Greek word · G3067

λουτρόν

loutron

washing

A bath; the act of bathing; bathwater; occasionally a bathing place. In Greek usage it is often a ceremonial bath, especially the bride's bath before the wedding (loutra nymphika). It is not the same word as 'laver', the basin in the tabernacle (that is loutēr).

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated October 22, 2026

What it means

λουτρόν, -οῦ, τό

(λούω), [in LXX: Song of Songs 4:2 6:5, (6) (רַחְצָה), Sirach 34:25 * ;]

a washing, bath: τ. ὕδατος, Ephesians 5:26; τ. παλιγγενεσίας, Titus 3:5 (see AR, Eph., l.with).†

(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 Ephesians 5:26

Range of meaning: A bath; the act of bathing; bathwater; occasionally a bathing place. In Greek usage it is often a ceremonial bath, especially the bride's bath before the wedding (loutra nymphika). It is not the same word as 'laver', the basin in the tabernacle (that is loutēr).
Against the English: 'Washing' (KJV, BSB, ESV, NIV, NASB, WEB) is fine but faint; 'bath/bathing' (YLT) keeps the full-body, ceremonial picture. Older Catholic English ('laver', from the Latin lavacrum) suggests a basin rather than an act.
Used elsewhere in the period: In the NT only here and Titus 3:5 ('the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit'), both commonly linked with baptism. LXX: Song 4:2 and 6:6 (ewes coming up 'from the washing'); Sirach 34:25 (31:30 in some numberings), a washing after touching a corpse. In classical Greek writers the bridal bath with water carried from a sacred spring is well attested in Athenian wedding ritual (see Oakley & Sinos). Closest biblical background: Ezek 16:8–14, where God marries Jerusalem and then 'I bathed you with water (LXX elousa se en hudati) and washed off your blood… and anointed you… and clothed you… and you became exceedingly beautiful'.

From the study of Titus 3:5

Range of meaning: Bath, washing. It can mean the water for bathing, the bathing place, or the act of washing. In everyday Greek it is the ordinary word for a bath, and in the plural for public baths. It also covered ritual washings.
Against the English: 'Washing' (most versions) is accurate. YLT's 'bathing' keeps the full-body, immersive feel of the word. NLT turns the noun into 'he washed away our sins', which states a meaning (cleansing from sin) the Greek only implies and drops the concrete 'bath'.
Used elsewhere in the period: NT only here and Eph 5:26 ('cleansing her by the loutron of water with the word'), where it clearly refers to a water rite. LXX: Song 4:2; 6:6 (ewes coming up from the washing); Sirach 34:25 (31:30), washing after touching a corpse. In the second century Justin Martyr (1 Apology 61) describes baptism as a 'washing' (loutron) that brings 'rebirth' (anagennēsis), which shows how early Christians read this pairing.

Where it appears

Ephesians · 1

Ephesians 5:26 λουτρῷ washing

to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,

Here: 'By the bath': the means of the cleansing. The word is an ordinary word for a bath or the act of bathing, and it calls up both the bride's ceremonial bath before her wedding and the Christian washing of baptism.

Titus · 1

Titus 3:5 λουτροῦ [the] washing

He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

Here: A bath or act of washing. Christians on Crete would almost certainly have thought of their baptism. How tightly the word ties salvation to the water rite is debated.

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