verb
niptemō
Greekνίπτω (niptō)
Strong’sG3538
I wash
stem nipt-17 times in the New Testamentin 4 of 27 books13 forms occur
Translated as
What it means
νίπτω, late form of νίζω,
[in LXX chiefly for רחץ;]
SYN.: λούω (q.v.), πλύνω.
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G3538 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidnip'-to
to cleanse (especially the hands or the feet or the face); ceremonially, to perform ablution
King Jameswash.
James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.
Forms in the New Testament
| Form and the Greek behind it | What it is | Usually | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| niptasōνίπτεις | happening now · youpresent active indicative 2nd person singular | wash | 1× |
| niptelōνίπτονται | happening now · theypresent middle indicative 3rd person plural | wash | 1× |
| niptamaἔνιψα | happened · Iaorist active indicative 1st person singular | washed | 1× |
| niptataἔνιψεν | happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular | washed | 2× |
| niptemaἐνιψάμην | happened · Iaorist middle indicative 1st person singular | washed | 1× |
| niptetaἐνίψατο | happened · he/she/itaorist middle indicative 3rd person singular | washed | 1× |
| niptameiaνίψω | happened · Iaorist active subjunctive 1st person singular | wash | 1× |
| niptaseiaνίψῃς | happened · youaorist active subjunctive 2nd person singular | wash | 1× |
| nipteleiaνίψωνται | happened · theyaorist middle subjunctive 3rd person plural | wash | 1× |
| niptesarνίψαι | happened · youaorist middle imperative 2nd person singular | wash | 3× |
| niptarōνίπτειν | happening now · the “to …” formpresent active infinitive | wash | 2× |
| nipteraνίψασθαι | happened · the “to …” formaorist middle infinitive | wash | 1× |
| nipteratosνιψάμενος | happened · subjectaorist middle participle nominative singular masculine | washed | 1× |
Every form the New Testament uses, in paradigm order. What the system can build beyond them — the whole of this verb, whether the text happens to use it or not — is in the tables below.
Every form the system can build — all 172, by mood, including the ones the New Testament never uses
Statements — indicative mood, 7 occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | niptamō | niptame | niptami | niptama1×ἔνιψα | niptamē | niptamelē |
| you 2nd person singular | niptasō1×νίπτεις | niptase | niptasi | niptasa | niptasē | niptaselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | niptatō | niptate | niptati | niptata2×ἔνιψεν | niptatē | niptatelē |
| we 1st person plural | niptanō | niptane | niptani | niptana | niptanē | niptanelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | niptavō | niptave | niptavi | niptava | niptavē | niptavelē |
| they 3rd person plural | niptalō | niptale | niptali | niptala | niptalē | niptalelē |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | niptemō | nipteme | niptemi | niptema1×ἐνιψάμην | niptemē | niptemelē |
| you 2nd person singular | niptesō | niptese | niptesi | niptesa | niptesē | nipteselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | niptetō | niptete | nipteti | nipteta1×ἐνίψατο | niptetē | niptetelē |
| we 1st person plural | niptenō | niptene | nipteni | niptena | niptenē | niptenelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | niptevō | nipteve | niptevi | nipteva | niptevē | niptevelē |
| they 3rd person plural | niptelō1×νίπτονται | niptele | nipteli | niptela | niptelē | niptelelē |
May, might — subjunctive mood, 3 occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | niptameiō | niptameia1×νίψω | niptameiē |
| you 2nd person singular | niptaseiō | niptaseia1×νίψῃς | niptaseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | niptateiō | niptateia | niptateiē |
| we 1st person plural | niptaneiō | niptaneia | niptaneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | niptaveiō | niptaveia | niptaveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | niptaleiō | niptaleia | niptaleiē |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | niptemeiō | niptemeia | niptemeiē |
| you 2nd person singular | nipteseiō | nipteseia | nipteseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | nipteteiō | nipteteia | nipteteiē |
| we 1st person plural | nipteneiō | nipteneia | nipteneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | nipteveiō | nipteveia | nipteveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | nipteleiō | nipteleia1×νίψωνται | nipteleiē |
Commands — imperative mood, 3 occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | niptasōr | niptasar | niptasēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | niptatōr | niptatar | niptatēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | niptavōr | niptavar | niptavēr |
| they 3rd person plural | niptalōr | niptalar | niptalēr |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | niptesōr | niptesar3×νίψαι | niptesēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | niptetōr | niptetar | niptetēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | niptevōr | niptevar | niptevēr |
| they 3rd person plural | niptelōr | niptelar | niptelēr |
Wishes — optative mood, no occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | niptamoiō | niptamoia |
| you 2nd person singular | niptasoiō | niptasoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | niptatoiō | niptatoia |
| we 1st person plural | niptanoiō | niptanoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | niptavoiō | niptavoia |
| they 3rd person plural | niptaloiō | niptaloia |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | niptemoiō | niptemoia |
| you 2nd person singular | niptesoiō | niptesoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | niptetoiō | niptetoia |
| we 1st person plural | niptenoiō | niptenoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | niptevoiō | niptevoia |
| they 3rd person plural | nipteloiō | nipteloia |
The “to …” form — infinitive, 3 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | niptarō2×νίπτειν | niptari | niptara | niptarē |
| acts on or for itself middle voice | nipterō | nipteri | niptera1×νίψασθαι | nipterē |
Used as an adjective — participle, 1 occurrence
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | niptarōtos | niptaritos | niptaratos | niptarētos |
| acts on or for itself middle voice | nipterōtos | nipteritos | nipteratos1×νιψάμενος | nipterētos |
Each is given in the form it takes as a subject. From there a participle carries the ordinary noun endings, in every case, number and gender — so these four columns are the whole of what the verb contributes.
