hagnizo denotes purification, both in temple-related observance and in the cleansing of persons, souls, or hearts.

The dominant attested use concerns purification connected with temple-related observance: people go up before Passover, Paul is told to purify himself with others, and he is found purified in the temple. Other verses apply purification to the person’s inner life, including souls, hearts, and the person who has hope.

1. Purification in temple-related observance · dominant

   In John 11:55, the aorist active form occurs where many go to Jerusalem before Passover; the APB renders the clause “to purify themselves.” In Acts 21:24 and Acts 21:26, passive forms occur with men, head-shaving, an offering, and entry into the temple; Acts 24:18 likewise describes Paul as found in the temple, “without any crowd or tumult.”

   John 11:55Acts 21:24Acts 21:26Acts 24:18
2. Personal purification tied to conduct and hope · common

   In 1 John 3:3, the present active form is used of everyone who has hope, and the APB renders “purifies himself.” In 1 Peter 1:22, a perfect active participle stands with obedience to the truth and sincere brotherly love; James 4:8 places the aorist active plural form in an appeal to draw near to God, alongside the APB’s wording about hands and hearts.

   1 John 3:31 Peter 1:22James 4:8

In the Anselm Project Bible: Across these verses, the APB commonly uses forms of “purify” or “purified.” In James 4:8 it pairs “cleanse your hands” with “purify your hearts”; That wording does not assign each English expression to a specific original-language token.