakedness;

    in labor and toil and often without sleep, in hunger and thirst and often without food, in cold and exposure.

    Here: Not having enough clothes: too little to keep warm, possibly after robbery, shipwreck or a beating. It does not mean being fully naked in public.

Revelation · 1

  1. Revelation 3:18 γυμνότητός nakedness

    I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, white garments so that you may be clothed and your shameful nakedness not exposed, and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.

    Here: The state of being naked or badly under-clothed. It is a mark of poverty, captivity and judgment (Deut 28:48 LXX), and it picks up 'naked' (γυμνός) in v.17.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.