baptizo

Baptizo is a Greek verb meaning to dip, immerse, or wash. It is the root of the English word baptism and of related terms such as baptize and baptist. In classical Greek, baptizo primarily denoted immersion or washing, including dyeing fabric by dipping it in dye and ritual baths for purification. The noun baptismos and the adjective baptimos appear in later Greek to refer to the act or result of washing or immersion.

In early Christian usage, baptizo describes the rite of baptism. The New Testament employs baptizo to refer to John the Baptist’s practice and Jesus’ baptism, typically understood as immersion in water as a sign of repentance and initiation into the Christian community. Some passages imply immersion, while others allow for pouring or sprinkling, leading to theological and liturgical differences among Christian traditions. The concept developed into the broader understanding of baptism as entry into the church, often associated with symbolic death to sin and rebirth in Christ.

In modern usage, baptize is the standard English verb for initiating someone into Christianity, with varying modes across denominations. Some traditions emphasize immersion (believer’s baptism), while others use pouring or sprinkling (affusion or aspersion), especially in infant baptism. The term continues to appear in liturgical and theological discussions, and its interpretation remains a point of ecumenical dialogue among Christian communities.