Topical Encyclopedia
Innocency, as a concept in the Bible, refers to the state of being free from sin, guilt, or moral wrong. It is often associated with purity, righteousness, and blamelessness. The Bible presents innocency as an ideal state, reflecting the original condition of humanity before the fall and as a goal for believers to strive towards through faith and obedience to God.
Old Testament ContextIn the Old Testament, the Hebrew word often translated as "innocent" is "naqiy," which conveys the idea of being clean or free from guilt. Innocency is frequently mentioned in the context of justice and righteousness. For example, in
Genesis 20:5, Abimelech defends his actions by claiming his innocency: "Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister,’ and she herself said, ‘He is my brother’? I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands."
The Psalms frequently appeal to God’s justice in defending the innocent.
Psalm 26:6-7 states, "I wash my hands in innocence that I may go about Your altar, O LORD, to raise my voice in thanksgiving and declare all Your wonderful works." Here, the psalmist expresses a desire to maintain a state of innocency as a prerequisite for worship and communion with God.
New Testament ContextIn the New Testament, the Greek word "akakos" is used to describe innocence, meaning "without evil" or "harmless." Jesus Christ is the ultimate example of innocency, living a sinless life and serving as the spotless Lamb of God.
Hebrews 7:26 describes Him as "holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens."
Believers are called to emulate Christ’s innocency. In
Matthew 10:16 , Jesus instructs His disciples, "Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves." This call to innocence is a call to live wisely yet without malice or deceit.
Theological SignificanceInnocency is foundational to the biblical understanding of humanity's relationship with God. The fall of Adam and Eve in
Genesis 3 marks the loss of original innocency, introducing sin and guilt into the human experience. However, through Christ’s redemptive work, believers are offered a path to restored innocency.
Romans 5:18-19 explains, "So then, just as one trespass brought condemnation for all men, so also one act of righteousness brought justification and life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous."
Practical ImplicationsInnocency in the life of a believer involves a commitment to live in accordance with God’s commandments and to seek forgiveness and cleansing from sin through repentance. It is a state of heart and mind that reflects trust in God’s justice and mercy. The pursuit of innocency is not merely about avoiding wrongdoing but actively cultivating a life that honors God and reflects His holiness.
The Bible encourages believers to maintain a clear conscience before God and others.
Acts 24:16 records Paul’s testimony: "In this hope, I strive always to maintain a clear conscience before God and man." This pursuit of innocency is integral to the Christian walk, enabling believers to stand blameless before God through the righteousness of Christ.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
n.) Innocence.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
INNOCENCE; INNOCENCY; INNOCENTin'-o-sens, in'-o-sen-si, in'-o-sent (zakhu, niqqayon, chinnam, chaph, naqi; athoos): the King James Version and the American Standard Revised Version have innocency inGenesis 20:5Psalm 26:6;Psalm 73:13Daniel 6:22Hosea 8:5. In Daniel the Hebrew is zakhu, and the innocence expressed is the absence of the guilt of disloyalty to God. In all the other places the Hebrew is niqqayon, and the innocence expressed is the absence of pollution, Hosea having reference to the pollution of idolatry, and the other passages presenting the cleansing under the figure of washing hands. the King James Version has innocent not fewer than 40 times. In one place (1 Kings 2:31) the Hebrew is chinnam, meaning "undeserved," or "without cause," and, accordingly, the American Standard Revised Version, instead of "innocent blood. shed," has "blood. shed without cause." In another place (Job 33:9) the Hebrew is chaph, meaning "scraped," or "polished," therefore "clean," and refers to moral purity. In all the other places the Hebrew is naqi, or its cognates, and the idea is doubtless the absence of pollution. In more than half the passages "innocent" is connected with blood, as "blood of the innocent," or simply "innocent blood." In some places there is the idea of the Divine acquittal, or forgiveness, as inJob 9:28: "I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent" (compareJob 10:14, where the same Hebrew word is used). The New Testament has "innocent" twice in connection with blood-"innocent blood," and "innocent of the blood" (Matthew 27:4, 24).
E. J. Forrester
Strong's Hebrew
5356. niqqayon --innocency... 5355b, 5356. niqqayon or niqqayon. 5357 .
innocency. Transliteration: niqqayon
or niqqayon Phonetic Spelling: (nik-kaw-yone') Short Definition: innocence.
