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καθαρίζω

katharízō

G2511 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To make clean, to cleanse; to remove physical impurity, dirt, or contaminant. In extended senses, to purify ceremonially or ritually, to remove moral or spiritual defilement, or to render acceptable within a cultic system. In metaphorical or figurative usage, refers to freeing from guilt, blame, or internal corruption.

Semantic Range

to physically cleanse, to remove dirt or filth; to purify ceremonially or ritually; to free from ritual defilement; to remove moral or spiritual uncleanness; to absolve or forgive wrongdoing; to restore to a state of acceptability (ritual, social, or moral)

Root / Etymology

From καθαρός (katharós, 'clean, pure') with the verb-forming suffix -ίζω (-izō), meaning 'to make clean, to clean.' Cognate with related words in classical and Hellenistic Greek dealing with cleanliness and purity.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, καθαρίζω primarily denoted the removal of physical filth or impurity but by the Hellenistic and Second Temple periods extended to ritual and moral purification. In the Septuagint, it frequently translates Hebrew verbs such as טִהֵר (tihér, 'to purify'), often in the context of Levitical or Temple ritual—cleansing lepers, objects, or spaces for cultic acceptability. In the New Testament, the word commonly refers both to ritual purification (as in procedures for those healed from skin disease) and to metaphorical or moral cleansing, especially forgiveness or absolution from sin, sometimes with explicit cultic overtones (e.g., John 15:3; 1 John 1:7,9). English translations often render the term as 'cleanse,' 'purify,' or 'make clean,' but these do not always capture the intertwined cultic, ritual, and ethical dimensions of the original. Distinct from similar verbs such as ἀγνίζω (to consecrate, to make holy) or πλύνω (to wash) in emphasizing removal of impurity and restoration to a 'fit' or 'acceptable' status, whether in a ritual, social, or moral sense.

Translation Consistency

primary "cleanse" 30 occurrences

“Cleanse” best fits the SILEX range (physical washing, ceremonial purification, and moral/forensic removal of defilement) and is the most frequent rendering in the data. It is natural English for both literal and figurative uses (e.g., cleansing from dirt or sin) and will allow consistent, idiomatic inflection across all forms of G2511.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from καθαρός; to cleanse (literally or figuratively):--(make) clean(-se), purge, purify.

Root Family

καθαρίζω (katharizō) — to make clean, to cleanse, to purify, to rid of impurity

Root καθαρ- to make clean, to cleanse, to purify, to rid of impurity

Word Forms

19 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2511-06 καθαρίσαι katharisai V AOR ACT INF make clean to cleanse to cleanse 3
G2511-16 καθαρίζετε katharizete V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL cleanse be cleansing yourselves be cleansing yourselves 3
G2511-12 καθαρίσθητι katharistheti V AOR PASS IMP 2P SG be clean Be cleansed Be cleansed 3
G2511-09 καθαρίσῃ katharise V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG cleanse he/she/it might cleanse he/she/it might cleanse 2
G2511-07 καθαρίσας katharisas V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG having cleansed having cleansed having cleansed 2
G2511-02 ἐκαθαρίσθη ekatharisthe V AOR PASS IND 3P SG was cleansed was cleansed was cleansed 2
G2511-01 ἐκαθάρισεν ekatharisen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG has cleansed he cleansed he cleansed 2
G2511-18 καθαρίζονται katharizontai V PRS PASS IND 3P PL are cleansed are being cleansed are being cleansed 2
G2511-03 ἐκαθαρίσθησαν ekatharisthesan V AOR PASS IND 3P PL cleansed they were cleansed they were cleansed 2
G2511-08 καθαρίσατε katharisate V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL Cleanse Cleanse! Cleanse 1

Occurrences in Scripture

31 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2511-06 Matthew 8:2 καθαρίσαι katharisai V AOR ACT INF make clean to cleanse to cleanse
G2511-12 Matthew 8:3 καθαρίσθητι katharistheti V AOR PASS IMP 2P SG be clean Be cleansed Be cleansed
G2511-02 Matthew 8:3 ἐκαθαρίσθη ekatharisthe V AOR PASS IND 3P SG was cleansed was cleansed was cleansed
G2511-16 Matthew 10:8 καθαρίζετε katharizete V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL cleanse be cleansing yourselves cleanse
G2511-18 Matthew 11:5 καθαρίζονται katharizontai V PRS PASS IND 3P PL are cleansed are being cleansed are being cleansed
G2511-16 Matthew 23:25 καθαρίζετε katharizete V PRS ACT IND 2P PL you clean be cleansing yourselves be cleansing yourselves
G2511-11 Matthew 23:26 καθάρισον katharison V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG cleanse cleanse! cleanse
G2511-06 Mark 1:40 καθαρίσαι katharisai V AOR ACT INF make clean to cleanse to cleanse
G2511-12 Mark 1:41 καθαρίσθητι katharistheti V AOR PASS IMP 2P SG Be clean! Be cleansed Be cleansed
G2511-04 Mark 1:42 ἐκαθερίσθη ekatheristhe V AOR PASS IND 3P SG he was cleansed was cleansed was cleansed
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