How every form is built — the slots that make them
nipt is this word in every one of its forms. The slots after it make all the rest.
same in every form varies — every value shown
Where it appears
17 occurrences, every one of them listed
niptasō“wash”happening now · youpresent active indicative 2nd person singular1×
John 13:6“wash”erchetō oun pros Simōnon Petron. legatō auto; Kurior, sis mu niptasō toin podoin?He came to Simon Peter, who asked Him, “Lord, are You going to wash my feet?”
niptelō“wash”happening now · theypresent middle indicative 3rd person plural1×
Matthew 15:2“wash”Dia tinem tois mathētois su parabainalō tan paradosian toiu presbuteroiu? ouk gar niptelō tain cheirain autoiu hotan arton esthialeiō.“Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They do not wash their hands before they eat.”
niptama“washed”happened · Iaorist active indicative 1st person singular1×
John 13:14“washed”ei oun mis niptama vu toin podoin tos kurios kai tos didaskalos, kai vis ofeilavō allēloiu niptarō toin podoin;So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.
niptata“washed”happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular2×
John 13:12“washed”Hote oun niptata toin podoin autoiu kai lambata teim himatieim autou kai anapiptata, palin legata autoi; Gnōskavō tinem poiamē vi?When Jesus had washed their feet and put on His outer garments, He reclined with them again and asked, “Do you know what I have done for you?
1 Timothy 5:10“washed”en ergei kalei marturirōtas, ei teknotrofata, ei xenodochata, ei hagioiu podoin niptata, ei thlibirōtoi eparkata, ei pante erge agathe epakolouthata.and well known for good deeds such as bringing up children, entertaining strangers, washing the feet of the saints, imparting relief to the afflicted, and devoting herself to every good work.
niptema“washed”happened · Iaorist middle indicative 1st person singular1×
John 9:15“washed”palin oun erōtale auton kai tois Farisaiois pōs anablepata. tos de legata autoi; Pēlon epitithata mu epi toin ofthalmoin, kai niptema, kai blepamō.So the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. The man answered, “He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see.”
nipteta“washed”happened · he/she/itaorist middle indicative 3rd person singular1×
John 9:7“washed”kai legata auto; Hupagasōr niptesar eis tan kolumbēthran tou Silōam hem hermēneuitō Apostelirētos. aperchata oun kai nipteta, kai erchata bleparōtos.Then He told him, “Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam” (which means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came back seeing.
niptameia“wash”happened · Iaorist active subjunctive 1st person singular1×
John 13:8“wash”legatō auto Petros; Ouk mē niptaseia mu toin podoin eis ton aiōnon. apokrinita Iēsus auto; Ean mē niptameia sin, ouk echasō merem meta mu.“Never shall You wash my feet!” Peter told Him. Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me.”
niptaseia“wash”happened · youaorist active subjunctive 2nd person singular1×
John 13:8“wash”legatō auto Petros; Ouk mē niptaseia mu toin podoin eis ton aiōnon. apokrinita Iēsus auto; Ean mē niptameia sin, ouk echasō merem meta mu.“Never shall You wash my feet!” Peter told Him. Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me.”
nipteleia“wash”happened · theyaorist middle subjunctive 3rd person plural1×
Mark 7:3“wash”tois gar Farisaiois kai pantois tois Ioudaiois ean mē pugma nipteleia tain cheirain ouk esthialō, kratarōtois tan paradosian toiu presbuteroiu,Now in holding to the tradition of the elders, the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat until they wash their hands ceremonially.
niptesar“wash”happened · youaorist middle imperative 2nd person singular3×
Matthew 6:17“wash”sis de nēsteuarōtos aleifesar su tan kefalan kai tem prosōpem su niptesar,But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
John 9:7“wash”kai legata auto; Hupagasōr niptesar eis tan kolumbēthran tou Silōam hem hermēneuitō Apostelirētos. aperchata oun kai nipteta, kai erchata bleparōtos.Then He told him, “Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam” (which means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came back seeing.
John 9:11“wash”apokrinita ekeinos; Tos anthrōpos tos legirōtos Iēsus pēlon poiata kai epichriata mu toin ofthalmoin kai legata mi hoti Hupagasōr eis ton Silōam kai niptesar; apercharatos oun kai nipteratos anablepama.He answered, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and anointed my eyes, and He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed and received my sight.”
niptarō“wash”happening now · the “to …” formpresent active infinitive2×
John 13:5“wash”eita ballatō hudōrem eis ton niptēron, kai archeta niptarō toin podoin toiu mathētoiu kai ekmassarō te lentie he ate diazōnerētos.After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel that was around Him.
John 13:14“wash”ei oun mis niptama vu toin podoin tos kurios kai tos didaskalos, kai vis ofeilavō allēloiu niptarō toin podoin;So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.
niptera“wash”happened · the “to …” formaorist middle infinitive1×
John 13:10“wash”legatō auto tos Iēsus; Tos louerētos ouk echatō chreian ei mē toin podoin niptera, alla atō katharos holos; kai vis katharois avō, alla ouchi pantois.Jesus told him, “Whoever has already bathed needs only to wash his feet, and he will be completely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.”
nipteratos“washed”happened · subjectaorist middle participle nominative singular masculine1×
John 9:11“washed”apokrinita ekeinos; Tos anthrōpos tos legirōtos Iēsus pēlon poiata kai epichriata mu toin ofthalmoin kai legata mi hoti Hupagasōr eis ton Silōam kai niptesar; apercharatos oun kai nipteratos anablepama.He answered, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and anointed my eyes, and He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed and received my sight.”