2513. katharos

Lexicon

katharos: Clean, pure, clear

Original Word: καθαρός
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: katharos
Pronunciation: kah-thah-ROS
Phonetic Spelling: (kath-ar-os')
Definition: Clean, pure, clear
Meaning: clean, pure, unstained, either literally or ceremonially or spiritually; guiltless, innocent, upright.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

clean, clear, pure.

Of uncertain affinity; clean (literally or figuratively) -- clean, clear, pure.

HELPS Word-studies

2513 katharós (a primitive word) – properly, "without admixture" (BAGD); what is separated (purged), hence "clean" (pure) because unmixed (without undesirable elements); (figuratively) spiritually clean because purged (purified by God), i.e. free from the contaminating (soiling) influences of sin.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a prim. word
Definition
clean (adjective)
NASB Translation
clean (12), clear (3), innocent (1), pure (10).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 2513: καθαρός

καθαρός, καθαρά, καθαρόν; (akin to Latincastus, incestus, English chaste, chasten; Curtius, § 26; Vanicek, p. 177); from Homer down; the Sept. mostly for טָהור; clean, pure (free from the admixture or adhesion of anything that soils, adulterates, corrupts);

a. physically: Matthew 23:26; Matthew 27:59; Hebrews 10:22 (23); Revelation 15:6; Revelation 19:8, 14, and Rec. in Revelation 22:1; χρυσίον, purified by fire, Revelation 21:18, 21; in a similitude, like a vine cleansed by pruning and so fitted to bear fruit, John 15:3; ὁ λελουμένος ... καθαρός ὅλος (where the idea winch Christ expresses figuratively is as follows: 'he whose inmost nature has been renovated does not need radical renewal, but only to be cleansed from every several fault into which he may fall through contact with the unrenewed world'), John 13:10.

b. in a levitical sense; clean, i. e. the use of which is not forbidden, imparts no uncleanness: πάντα καθαρά, Romans 14:20; Titus 1:15.

c. ethically; free from corrupt desire, from sin and guilt: Titus 1:15; ὑμεῖς καθαροί, John 13:10 (11); οἱ καθαροί τῇ καρδία (as respects heart (Winer's Grammar, § 31, 6 a.)), Matthew 5:8 (καθαρός χεῖρας, Herodotus 1, 35; κατά τό σῶμα καί κατά τήν ψυχήν, Plato, Crat., p. 405 b.); free from every admixture of what is false, sincere, ἐκ καθαρᾶς καρδίας, 1 Timothy 1:5; 2 Timothy 2:22, and R G in 1 Peter 1:22; ἐν καθαρά συνειδήσει, 1 Timothy 3:9; 2 Timothy 1:3; genuine (joined with ἀμίαντος) θρησκεία, James 1:27; blameless, innocent, Acts 18:6. Hebraistically with the addition of ἀπό τίνος, pure from, i. e. unstained with the guilt of, anything (Winers Grammar, § 30, 6 a.; Buttmann, 157f (137f)): ἀπό τοῦ αἵματος, Acts 20:26; Susanna 46 Alex., cf. Genesis 24:8; Tobit 3:14; καθαρᾶς ἔχειν τάς χεῖρας ἀπό τοῦ φόνου, Josephus, Antiquities 4, 8, 16; in classical Greek with a simple genitive, as φόνου, Plato, legg. 9, p. 864 e.; cf. Passow, under the word, p. 1528{a}; (Liddell and Scott, under the word, 3); Kühner, § 421, 4 ii., p. 344.

d. in a levitical and ethical sense: πάντα καθαρά ὑμῖν, Luke 11:41, on which see ἔνειμι. (Synonym: see εἰλικρινής; cf. Westcott on 1 John 3:3.)

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from a primary word meaning "clean."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Greek καθαρός corresponds to several Hebrew terms related to purity and cleanliness, including:

• טָהוֹר (tahor) [Strong's Hebrew 2889]: Often used to describe ceremonial cleanliness and moral purity.
• זַךְ (zakh) [Strong's Hebrew 2134]: Refers to purity, especially in a moral or ethical sense.
• בָּרוּר (barur) [Strong's Hebrew 1305]: Meaning pure or clean, often used in a physical or ceremonial context.

