Greek word · G47

ἁγνεία

hagneia

purity

Purity, chastity, moral cleanness. In wider Greek it often meant ritual purity, for example the purity required for temple service. In Jewish and Christian ethics it is especially sexual integrity and freedom from moral defilement.

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated November 01, 2026

What it means

ἁγνεία (WH, ἁγνία),

[in LXX for טָהֳרָה, נָזִיר, נֶזֶר, etc. ;]

purity: 1 Timothy 4:12, 5:2 (Cremer, 58. For exx. of ceremonial use in π., see MM, Exp., iv).†

(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 1 Timothy 4:12

Range of meaning: Purity, chastity, moral cleanness. In wider Greek it often meant ritual purity, for example the purity required for temple service. In Jewish and Christian ethics it is especially sexual integrity and freedom from moral defilement.
Against the English: 'Purity' is accurate. Modern readers may take it as vague 'holiness' or limit it to avoiding pornography. The Greek points to integrity in sexual conduct and relationships, and to being above suspicion.
Used elsewhere in the period: LXX Num 6:2, 21 (the Nazirite's vow of consecration); 1 Tim 5:2 ('younger women as sisters, in all purity'). Greek temple inscriptions require hagneia of worshippers. Related words: hagnos 'pure' (1 Tim 5:22; Titus 2:5).

From the study of 1 Timothy 5:2

Range of meaning: Purity, chastity, cleanness. In older Greek and the LXX it often means ritual or cultic purity: the state required to approach a god or keep a vow. In moral writing it means integrity of life, especially sexual restraint and propriety.
Against the English: BSB and NIV give 'absolute purity'. KJV, WEB, ESV and NASB give 'all purity'. Both are accurate. 'Absolute' brings out the force of 'all' well. 'Chastity' would be narrower than the word, and 'purity' alone can sound vague.
How it drifted: In current English, 'purity' in church settings is often linked with 'purity culture', which centres on young women guarding their sexuality. Here the word describes the conduct of the male leader toward women.
Used elsewhere in the period: In the LXX, hagneia is used for the Nazirite's consecration (Num 6:2, 5, 21) and for temple purity (2 Chr 30:19). A famous Greek temple inscription at Epidaurus, quoted by later writers, says: 'Pure must one be who enters the fragrant temple; and purity (hagneia) is to think holy thoughts.' So the word had already moved from ritual cleanness toward inner and moral cleanness. In the New Testament it appears only in 1 Timothy (4:12; 5:2). Early Christian writers such as Ignatius (Eph. 10:3) and Polycarp (Phil. 4:2) use the same phrase 'in all purity' for upright, chaste conduct.

Where it appears

1 Timothy · 2

1 Timothy 4:12 ἁγνείᾳ. purity.

Let no one despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

Here: Moral cleanness, especially sexual integrity, which matters for a young man ministering among women in the congregation (compare 5:2, "in all purity").
1 Timothy 5:2 ἁγνείᾳ. purity.

older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.

Here: 'Purity': moral and especially sexual integrity, a cleanness of conduct and motive that leaves no opening for scandal. It describes Timothy's own conduct toward the women, not a demand placed on them.

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