ἁγνός, -ή, -όν
(< ἅγος, v.s. ἅγιος), [in LXX chiefly for טָהוֹר (Pss, and Pr. only), also II Mac 13:8, IV Mac 18:7, al.;]
1. free from ceremonial defilement, in a condition prepared for worship (for exx. of pagan usage, V. MM, VGT, s.v.).
2. holy, sacred, venerable (II Mac 13:8).
3. As in OT (cl.), pure, chaste, undefiled, guiltless;
(a) of persons: II Co 7:1111:12, I Ti 5:22, Tit 2:5, I Jo 3:3;
(b) of things: Phl 4:8, Ja 3:17, I Pe 3:2.†
SYN.: εἰλικρινής (q.v.), pure, primarily as winnowed, purged, first found in ethical sense in NT (sincere). On the equivalence of ἁ. and καθαρός (q.v.), v. DCG, ii, 459a though Westc. (Epp. Jo., 101) notes a distinction between them.