...5355b. naqi --innocency
... naqi. 5356 .innocency. Transliteration: naqi Short Definition: innocent. Word
Origin from naqah Definitioninnocency NASB Word Usage innocent (2)....
2136. zaku -- purity, innocence
... innocence. (Aramaic) from a root corresponding to zakah; purity --innocency. see
HEBREW zakah. 2135, 2136. zaku. 2137 . Strong's Numbers.
Library
In the Estate ofInnocency the Love of Man Seemed Nothing but the...
... THE FOURTH CENTURY 87 In the estate ofinnocency the love of man seemed
nothing but the beams of love reverted upon another. In the...
ThatInnocency Asks with Confidence, and Obtains.
... Third Book. 79. Thatinnocency asks with confidence, and obtains. In the Epistle
of John: "If our heart blame us not, we have confidence...
That Even a Baptized Person Loses the Grace that He Has Attained...
... Third Book. 27. That even a baptized person loses the grace that he has
attained, unless he keepinnocency. In the Gospel according...
Of the Worship of the True God, and ofInnocency, and of The
... the divine institutes Book VI. Of True Worship. Chap. I."Of the Worship of the
True God, and ofInnocency, and of the. Worship of False Gods....
Chapter xx
... And she, even she herself said to me, He is my brother. In the integrity
of my heart and theinnocency of my hands have I done this....
In Divinity we are Entertained with all Objects from Everlasting...
... And man, as he is a creature of God, capable of celestial blessedness, and a subject,
in His Kingdom, in his fourfold estate ofinnocency, misery, grace and...
"If we Say that we have no Sin, we Deceive Ourselves, and the...
... own perfection, and immunity from sin, and, it may be, deceived some others too,
when they have lived some time in this golden dream ofinnocency, the time...
Continual Union in Spirit with God the End of Man's Creation...
... co??perating with His divine grace, and persevering therein) to a new right unto
eternal happiness, (perhaps) more sublime than man ininnocency was destined to...
Self-Respect and Self-Righteousness
... Psalm 7:8. Give sentence for me, O Lord, according to my righteousness; and according
to theinnocency that is in me. Is this speech self-righteous?...
To Charles ii.
... Therefore the sense of theirinnocency did no doubt greatly contribute to move thee,
three years ago, to cause some hundreds of them to be set at liberty: for...
Thesaurus
Innocency (5 Occurrences)... (n.) Innocence. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. INNOCENCE;
INNOCENCY; INNOCENT.
... EJ Forrester. Multi-Version Concordance
Innocency (5 Occurrences).
...Innocence (10 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. INNOCENCE;INNOCENCY; INNOCENT. in'-o-sens,
in'-o-sen-si, in'-o-sent (zakhu, niqqayon, chinnam, chaph...
Attain (30 Occurrences)
... as he is able" (Ezekiel 46:7 margin), "not attained unto the days" (Genesis 47:9);
yakhol or yakhowl ="be able," "overcome," "attain toinnocency" (Hosea 8:5...
Innocent (97 Occurrences)
... 8. (n.) An unsophisticated person; hence, a child; a simpleton; an idiot. Int.
Standard Bible Encyclopedia. INNOCENCE;INNOCENCY; INNOCENT....
Ere (14 Occurrences)
... Hosea 8:5 Thy calf, O Samaria, hath cast thee off; mine anger is kindled against
them: how long will it be ere they attain toinnocency? (KJV JPS ASV WBS)....
Encompass (20 Occurrences)
... round. (Root in JPS DBY RSV). Psalms 26:6 I will wash my hands ininnocency,
and will encompass thine altar, O Jehovah, (DBY). Psalms...
Ablution
... David's words, "I will wash my hands ininnocency: so will I compass thine altar,
O Yahweh" (Psalm 26:6; compare Psalm 73:13), are regarded by them as...
Simplicity (12 Occurrences)
... And she, even she herself said, He is my brother. In the integrity of my heart
and theinnocency of my hands have I done this. (See JPS)....
Purified (44 Occurrences)
... and my heart. (YLT). Psalms 73:13 Truly have I purified my heart in vain,
and washed my hands ininnocency: (DBY YLT). Proverbs 20:9...
Compass (51 Occurrences)
... (KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS). Psalms 26:6 I will wash mine hands ininnocency: so will
I compass thine altar, O LORD: (KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)....
Resources
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