Greek word · G784

ἄσπιλος

aspilos

spotless

Without spot, unblemished. Used literally of objects and animals, and figuratively of moral blamelessness.

Appears 4 times in 4 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated October 22, 2026

What it means

ἄ-σπιλος, -ον

(ἀ- neg., σπῖλος) [in Sm.: Job 15:15 (LXX, καθαρός)* ;]

spotless, unstained: 1 Peter 1:19; metaphorically, 1 Timothy 6:14, James 1:27, 2 Peter 3:14 (for exx., see MM, see word).†

SYN.: ἀμίαντος, ἄμωμος (AS)

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

Range of meaning: Without spot, unblemished. Used literally of objects and animals, and figuratively of moral blamelessness.
Against the English: "Unspotted" (KJV) keeps the picture. "Unstained" (ESV, WEB) is close. BSB "from being polluted" and NLT "refusing to let the world corrupt you" keep the idea but lose the sacrificial image.
Used elsewhere in the period: 1 Pet 1:19: Christ "as a lamb without blemish and without spot". 1 Tim 6:14: "keep the commandment unstained". 2 Pet 3:14. Symmachus uses it in his Greek translation of the Old Testament. In secular Greek it is used of stones and of unblemished animals.

Range of meaning: 'Without spot, unstained' (from spilos, a spot or stain). Used literally of things free of stain or flaw, and figuratively of moral purity.
Against the English: 'Without spot', 'spotless' and 'unspotted' are all accurate. NIV's 'defect' moves it closer to 'blemish'.
Used elsewhere in the period: Rare, and not one of the standard sacrificial terms of the Greek Old Testament, where amōmos does that work. Its other New Testament uses are all moral: keep oneself 'unstained from the world' (James 1:27); keep the command 'spotless' (1 Timothy 6:14); be found 'spotless and blameless' (2 Peter 3:14, the same pairing as here). Ephesians 5:27 uses the noun spilos for the church presented 'without spot'. (Its use in secular Greek is thinly attested; BDAG cites literal examples.)

Range of meaning: Without spot or stain; unblemished, clean. A late, fairly rare word, used literally of unmarked objects and figuratively of moral purity.
Against the English: "Without spot" (KJV, WEB), "without stain" (BSB, NASB), "unstained" (ESV), "unspotted" (YLT) all render it accurately.
Used elsewhere in the period: Of Christ as a "lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Pet 1:19, sacrificial imagery); of keeping oneself "unstained by the world" (Jas 1:27); of believers found "spotless and blameless" at the Lord's coming (2 Pet 3:14). In each case it describes a person kept pure, often with the end of the age in view.

1 Timothy · 1

1 Timothy 6:14 ἄσπιλον, without stain,

Keep this commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Here: "With no spot" — an image of something clean and unblemished, like a sacrificial lamb or an undirtied garment. Whether the commandment or Timothy is to be spotless, the point is no contamination.

James · 1

James 1:27 ἄσπιλον unstained

Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Here: "Without a spot". It was used of a sacrificial animal fit for God (1 Pet 1:19). Placed first in its clause, it stresses that the worshipper himself must stay unblemished.

1 Peter · 1

1 Peter 1:19 ἀσπίλου without spot

but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.

Here: 'Without a spot or stain.' It strengthens 'unblemished' and leans toward moral purity, the sense it has in its other New Testament uses (James 1:27; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Peter 3:14).

2 Peter · 1

2 Peter 3:14 ἄσπιλοι without spot

Therefore, beloved, as you anticipate these things, make every effort to be found at peace—spotless and blameless in His sight.

Here: Without a spot or stain. It recalls a sacrificial animal fit to offer (compare 1 Pet 1:19 of Christ) and is the opposite of the false teachers, who are 'spots' (spiloi) in the community's meals (2:13).

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