primarily means "to make new, to renew" (en, "in," kainos, "new"), as in the Sept. of 2Ch 15:8; then, to initate or "dedicate," Heb 9:18, with reference to the first covenant, as not "dedicated" without blood; in Heb 10:20, of Christ's "dedication" of the new and living way (AV, "consecrated;" RV, "dedicated"). See CONSECRATE. In the Sept. it has this meaning in Deu 20:5, 2Ch 7:5, Isa 16:11, Isa 41:1, Isa 45:16, "keep a feast (to Me)."
akin to A, frequent in the Sept., in the sense of "dedication," became used particularly for the annual eight days' feast beginning on the 25th of Chisleu (mid. of Dec.), instituted by Judas Maccabaeus, 164, B.C., to commemorate the cleansing of the Temple from the pollutions of Antiochus Epiphanes; hence it was called the Feast of the Dedication, Joh 10:22. This feast could be celebrated anywhere. The lighting of lamps was a prominent feature; hence the description "Feast of Lights." Westcott suggests that Joh 9:5 refers to this.
