Strong's Lexicon anathema: Accursed, devoted to destruction, offering Original Word: ἀνάθεμα Word Origin: Derived from the Greek verb ἀνατίθημι (anatithēmi), meaning "to set up" or "to dedicate." Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - 2764. חֵרֶם (herem): Refers to something devoted to God, often for destruction. Usage: In the New Testament, "anathema" refers to something or someone that is cursed or devoted to destruction. It is used to denote a person or thing that is set apart for divine wrath or judgment. The term carries a strong connotation of being cut off from the community of believers and from God's favor. Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Greek culture, "anathema" originally referred to an offering or gift dedicated to a deity, often placed in a temple. Over time, the term evolved to signify something that was devoted to destruction, especially in a religious context. In the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament), "anathema" is used to translate the Hebrew word "herem," which refers to things devoted to God for destruction, often in the context of warfare or judgment. HELPS Word-studies 331 anáthema (from 303 /aná, "up" concluding a process, which intensifies 5087 /títhēmi, "to place") – properly, place up, referring to something pledged (given up) to destruction; a divine curse/ban ("accursed"); an "oath-curse." [331 (anáthema) is the root of the English word, "anathema."] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom anatithémi Definition that which is laid up, i.e. a votive offering NASB Translation accursed (5), solemn (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 331: ἀνάθεμαἀνάθεμα, (τος, τό (equivalent to τό ἀνατεθειμένον); 1. properly, a thing set up or laid by in order to be kept; specifically a votive offering, which after being consecrated to a god was hung upon the walls or columns of his temple, or put in some other conspicuous place: 2 Macc. 2:13 (Plutarch, Pelop c. 25); Luke 21:5 in L T, for ἀναθήμασι R G Tr WH; for the two forms are sometimes confounded in the manuscripts; Moeris, ἀνάθημα ἀττικῶς, ἀνάθεμα ἑλληνικῶς. Cf. ἐπίθημα, ἐπίθεμα, etc., in Lob. ad Phryn., p. 249 (cf. 445; Paral. 417; see also Lipsius, Gram. Unters., p. 41). 2. ἀνάθεμα in the Sept. is generally the translation of the Heb. חֵרֶם, a thing devoted to God without hope of being redeemed, and, if an animal, to be slain (Leviticus 27:28, 29); therefore a person or thing doomed to destruction, Joshua 6:17; Joshua 7:12, etc. (Winer's Grammar, 32); a thing abominable and detestable, an accursed thing, Deuteronomy 7:26. Hence, in the N. T. ἀνάθεμα denotes a. a curse: ἀναθέματι ἀναθεματίζειν, Acts 23:14 (Winers Grammar, 466 (484); Buttmann, 184 (159)). b. a man accursed, devoted to the direst woes (equivalent to ἐπικατάρατος): ἀνάθεμα ἔστω, Galatians 1:8; 1 Corinthians 16:22; ἀνάθεμα λέγειν τινα to execrate one, 1 Corinthians 12:3 (R G, but L T Tr WH have restored ἀνάθεμα Ἰησοῦς, namely, ἔστω); ἀνάθεμα εἶναι ἀπό τοῦ Χριστοῦ, Romans 9:3 (pregnantly equivalent to doomed and so separated from Christ). Cf. the full remarks on this word in Fritzsche on Romans, vol. ii., 247ff; Wieseler on Galatians, p. 39ff; (a translation of the latter by Prof. Riddle in Schaff's Lange on Romans, p. 302ff; see also Trench, § v.; Lightfoot on Galatians, the passage cited; Ellicott ibid.; Tholuck on Romans, the passage cited; BB. DD., under the words, Anathema, Excommunication). From anatithemai; a (religious) ban or (concretely) excommunicated (thing or person) -- accused, anathema, curse, X great. see GREEK anatithemai Englishman's Concordance Acts 23:14 N-DNSGRK: πρεσβυτέροις εἶπαν Ἀναθέματι ἀνεθεματίσαμεν ἑαυτοὺς NAS: ourselves under a solemn oath to taste KJV: ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat INT: elders said With an oath we have bound ourselves Romans 9:3 N-NNS 1 Corinthians 12:3 N-NNS 1 Corinthians 16:22 N-NNS Galatians 1:8 N-NNS Galatians 1:9 N-NNS Strong's Greek 331 |
|
