καθαίρω
kathaírō
G2508 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To cleanse or make clean, specifically in the context of horticulture to prune or trim away what is superfluous or unproductive; by extension, to purify morally or ritually, or to remove that which is harmful or impure. In metaphorical or figurative usage, to cleanse or purify a person, group, or object from defilement, guilt, or impediment. The verb carries both literal agricultural and figurative moral or ritual connotations depending on context.
Semantic Range
to prune (in horticulture), to cleanse or clean, to purify from impurity or sin, to remove what is superfluous or harmful, to expiate or purge in a figurative sense
Root / Etymology
From the root καθαρ- (kathar-), related to καθαρός (katharós, 'clean' or 'pure'). The verb form καθαίρω (kathaírō) extends the basic sense of making clean to concrete and metaphorical acts of removal or purification. No certain borrowings from Semitic languages are attested for this verb.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, καθαίρω most commonly appears in agricultural contexts, referring to the act of pruning vines or trees for increased health and productivity. It is also found in medical and ritual language, referring to the removal of impurities or harmful substances. In Hellenistic and Koine usage, such as in the Septuagint and New Testament, the term is notable in John 15:2, where pruning of branches is used as a metaphor for the removal of unproductive members or the refinement of individuals for greater fruitfulness. This image reflects both Greek horticultural practice and the symbolic language common in Jewish writings of the period. English translations often render the verb as 'cleanse,' 'prune,' or 'purge,' but may not always capture the full range of moral, ritual, and agricultural nuances present in Greek usage. The term does not carry the meaning of atonement or propitiation as some later Christian translations might suggest by 'purge' or 'expiate;' those ideas are more precisely linked to other Greek roots such as ἱλασκ-.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from καθαρός; to cleanse, i.e. (specially) to prune; figuratively, to expiate:--purge.
Root Family
καθαίρω (kathairō) — to cleanse, to purify, to prune, to remove
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2508-01 |
καθαίρει | kathairei | V PRS ACT IND 3P SG |
prunes | he cleanses | he prunes | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2508-01 |
John 15:2 | καθαίρει | kathairei | V PRS ACT IND 3P SG |
prunes | he cleanses | he prunes |