primarily means "to make new, to renew" (en, "in," kainos, "new"), as in the Sept. of 2 Chronicles 15:8; then, to initate or "dedicate," Hebrews 9:18 , with reference to the first covenant, as not "dedicated" without blood; in Hebrews 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 Deuteronomy 20:5; 2 Chronicles 7:5; Isaiah 16:11; 41:1; 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, John 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 John 9:5 refers to this.