Greek · G2511 · unreviewed

καθαρίζω

To cleanse (literally or figuratively)

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καθαρίζω G2511

Pronunciation katharízō

What does καθαρίζω (katharízō) mean in the Bible?

καθαρίζω (katharízō) is a Greek word meaning "to cleanse (literally or figuratively)". καθαρίζω (Hellenistic-FlJ, Inscr. Links ceremonial cleansing with deeper redemptive purification. This term runs through the canonical themes of Covenant, Creation, Faith.

Full entry for καθαρίζω (G2511) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to cleanse (literally or figuratively)

Extended definition

Cleanse implies removal of defilement—physical disease, moral corruption, or ceremonial impurity—restoring fitness.

(Hellenistic-FlJ, Inscr.-for Attic καθαίρω, which see, on the vulgar -ερ-, Mat.8:3, Mrk.1:42, see Bl., § 6, 1; Thackeray, Gr., 74) [in LXX chiefly for טָהֵר ;] to cleanse, make clean.

1In physical sense: with accusative of thing(s), figuratively, Mat.23:25-26, Luk.11:39; of disease (leprosy), with accusative of person(s), Mat.8:2-3 10:8 11:5, Mrk.1:40-42 Luk.4:27 5:12-13 7:22 17:14, 17; ἡ λέπρα ἐκαθερίσθη (on the spelling see supr.), Mat.8:3.

2In ethical sense: τ. καρδίας, Act.15:9 (cf. Sir.38:10); τ. χεῖρας, Jas.4:8; λαὸν ἑαυτῷ, Tit.2:14; τ. ἐκκλησίαν, Eph.5:26; with accusative of person(s) (of thing(s)), before ἀπό (131., § 36, 9; Deiss., BS, 216 f.), 2Co.7:1, Heb.9:14, 1Jn.1:7 Jn 1:9.

3In ceremonial sense: Mrk.7:19, Act.10:15 11:9, Heb.9:22-23 10:2 (cf. δια-καθαρίζω).

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith

Why This Word Matters

Links ceremonial cleansing with deeper redemptive purification. Acts 15:6-11

Indicates both physical healing and covenant restoration. Luke 5:12–16

Central image of restoration and purification. Mark 1:40–45

Describes God’s action in purifying hearts by faith. Matthew 8:1–4

Grammatical Forms

How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.

Tenses

Aorist Present Future Perfect

Voices

Active Passive

Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract 4×

Aorist Active Matt 8:2 · Mark 1:40 · Luke 5:12 3×

Present Passive Heb 9:23 1×

Imperative command or strong request 6×

Aorist Passive Matt 8:3 · Mark 1:41 · Luke 5:13 3×

Aorist Active Matt 23:26 · Jas 4:8 2×

Present Active Matt 10:8 1×

Indicative states a fact or reality 14×

Aorist Passive Matt 8:3 · Mark 1:42 · Luke 4:27 · Luke 17:14 · Luke 17:17 5×

Present Passive Matt 11:5 · Luke 7:22 · Heb 9:22 3×

Present Active Matt 23:25 · Luke 11:39 · 1 John 1:7 3×

Aorist Active Acts 10:15 · Acts 11:9 2×

Future Active Heb 9:14 1×

Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 4×

Aorist Active Acts 15:9 · Eph 5:26 2×

Present Active Mark 7:19 1×

Perfect Passive Heb 10:2 1×

Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose 3×

Aorist Active Titus 2:14 · 1 John 1:9 · 2 Cor 7:1 3×

Discourse Aspect

How this verb appears across 31 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).

