καθαρίζω
katharizō
to clean
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Greek word "katharizō" (G2511) is defined as "to clean." It occurs 31 times in the Bible, indicating its importance in the texts. In its most basic sense, "katharizō" refers to the act of making something clean or pure, whether it be a physical object, a person, or a place. The range of usage for "katharizō" is quite broad, encompassing various contexts such as spiritual purification (e.g., purification of the heart), physical cleansing (e.g., washing of the body), and ritual cleansing (e.g., ceremonial purification). This versatility suggests that the concept of cleanliness or purity is significant in the biblical worldview. The significance of "katharizō" lies in its association with concepts of moral and spiritual purity. In the biblical context, being clean or pure is not just a physical state but also a spiritual one, reflecting a person's relationship with God and their moral character. The frequency of its occurrence in the Bible underscores the importance of this concept in the texts.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
31 total occurrences across the text
According to the law, nearly everything is cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no remission.
Hebrews 9:23It was necessary therefore that the copies of the things in the heavens should be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
Matthew 8:2Behold, a leper came to him and worshiped him, saying, “Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean.”
Matthew 8:3Jesus stretched out his hand, and touched him, saying, “I want to. Be made clean.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Matthew 8:3Jesus stretched out his hand, and touched him, saying, “I want to. Be made clean.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Matthew 10:8Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons. Freely you received, so freely give.
Matthew 11:5the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.
Matthew 23:25“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and unrighteousness.
Matthew 23:26You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the platter, that its outside may become clean also.
Mark 1:40A leper came to him, begging him, kneeling down to him, and saying to him, “If you want to, you can make me clean.”
Mark 1:41Being moved with compassion, he stretched out his hand, and touched him, and said to him, “I want to. Be made clean.”
Mark 1:42When he had said this, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was made clean.
Mark 7:19because it doesn’t go into his heart, but into his stomach, then into the latrine, making all foods clean?”
Luke 4:27There were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed, except Naaman, the Syrian.”
Luke 5:12While he was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man full of leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell on his face, and begged him, saying, “Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean.”
Luke 5:13He stretched out his hand, and touched him, saying, “I want to. Be made clean.” Immediately the leprosy left him.
Luke 7:22Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John the things which you have seen and heard: that the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.
Luke 11:39The Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, but your inward part is full of extortion and wickedness.
Luke 17:14When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” As they went, they were cleansed.
Luke 17:17Jesus answered, “Weren’t the ten cleansed? But where are the nine?
Acts 10:15A voice came to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed, you must not call unclean.”
Acts 11:9But a voice answered me the second time out of heaven, ‘What God has cleansed, don’t you call unclean.’
Acts 15:9He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
2 Corinthians 7:1Having therefore these promises, beloved, let’s cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Ephesians 5:26that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word,
Titus 2:14who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works.
Hebrews 10:2Or else wouldn’t they have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having been once cleansed, would have had no more consciousness of sins?
Hebrews 9:14how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without defect to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
James 4:8Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners. Purify your hearts, you double-minded.
1 John 1:7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.
1 John 1:9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.