verb
niptomō
Strong’sG3538
I wash
stem nipt-17 times in the New Testamentin 4 of 27 books13 forms occur
What it means
A plain-English reading of the word, with the lexicons it draws on — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, and Liddell-Scott-Jones — right below it, in full.
AI Summary
Wash — used specifically of washing a part of the body, such as the hands, feet, or face, rather than of bathing the whole body (which is expressed by a different Greek verb) or of washing clothes 1. It describes one person washing another, for example washing someone's feet, and in the middle (reflexive) voice it describes washing oneself 1. The washing in view can be a ceremonial act of ritual cleansing 2. Dodson's brief gloss for the word is simply "I wash" 4.
Sources: 1 Abbott-Smith 2 Strong's 3 LSJ 4 Dodson. Condensed by anthropic/claude-sonnet-5 on 2026-09-23 — it may still misstate what these say; check them yourself if it matters to you.
The lexicons it was drawn from, in full:
Abbott-Smith — the 1922 lexicon entry, in full
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.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — the classical dictionary this word appears in
Refs 5th c.BC+; imperative νίζε Refs 8th c.BC+; infinitive νίζειν Refs 8th c.BC+; participle νίζων Refs 8th c.BC+: Epic dialect imperfect νίζον Refs 8th c.BC+:— the present νίπτω, analogically formed from νίψω ἔνιψα, first in NT+5th c.BC+ uses middle νίπτομαι Refs: future νίψω Refs 8th c.BC+: aorist ἔνιψα Refs; Epic dialect νίψα Refs 8th c.BC+:—middle, νίζομαι Refs 5th c.BC+: imperfect νίζετο Refs 8th c.BC+future νίψομαι (see. ἀπο-, ἐκ-νίζω)LXXaorist ἐνιψάμη; Epic dialect 3rd.pers. singular νίψατο Refs 8th c.BC+perfect νένιμμαι (see. below): aorist passive ἐνίφθην (κατ-) Refs 5th c.BC+:—wash the hands or feet (see. entry near the end), νίζε δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἆσσον ἰοῦσα ἄναχθ᾽ ἑόν Refs 8th c.BC+, cf. Oracle texts cited in Refs 5th c.BC+ [same place]:—middle, νίψατο δ᾽ αὐτὸς χεῖρας Refs 8th c.BC+; νίψασθαι, absolutely, to wash one's hands, Refs 8th c.BC+; χεῖρας νίψασθαι ἁλός [with water] from the sea, Refs 8th c.BC+
2 generally, purge, cleanse, νίψαι καθαρμῷ Refs 5th c.BC+
II wash off, ἐπεί σφιν κῦμα θαλάσσης ἱδρῶ.. νίψεν ἀπὸ χρωτός Refs 8th c.BC+[same place]:—passive, αἷμα νένιπται Refs 8th c.BC+ —middle, ἐκ ποταμοῦ χρόα νίζετο ἅλμην he washed the brine off his skin [with water] from the river, Refs 8th c.BC+—Commonly used of washing part of the person, while λούομαι is used of bathing, πλύνω of washing clothes, etc.; but νίζω is sometimes used of things, σπόγγοισι.. τραπέζας νίζον Refs 8th c.BC+ — _Attic dialect_ Prose writers use the word only in compounds, see.{ἀπο-}, ἐναπο-, ἐκ-νίζω. (Cf. OIr. nigid, Sanskrit nénekti 'wash', niktá- 'washed', Gr. ἀ-νιπτό-ποδες, χέρνιβα, I.-Refs 5th c.BC+ nig[uglide]-.)
H. G. Liddell, R. Scott, H. S. Jones, A Greek-English Lexicon (9th ed., 1925–1940) — digitised by the Perseus Digital Library and corrected and expanded by Tyndale House, Cambridge, via STEPBible-Data's TFLSJ table, CC BY 4.0. Covers all of Greek literature, not just the Bible.
Translated as
Every occurrence, sorted by the English it was actually given — the evidence for what the word means, not a gloss of it.
Berean Standard Bible (BSB), dedicated to the public domain — berean.bible.
Biblang forms
What the New Testament actually uses, first — the whole system this verb is built from is one click further down.
