2867. koniaó
Strong's Lexicon
koniaó: To whitewash, to plaster

Original Word: κονιάω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: koniaó
Pronunciation: ko-nee-ah'-o
Phonetic Spelling: (kon-ee-ah'-o)
Definition: To whitewash, to plaster
Meaning: I whitewash, plaster over.

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek word "konia" (κονία), meaning "dust" or "lime."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for "koniaó," the concept of whitewashing can be related to the Hebrew practice of marking tombs to avoid ritual impurity, as seen in passages like Ezekiel 13:10-15, where false prophets are compared to those who whitewash flimsy walls.

Usage: The verb "koniaó" refers to the act of covering something with a layer of lime or whitewash. In the New Testament, it is used metaphorically to describe the act of making something appear clean or pure on the outside while concealing what is corrupt or decayed within. This term is often associated with hypocrisy, where outward appearances are maintained to hide inner moral or spiritual decay.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient times, whitewashing was a common practice used to beautify and protect structures. It involved applying a mixture of lime and water to walls, tombs, or other surfaces. This practice was not only for aesthetic purposes but also served to protect surfaces from the elements. In a Jewish context, whitewashing tombs was particularly significant because it helped to mark them clearly, preventing accidental ritual impurity from contact with the dead.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from konia (dust)
Definition
to plaster over
NASB Translation
whitewashed (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 2867: κονιάω

κονιάω, κονίω: perfect passive participle κεκονιαμενος; (from κονία, which signifies not only 'dust' but also 'lime'); to cover with lime, plaster over, whitewash: τάφοι κεκονιάμενοι (the Jews were accustomed to whitewash the entrances to their sepulchres, as a warning against defilement by touching them (B. D. under the word , 1 at the end; cf. Edersheim, Jesus the Messiah, ii. 316ff)), Matthew 23:27; τοῖχε κεκονιαμένε is applied to a hypocrite who conceals his malice under an outward assumption of piety, Acts 23:3. (Demosthenes, Aristotle, Plutarch, others; for שִׂיד, Deuteronomy 27:2, 4.)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
whiten, whitewash

From konia (dust; by analogy, lime); to whitewash -- whiten.

Forms and Transliterations
κεκονιαμενε κεκονιαμένε κεκονιαμενοις κεκονιαμένοις κονιάσεις kekoniamene kekoniaméne kekoniamenois kekoniaménois
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Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 23:27 V-RPM/P-DMP
GRK: παρομοιάζετε τάφοις κεκονιαμένοις οἵτινες ἔξωθεν
NAS: For you are like whitewashed tombs
KJV: ye are like unto whited sepulchres,
INT: you are like tombs whitewashed which outwardly

Acts 23:3 V-RPM/P-VMS
GRK: θεός τοῖχε κεκονιαμένε καὶ σὺ
NAS: to strike you, you whitewashed wall!
KJV: smite thee, [thou] whited wall: for
INT: God wall whitewashed And you

Strong's Greek 2867
2 Occurrences


κεκονιαμένε — 1 Occ.
κεκονιαμένοις — 1 Occ.















2866
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