Aspect

completed 7 ongoing 6 prospective 1 imperative 6 subjunctive 3 infinitive 4 participle 4

Tense

aorist 20 present 9 future 1 perfect 1

Voice

active 18 passive 13

Mood

indicative 14 imperative 6 participle 4 infinitive 4 subjunctive 3

NT Occurrences

Matthew 8:2 καθαρίσαι aorist active infinitive infinitive Matthew 8:3 καθαρίσθητι aorist passive imperative imperative Matthew 8:3 ἐκαθαρίσθη aorist passive indicative completed Matthew 10:8 καθαρίζετε present active imperative imperative Matthew 11:5 καθαρίζονται present passive indicative ongoing Matthew 23:25 καθαρίζετε present active indicative ongoing Matthew 23:26 καθάρισον aorist active imperative imperative Mark 1:40 καθαρίσαι aorist active infinitive infinitive Mark 1:41 καθαρίσθητι aorist passive imperative imperative Mark 1:42 ἐκαθαρίσθη aorist passive indicative completed Mark 7:19 καθαρίζων present active participle participle Luke 4:27 ἐκαθαρίσθη aorist passive indicative completed Luke 5:12 καθαρίσαι aorist active infinitive infinitive Luke 5:13 καθαρίσθητι aorist passive imperative imperative Luke 7:22 καθαρίζονται present passive indicative ongoing Luke 11:39 καθαρίζετε present active indicative ongoing Luke 17:14 ἐκαθαρίσθησαν aorist passive indicative completed Luke 17:17 ἐκαθαρίσθησαν aorist passive indicative completed Acts 10:15 ἐκαθάρισεν aorist active indicative completed Acts 11:9 ἐκαθάρισεν aorist active indicative completed Acts 15:9 καθαρίσας aorist active participle participle 2 Corinthians 7:1 καθαρίσωμεν aorist active subjunctive subjunctive Ephesians 5:26 καθαρίσας aorist active participle participle Titus 2:14 καθαρίσῃ aorist active subjunctive subjunctive Hebrews 9:14 καθαριεῖ future active indicative prospective Hebrews 9:22 καθαρίζεται present passive indicative ongoing Hebrews 9:23 καθαρίζεσθαι present passive infinitive infinitive Hebrews 10:2 κεκαθαρισμένους perfect passive participle participle James 4:8 καθαρίσατε aorist active imperative imperative 1 John 1:7 καθαρίζει present active indicative ongoing 1 John 1:9 καθαρίσῃ aorist active subjunctive subjunctive

Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.

Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)

Canonical Themes

Covenant Creation Faith Holiness

Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

New Testament Witnesses

Acts 15:6-11 Cleansed katharízō Participle · Aorist Active

To purify or make clean.

Luke 5:12–16 καθαρίσαι katharízō Infinitive · Aorist Active

to cleanse

Mark 1:40–45 καθαρίζω katharízō Infinitive · Aorist Active

to cleanse or purify

Matthew 8:1–4 καθαρίζω katharízō Infinitive · Aorist Active

to cleanse or purify

Additional Occurrences

Luke 17:11–19 ἐκαθαρίσθησαν katharízō

Were cleansed

Luke 5:12–16 καθαρίσαι katharízō

To cleanse

Luke 5:12–16 καθαρίσθητι katharízō

Be cleansed

Mark 1:40–45 καθαρίζω katharízō

to cleanse, purify

Appears In

Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

Acts 10 — God Opens the Gospel Door to the Gentiles Acts 11 — Jerusalem Recognizes God’s Grace to the Gentiles Acts 15 — The Gospel of Grace Clarified and the Gentiles Received Ephesians 5 — Walking in Love, Light, Wisdom, and Spirit-Filled Order Luke 11 — Prayer, Kingdom Conflict, True Hearing, and the Exposure of Hypocrisy Luke 17 — Faithful Servants, Grateful Cleansing, and the Coming Kingdom Luke 5 — The Authority of Jesus to Call, Cleanse, Forgive, and Make New Mark 1 — The Beginning of the Gospel: The Servant-King Appears with Authority Mark 7 — True Defilement and Boundary-Crossing Mercy Matthew 10 — The Mission of the Twelve, Costly Witness, and Allegiance to Christ Matthew 11 — The Messiah Question, the Rejected Generation, and Rest for the Weary Matthew 23 — Woes upon Hypocritical Leadership and the Lament over Jerusalem Matthew 8 — The Authority of Jesus over Uncleanness, Sickness, Discipleship, Storms, and Demons

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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