These Hebrew terms, like καθαρός, emphasize the importance of purity in various aspects of life, underscoring a consistent biblical theme of holiness and separation from impurity.

Usage: The word καθαρός is used in various contexts within the New Testament to describe physical cleanliness, ritual purity, and moral or spiritual purity. It is often used to contrast with what is considered unclean or impure.

Context: The Greek word καθαρός appears frequently in the New Testament, reflecting a range of meanings from physical cleanliness to spiritual and moral purity. In the context of Jewish ceremonial law, καθαρός is used to describe objects, people, or actions that are ritually clean and acceptable before God. For example, in Matthew 23:26, Jesus admonishes the Pharisees to clean the inside of the cup and dish so that the outside may also become clean, using καθαρός to emphasize the importance of inner purity over mere external observance.

In a moral and spiritual sense, καθαρός is used to describe the purity of heart and life that is expected of believers. In Matthew 5:8, Jesus declares, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God," highlighting the necessity of inner purity for those who seek to experience God's presence.

The term is also used in the context of dietary laws and the distinction between clean and unclean foods. In Acts 10:15, Peter is told in a vision, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean," signifying the removal of ceremonial distinctions between clean and unclean foods under the New Covenant.

καθαρός is thus a multifaceted term that encompasses physical, ceremonial, and moral dimensions of purity, reflecting the holistic nature of purity in the biblical worldview.

Forms and Transliterations

καθαρα καθαρά καθαρὰ καθαρᾷ καθαραί καθαραίς καθαράν καθαρας καθαράς καθαρᾶς καθαροι καθαροί καθαροὶ καθαροις καθαροίς καθαροῖς καθαρον καθαρόν καθαρὸν καθαρος καθαρός καθαρὸς καθαρού καθαρούς καθαρω καθαρώ καθαρῷ καθάρω καθαρών kathara kathará katharà katharā̂i katharas katharâs katharo katharō katharoi katharoí katharoì katharôi katharō̂i katharois katharoîs katharon katharón katharòn katharos katharós katharòs

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 5:8 Adj-NMP
GRK: μακάριοι οἱ καθαροὶ τῇ καρδίᾳ
NAS: Blessed are the pure in heart,
KJV: Blessed [are] the pure in heart: for
INT: Blessed the pure in heart

Matthew 23:26 Adj-NNS
GRK: ἐκτὸς αὐτοῦ καθαρόν
NAS: of it may become clean also.
KJV: of them may be clean also.
INT: outside of them clean

Matthew 27:59 Adj-DFS
GRK: ἐν σινδόνι καθαρᾷ
NAS: and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
KJV: he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
INT: in a linen cloth clean

Luke 11:41 Adj-NNP
GRK: ἰδοὺ πάντα καθαρὰ ὑμῖν ἐστίν
NAS: and then all things are clean for you.
KJV: all things are clean unto you.
INT: Behold all things clean to you are

John 13:10 Adj-NMS
GRK: ἀλλ' ἔστιν καθαρὸς ὅλος καὶ
NAS: but is completely clean; and you are clean,
KJV: but is clean every whit: and
INT: but is clean wholly and

John 13:10 Adj-NMP
GRK: καὶ ὑμεῖς καθαροί ἐστε ἀλλ'
NAS: clean; and you are clean, but not all
KJV: ye are clean, but not
INT: and you clean are but

John 13:11 Adj-NMP
GRK: Οὐχὶ πάντες καθαροί ἐστε
NAS: He said, Not all of you are clean.
KJV: not all clean.
INT: Not all clean you are

John 15:3 Adj-NMP
GRK: ἤδη ὑμεῖς καθαροί ἐστε διὰ
NAS: You are already clean because
KJV: ye are clean through the word
INT: Already you clean you are by reason of

Acts 18:6 Adj-NMS
GRK: κεφαλὴν ὑμῶν καθαρὸς ἐγώ ἀπὸ
NAS: [be] on your own heads! I am clean. From now
KJV: I [am] clean: from
INT: head of you pure [from it] I [am] from

