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ἀνόσιος (G0462) — unholy, impious

Part of the 2 Timothy 3:1–5 Vice List study


Contents


Overview

Field Value
Strong's G0462
Greek ἀνόσιος
Transliteration anosios
Gloss unholy, impious
2 Tim 3 verse 3:2
KJV rendering "unholy"
NT occurrences 2 (2 books)
LXX occurrences (canonical) 0

Etymology and Semantic Range

Alpha-privative + ὅσιος (holy, pious, devout). NT: only 2 Tim 3:2 and 1 Tim 1:9.

In 1 Tim 1:9 ἀνόσιος appears in a list of lawbreakers for whom the law was given — paired there with ἀσεβής (ungodly). The two Pastoral occurrences frame impiety as a characteristic of those outside covenant faithfulness. No LXX occurrences.


OT / LXX Background

Hebrew חָנֵף (profane, godless; Psa 106:38; Isa 9:17; Job 8:13) and רָשָׁע (wicked, ungodly) cover similar semantic space.


NT Distribution


Theological Note

Placed at the end of verse 2, ἀνόσιος and ἀχάριστος together describe the failure of both vertical dimensions: no thankfulness to God, no holiness before God.


NT Occurrences

Reference Greek form KJV text
1Ti 1:9 ἀνοσίοις Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungod…
2Ti 3:2 ἀνόσιοι, For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, u…