From konia ('dust/lime'). Koniao means to apply a white lime coating to a surface โ to whitewash. Used in Jesus' devastating indictment of the scribes and Pharisees.
Matthew 23:27 records Jesus calling the scribes and Pharisees 'whited (kekoniamenoi) sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones.' The image is precise: Jewish law required tomb markers be whitewashed so that passersby would know to avoid ritual defilement. These beautiful white tombs appeared pure and attractive from outside but contained corruption and death within. Religious hypocrisy is always beautiful on the surface. The gospel calls for the inverse: authentic transformation from the inside out โ not whitewashing death but resurrection life rising from within.