| Form and the Greek behind it | What it is | Usually | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| niptasōνίπτεις | happening now · youpresent active indicative 2nd person singular | wash | 1× |
| niptolōνίπτονται | happening now · theypresent middle or passive 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× |
| nipterantosνιψάμενος | 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 itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | niptomō | niptome | niptomē | niptomelē |
| you 2nd person singular | niptosō | niptose | niptosē | niptoselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | niptotō | niptote | niptotē | niptotelē |
| we 1st person plural | niptonō | niptone | niptonē | niptonelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | niptovō | niptove | niptovē | niptovelē |
| they 3rd person plural | niptolō1×νίπτονται | niptole | niptolē | niptolelē |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | will happen future | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | niptemi | niptema1×ἐνιψάμην |
| you 2nd person singular | niptesi | niptesa |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | nipteti | nipteta1×ἐνίψατο |
| we 1st person plural | nipteni | niptena |
| ye 2nd person plural | niptevi | nipteva |
| they 3rd person plural | nipteli | niptela |
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 itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | niptomeiō | niptomeiē |
| you 2nd person singular | niptoseiō | niptoseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | niptoteiō | niptoteiē |
| we 1st person plural | niptoneiō | niptoneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | niptoveiō | niptoveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | niptoleiō | niptoleiē |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | niptemeia |
| you 2nd person singular | nipteseia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | nipteteia |
| we 1st person plural | nipteneia |
| ye 2nd person plural | nipteveia |
| they 3rd person plural | nipteleia1×νίψωνται |
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 itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | niptosōr | niptosēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | niptotōr | niptotēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | niptovōr | niptovēr |
| they 3rd person plural | niptolōr | niptolēr |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | niptesar3×νίψαι |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | niptetar |
| ye 2nd person plural | niptevar |
| they 3rd person plural | niptelar |
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 itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | niptomoiō |
| you 2nd person singular | niptosoiō |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | niptotoiō |
| we 1st person plural | niptonoiō |
| ye 2nd person plural | niptovoiō |
| they 3rd person plural | niptoloiō |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | niptemoia |
| you 2nd person singular | niptesoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | niptetoia |
| we 1st person plural | niptenoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | niptevoia |
| they 3rd person plural | 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 itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | niptorō | niptorē | ||
| acts on or for itself middle voice | nipteri | niptera1×νίψασθαι |
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 | niptarōntos | niptarintos | niptarantos | niptarēntos |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | niptorōntos | niptorēntos | ||
| acts on or for itself middle voice | nipterintos | nipterantos1×νιψάμενος |
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
Every verse the word appears in, filed under the form it takes there.
17 occurrences, every one of them listed
niptasō“wash”happening now · youpresent active indicative 2nd person singular1×
John 13:6… Petron. legatō auto; Kurior, sis mu niptasō toin podoin?… Him, “Lord, are You going to wash my feet?”
niptolō“wash”happening now · theypresent middle or passive indicative 3rd person plural1×
Matthew 15:2… tan paradosian toiu presbuteroiu? ouk gar niptolō tain cheirain autoiu hotan arton esthialeiō.… of the elders? They do not wash their hands before they eat.”
niptama“washed”happened · Iaorist active indicative 1st person singular1×
John 13:14ei oun mis niptama vu toin podoin tos kurios kai …… I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash …
niptata“washed”happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular2×
John 13:12Hote oun niptata toin podoin autoiu kai labata teim …When Jesus had washed their feet and put on His …
1 Timothy 5:10“washed”… teknotrofata, ei xenodochata, ei hagioiu podoin niptata, ei thliborōntoi eparkata, ei pante erge …… 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… epitithata mu epi toin ofthalmoin, kai niptema, kai blepamō.… 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… hem hermēneuotō Apostelorēntos. aperchata oun kai nipteta, kai erchata bleparōntos.… Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came back seeing.
niptameia“wash”happened · Iaorist active subjunctive 1st person singular1×
John 13:8… aiōnon. apokrinita Iēsus auto; Ean mē niptameia sin, ouk echasō merem meta mu.… told Him. Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with …
niptaseia“wash”happened · youaorist active subjunctive 2nd person singular1×
John 13:8legatō auto Petros; Ouk mē niptaseia mu toin podoin eis ton aiōnon. …“Never shall You wash my feet!” Peter told Him. Jesus …
nipteleia“wash”happened · theyaorist middle subjunctive 3rd person plural1×
Mark 7:3… pantois tois Ioudaiois ean mē pugma nipteleia tain cheirain ouk esthialō, kratarōntois tan …… Jews do not eat until they wash their hands ceremonially.
niptesar“wash”happened · youaorist middle imperative 2nd person singular3×
Matthew 6:17… tan kefalan kai tem prosōpem su niptesar,… you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
John 9:7kai legata auto; Hupagasōr niptesar eis tan kolumbēthran tou Silōam hem …Then He told him, “Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam” (which …
John 9:11… hoti Hupagasōr eis ton Silōam kai niptesar; apercharantos oun kai nipterantos anablepama.… me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed and …
niptarō“wash”happening now · the “to …” formpresent active infinitive2×
John 13:5… hudem eis ton niptēron, kai archeta niptarō toin podoin toiu mathētoiu kai ekmassarō …… into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them …
John 13:14… tos didaskalos, kai vis ofeilavō allēloiu niptarō toin podoin;… washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.
niptera“wash”happened · the “to …” formaorist middle infinitive1×
John 13:10… echatō chreian ei mē toin podoin niptera, alla atō katharos holos; kai vis …… has already bathed needs only to wash his feet, and he will be …
nipterantos“washed”happened · subjectaorist middle participle nominative singular masculine1×
John 9:11… Silōam kai niptesar; apercharantos oun kai nipterantos anablepama.… and wash. So I went and washed and received my sight.”