of uncertain affinity; clean (literally or figuratively):--clean, clear, pure.
Transliteration:katharós
Pronunciation:kath-ar-os'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek adjective καθαρός (katharós - `{{G2513}}`) fundamentally means "clean." Its semantic range extends across literal, ritual, and, most significantly, moral and spiritual dimensions. In its most basic sense, it denotes freedom from dirt, defilement, or admixture, implying a state of being unsoiled, unblemished, or uncorrupted.
* **Literal Purity:** Refers to physical cleanliness, such as a clean vessel or garment, or the state of being free from disease (e.g., leprosy).
* **Ritual Purity:** In the context of the Old Testament (especially in the Septuagint, where it often translates the Hebrew טָהוֹר, tahor - `{{H2889}}`), it signifies being ceremonially acceptable for worship or interaction within the community according to Mosaic law. This includes distinctions between clean and unclean animals, foods, and states of being.
* **Moral/Spiritual Purity:** This is the preeminent New Testament emphasis. It denotes freedom from sin, guilt, hypocrisy, or evil intent. It speaks of an inner sincerity, integrity, and a heart devoted singularly to God, unmixed with worldly corruption or duplicity. This form of purity is often contrasted with spiritual defilement or impurity (ἀκάθαρτος - `{{G169}}`).
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term katharós appears numerous times in the New Testament, often carrying significant theological weight.
* **Literal Usage:** Jesus refers to the physical cleansing of lepers as making them katharós ([[Matthew 8:2]], [[Mark 1:40-42]], [[Luke 5:12-13]]). In the context of the Last Supper, Jesus washes His disciples' feet, stating that "You are clean, but not every one of you" ([[John 13:10]]), referring to their spiritual state, though the act was physical.
* **Ritual Purity Challenged:** Jesus frequently challenged the superficiality of external ritual purity devoid of inner transformation. He declared all foods katharós ([[Mark 7:19]]), thereby abrogating dietary laws and shifting the focus from what goes *into* a person to what comes *out* of their heart ([[Mark 7:20-23]]). He rebuked the Pharisees for cleansing the outside of the cup while the inside remained full of greed and self-indulgence, urging them to first cleanse the inside so that the outside might also be katharós ([[Matthew 23:26]], [[Luke 11:41]]).
* **Moral and Spiritual Purity (Primary Emphasis):**
* **Purity of Heart:** The most profound usage is in the Beatitudes: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" ([[Matthew 5:8]]). This beatitude underscores the necessity of inner sincerity, single-minded devotion, and freedom from duplicity or hidden sin as a prerequisite for true communion with God.
* **Purity through Christ:** Believers are made katharós through the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus tells His disciples, "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you" ([[John 15:3]]), indicating that His teaching and their faith in Him have a purifying effect. Paul speaks of the church being cleansed and sanctified by Christ through the washing of water with the word, so that it might be presented to Him "without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish" ([[Ephesians 5:26-27]]).
* **Purity in Conduct and Conscience:** Paul encourages Timothy to pursue purity alongside righteousness, faith, love, and peace ([[2 Timothy 2:22]]). Titus speaks of those whose consciences are defiled, stating that "to the pure (katharós), all things are pure" ([[Titus 1:15]]), highlighting that a pure heart perceives things differently and is not defiled by external circumstances.
* **Divine Expectation:** God is katharós (pure) in His very nature, and He expects His people to reflect this purity ([[1 John 3:3]]).
### Related Words & Concepts
Understanding katharós is enhanced by examining its relationship to other Greek terms:
* **Antonym:** ἀκάθαρτος (akathartos - `{{G169}}`) - unclean, impure, defiled. This antonym highlights the stark contrast between spiritual purity and defilement.
* **Verb:** καθαρίζω (katharizō - `{{G2511}}`) - to cleanse, purify, make clean. This verb describes the *process* by which one becomes katharós, whether physically, ritually, or spiritually.
* **Noun:** καθαρισμός (katharismos - `{{G2512}}`) - a cleansing, purification, purgation. This noun refers to the *act* or *result* of cleansing.
* **Other Related Terms:**
* ἁγνός (hagnos - `{{G53}}`) - pure, holy, chaste. Often emphasizes moral and sexual purity.
* ἅγιος (hagios - `{{G40}}`) - holy, sacred, set apart. Implies separation from the profane for divine use.
* δίκαιος (dikaios - `{{G1342}}`) - righteous, just. Refers to conformity to God's standards of rightness.
* ἀμώμητος (amōmētos - `{{G299}}`) - blameless, without blemish. Often used in sacrificial contexts or for moral integrity, similar to katharós in its sense of being unspotted.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of katharós is profound, particularly in the New Testament's redefinition of purity.
* **God's Nature and Demand:** God is perfectly katharós, utterly pure and without blemish. This inherent purity necessitates that those who approach Him must also be pure ([[Hebrews 12:14]]). The problem of sin is precisely that it renders humanity akathartos (unclean) in God's sight, creating a barrier to fellowship.
* **Christ as the Purifier:** Jesus Christ is the ultimate source of katharós. His atoning sacrifice on the cross cleanses believers from the defilement of sin ([[Hebrews 9:14]], [[1 John 1:7]]). His word also serves as a purifying agent ([[John 15:3]], [[Ephesians 5:26]]), transforming hearts and minds.
* **The Call to Inner Purity:** The New Testament shifts the emphasis from external ritual purity to internal moral and spiritual purity. The "pure in heart" ([[Matthew 5:8]]) are those whose inner being—their motives, thoughts, and intentions—are sincere, unmixed with evil, and devoted to God. This inner purity is the foundation for genuine righteousness and true worship.
* **Sanctification and Ethical Living:** Being declared katharós by Christ is not merely a forensic declaration but initiates a lifelong process of sanctification. Believers are called to actively "purify themselves, just as He is pure" ([[1 John 3:3]]), striving for a life free from moral compromise and reflecting the holiness of God. This involves a continuous turning away from sin and a pursuit of righteousness.
* **Eschatological Vision:** The ultimate hope for the katharós is to "see God" ([[Matthew 5:8]]). This speaks to an unveiled, intimate communion with the divine in the eschaton, a state only possible for those cleansed and made pure by God's grace. The heavenly city, the New Jerusalem, is depicted as being of "pure gold" ([[Revelation 21:18]]), symbolizing its unblemished perfection and purity.
### Summary
The Greek word καθαρός (katharós - `{{G2513}}`) signifies "clean," "pure," or "clear," encompassing literal, ritual, and, most importantly, moral and spiritual dimensions. While its Old Testament usage, often translating `{{H2889}}`, focused on ceremonial cleanliness, the New Testament, particularly through Jesus' teachings, profoundly reoriented its meaning. Jesus challenged the superficiality of external ritual purity, emphasizing that true defilement originates from the heart ([[Mark 7:15-23]]). Consequently, the dominant New Testament application of katharós refers to an inner purity of heart and conscience, freedom from sin, hypocrisy, and evil intent. Believers are made katharós through the redemptive work and the word of Christ, and they are called to actively pursue a life of purity, reflecting the holy nature of God. This purity is presented as essential for genuine fellowship with God and the ultimate privilege of seeing Him ([[Matthew 5:8]]). The concept of katharós thus underscores God's absolute holiness, humanity's profound need for cleansing from sin, and the transformative power of Christ to create a people truly pure in His sight.
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