Acts 20:26 Adj-NMS
GRK: ἡμέρᾳ ὅτι καθαρός εἰμι ἀπὸ
NAS: that I am innocent of the blood
KJV: that I [am] pure from the blood
INT: day that pure I [am] from

Romans 14:20 Adj-NNP
GRK: πάντα μὲν καθαρά ἀλλὰ κακὸν
NAS: indeed are clean, but they are evil
KJV: indeed [are] pure; but
INT: All things indeed [are] pure but [it is] wrong

1 Timothy 1:5 Adj-GFS
GRK: ἀγάπη ἐκ καθαρᾶς καρδίας καὶ
NAS: is love from a pure heart
KJV: charity out of a pure heart, and
INT: love out of pure a heart and

1 Timothy 3:9 Adj-DFS
GRK: πίστεως ἐν καθαρᾷ συνειδήσει
NAS: of the faith with a clear conscience.
KJV: of the faith in a pure conscience.
INT: faith in pure a conscience

2 Timothy 1:3 Adj-DFS
GRK: προγόνων ἐν καθαρᾷ συνειδήσει ὡς
NAS: I serve with a clear conscience
KJV: with pure conscience,
INT: [my] forefathers with pure conscience how

2 Timothy 2:22 Adj-GFS
GRK: κύριον ἐκ καθαρᾶς καρδίας
NAS: on the Lord from a pure heart.
KJV: the Lord out of a pure heart.
INT: Lord out of pure a heart

Titus 1:15 Adj-NNP
GRK: πάντα καθαρὰ τοῖς καθαροῖς
NAS: To the pure, all things are pure;
KJV: Unto the pure all things [are] pure:
INT: All things [are] pure to the pure

Titus 1:15 Adj-DMP
GRK: καθαρὰ τοῖς καθαροῖς τοῖς δὲ
NAS: all things are pure; but to those
KJV: [is] nothing pure; but
INT: pure to the pure to those who however

Titus 1:15 Adj-NNS
GRK: ἀπίστοις οὐδὲν καθαρόν ἀλλὰ μεμίανται
NAS: nothing is pure, but both
INT: unbelieving nothing [is] pure but are defiled

Hebrews 10:22 Adj-DNS
GRK: σῶμα ὕδατι καθαρῷ
NAS: and our bodies washed with pure water.
KJV: our bodies washed with pure water.
INT: body with water pure

James 1:27 Adj-NFS
GRK: θρησκεία καθαρὰ καὶ ἀμίαντος
NAS: Pure and undefiled religion
KJV: Pure religion and
INT: Religion pure and undefiled

1 Peter 1:22 Adj-GFS
GRK: ἀνυπόκριτον ἐκ καθαρᾶς καρδίας ἀλλήλους
INT: sincere out of [a] pure heart one another

Revelation 15:6 Adj-ANS
GRK: ἐνδεδυμένοι λίνον καθαρὸν λαμπρὸν καὶ
NAS: in linen, clean [and] bright,
KJV: plagues, clothed in pure and white
INT: clothed in linen pure bright and

Revelation 19:8 Adj-ANS
GRK: βύσσινον λαμπρὸν καθαρόν τὸ γὰρ
NAS: bright [and] clean; for the fine linen
KJV: in fine linen, clean and
INT: fine linen bright pure the indeed

Revelation 19:14 Adj-ANS
GRK: βύσσινον λευκὸν καθαρόν
NAS: white [and] clean, were following
KJV: white and clean.
INT: fine linen white pure

Revelation 21:18 Adj-NNS
GRK: πόλις χρυσίον καθαρὸν ὅμοιον ὑάλῳ
NAS: and the city was pure gold,
KJV: and the city [was] pure gold, like
INT: city gold pure like glass

Strong's Greek 2513
27 Occurrences

καθαρᾷ — 7 Occ.
καθαρᾶς — 3 Occ.
καθαρῷ — 2 Occ.
καθαροὶ — 4 Occ.
καθαροῖς — 1 Occ.
καθαρόν — 7 Occ.
καθαρὸς — 3 Occ.