Five Words for Wash

The New Testament has five basic word groups that are translated wash or washing. Three especially stand out. The words plunō and apoplunō refer to washing inanimate objects, such as robes (Rev. 7:14) or fishing nets (Luke 5:2). The words niptō and aponiptō refer to washing parts of the body, such as hands (Matt. 15:2; 27:24), eyes (John 9:15), or feet (John 13:5ff). Then the words louō and apolouō refer to washing the whole body (John 13:10; Rev. 1:5). They are sometimes translated "bathe" and the related noun loutron "bath" (Eph. 5:26; Titus 3:5). The prefix apo- signals that the washing is "from" or "away." The form apolouō occurs twice in scripture: "bathe away your sins" (Acts 22:16) and "you were bathed, you were sanctified, you were justified" (I Cor. 6:11). One suspects that the translation "wash" instead of "bathe" is preferred in a number of modern translations out of market concerns to appeal to those in churches that do not practice baptism by immersion. The other two words are often not translated "wash" in modern translations. The word for rain brekhō is often translated "wet" or "shower" (Luke 7:38, 44). The word for dipping baptizō and the noun baptismos are translated "immerse," or "baptize" and "baptism" (Mark 7:4; Luke 11:38; Heb. 9:10).