# innocent, innocence, guiltless, declared innocent

## Definition:

The term "innocent" means to not be guilty of a crime or other wrongdoing. It can also refer more generally to people who are not involved in evil things.

* A person accused of doing something wrong is innocent if he has not committed that wrong.
* Sometimes the term "innocent" is used to refer to people who have done nothing wrong to deserve the bad treatment they are receiving, as in an enemy army attacking "innocent people."

## Translation Suggestions:

* In most contexts, the term "innocent" can be translated as "not guilty" or "not responsible" or "not to blame" for something.
* When referring in general to innocent people, this term could be translated as "who have done nothing wrong" or "who are not involved in evil."
* The frequently occurring expression "innocent blood" could be translated as "people who did nothing wrong to deserve being killed."
* The expression "shed innocent blood" could be translated as "kill innocent people" or "kill people who did nothing wrong to deserve it."
* In the context of someone being killed, "innocent of the blood of" could be translated as "not guilty for the death of."
* When talking about people not hearing the good news about Jesus but not accepting it, "innocent of the blood of" could be translated as "not responsible for whether they remain spiritually dead or not" or "not responsible for whether they accept this message."
* When Judas said "I have betrayed innocent blood," he was saying "I have betrayed a man who did nothing wrong" or "I have caused the death of a man who was sinless."
* When Pilate said about Jesus "I am innocent of the blood of this innocent man," this could be translated as "I am not responsible for the killing of this man who has done nothing wrong to deserve it."

(See also: [guilt](../kt/guilt.md))

## Bible References:

* [1 Corinthians 04:04](rc://en/tn/help/1co/04/04)
* [1 Samuel 19:05](rc://en/tn/help/1sa/19/05)
* [Acts 20:26](rc://en/tn/help/act/20/26)
* [Exodus 23:07](rc://en/tn/help/exo/23/07)
* [Jeremiah 22:17](rc://en/tn/help/jer/22/17)
* [Job 09:23](rc://en/tn/help/job/09/23)
* [Romans 16:18](rc://en/tn/help/rom/16/18)

## Examples from the Bible stories:

* __[08:06](rc://en/tn/help/obs/08/06)__ After two years, Joseph was still in prison, even though he was __innocent__.
* __[40:04](rc://en/tn/help/obs/40/04)__ One of them mocked Jesus, but the other said, "Do you have no fear of God? We are guilty, but this man is __innocent__."
* __[40:08](rc://en/tn/help/obs/40/08)__ When the soldier guarding Jesus saw everything that happened, he said, "Certainly, this man was __innocent__. He was the Son of God."

## Word Data:

* Strong's: H2600, H2643, H5352, H5355, H5356, H6662, H8535, G53, G121, G172, G185, G338, G1342, G2513

