ἀπολούω

From the study of 1 Corinthians 6:11

Range of meaning

To wash something off or away; in the middle voice, to wash oneself, or to have oneself washed. The prefix apo- ("off, away") stresses removing dirt, not just bathing.

Against the English

"You were washed" (BSB, NIV, ESV, NASB) turns the middle voice into a plain passive. The Greek is closer to "you washed yourselves off" or "you got yourselves washed," so the people themselves took part, as a convert does in going down into the water. NLT's "cleansed" keeps the purity idea but loses the bath picture.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the New Testament it occurs only here and in Acts 22:16, where Ananias tells Paul, "Get up, be baptized, and wash away (apolousai, middle) your sins, calling on his name". There washing, baptism and calling on the name come together, just as they do here. In the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament), Job 9:30 uses it for washing oneself clean. Jewish life was full of purifying immersions, and the Dead Sea Scrolls join water purification with God's holy spirit (Community Rule, 1QS III.6–9; IV.20–21).

From the study of Acts 22:16

Range of meaning

To wash off or wash away. In the middle voice: to wash oneself clean, or to have something washed off oneself. It is built from λούω ('bathe the whole body') plus ἀπό ('away from'). In the New Testament it appears only here and in 1 Corinthians 6:11 ('but you were washed', ἀπελούσασθε), both times about being cleansed from sins at conversion.

Against the English

'Wash away your sins' (KJV, BSB, WEB) keeps the picture well. The active English can make it sound as if Saul does the cleansing himself. The Greek middle allows 'have your sins washed away' or 'let yourself be cleansed', which NLT reflects with 'have your sins washed away.'

Used elsewhere in the period

The picture of washing comes from Israel's prophets and psalms. In Isaiah 1:16 LXX, 'Wash yourselves (λούσασθε), become clean, remove the evil deeds.' In Psalm 51:2, 7 (LXX 50:4, 9), 'wash me thoroughly from my iniquity… wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.' In Ezekiel 36:25, 'I will sprinkle clean water on you and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses.' Second Temple texts such as 1QS 3:6–9 link outward washing with inward cleansing by 'a spirit of holiness', and also warn that the water does nothing without a turned heart.