The Greek adjective hieroprepes means fitting for a sacred person or place, reverent, or worthy of holiness. It combines hieros (sacred/holy) and prepes (befitting/appropriate), describing conduct that is appropriate to what is holy.
This rare word appears only once in the New Testament (Titus 2:3), where Paul instructs that older women are to behave in a way that is 'hieroprepes' — in a way befitting holiness, literally 'in a way worthy of the sacred.' The word sets a high standard: the whole life of a mature believer should reflect the sacred character of their God.
Theologically, hieroprepes teaches that holiness is not merely internal but behavioral — it shapes how we carry ourselves in every context. The elder believer's life is to be a living sermon on the character of the holy God.