from καθαρός; cleanness (ceremonially):--purification.
Transliteration:katharótēs
Pronunciation:kath-ar-ot'-ace
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek noun G2514 (katharótēs) derives from the adjective G2513 (katharós), meaning "clean" or "pure." At its most fundamental level, katharótēs signifies a state of "cleanness" or "purity." The provided base definition, "cleanness (ceremonially)," is crucial as it directs the understanding of its semantic range primarily toward ritual or cultic purity rather than mere physical hygiene. It denotes the state of being free from defilement, whether moral, ritual, or physical, but with a specific emphasis on the ceremonial aspect in biblical usage. It can refer to the act of making clean (purification) or the state of being clean (purity), often implying a readiness for sacred activity or presence before God.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term G2514 (katharótēs) appears only once in the New Testament, specifically in the Epistle to the Hebrews.
* **Hebrews 9:13-14:** "For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse our conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" [[Hebrews 9:13]] [[Hebrews 9:14]]
* In this pivotal passage, katharótēs is used in the phrase "purification of the flesh" (πρὸς τὴν τῆς σαρκὸς καθαρότητα). This refers directly to the ceremonial cleansing rituals prescribed under the Old Covenant, such as those involving the ashes of the red heifer (cf. [[Numbers 19]]). These rituals were designed to remove ritual impurity, thereby making an individual ceremonially clean and able to participate in the external aspects of worship.
* The author of Hebrews uses this katharótēs of the flesh as a point of contrast. While these Old Covenant rituals provided an outward, temporary state of cleanness, they were incapable of truly cleansing the inner person, specifically the conscience, from the defilement of "dead works." This sets the stage for the unparalleled efficacy of Christ's sacrifice.
* **Septuagint Usage:** While not a New Testament occurrence, understanding the use of katharótēs in the Septuagint (LXX) provides vital background. It frequently translates Hebrew terms related to ritual purity, such as `{{H2892}}` (ṭāhārāh) or `{{H2893}}` (ṭāhōr). For example, in [[Leviticus 12:4]], it is used in relation to the mother's "days of her purification" after childbirth, highlighting its consistent association with Mosaic purity laws. This reinforces the ceremonial and ritualistic dimension inherent in the term.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **G2513 (katharós):** This is the root adjective from which katharótēs is derived. It means "clean" or "pure" and is used broadly in the New Testament for ritual purity (e.g., [[Titus 1:15]]), moral purity (e.g., [[Matthew 5:8]], "pure in heart"), and even physical cleanliness. katharótēs is the abstract noun form of this concept, denoting the state or quality of being clean.
* **G2511 (katharízō):** The verb form, meaning "to make clean" or "to purify." This verb is frequently employed in the New Testament for various types of cleansing: ceremonial (e.g., of lepers, [[Matthew 8:2]]), moral (e.g., of the heart, [[Acts 15:9]]), and eschatological (e.g., [[1 John 3:3]]). It describes the *action* of purification.
* **G2512 (katharismós):** Another related noun, meaning "cleansing" or "purification." It often appears in contexts of ritual purification, such as the cleansing of a leper (e.g., [[Mark 1:44]]) or the Jewish rites of purification (e.g., [[John 3:25]]). While katharismós often emphasizes the *process* or *act* of cleansing, katharótēs can denote the *state* of being clean, though their semantic ranges overlap significantly in practical usage.
* **Old Testament Purity Laws:** The concept embodied by katharótēs is deeply rooted in the Levitical purity laws of the Old Testament. These laws meticulously distinguished between clean and unclean states, which affected an individual's ability to participate in communal worship and approach the sacred. The ceremonial katharótēs was a prerequisite for ritual access to God.
### Theological Significance
The singular New Testament occurrence of G2514 (katharótēs) in Hebrews 9 carries profound theological weight, serving as a crucial element in the author's argument for the superiority of Christ's New Covenant.
* **Inadequacy of Old Covenant Rituals:** The "purification of the flesh" (τῆς σαρκὸς καθαρότητα) achieved by animal sacrifices and ceremonial washings highlights the limited scope of the Old Covenant. These rituals could only address external, physical, or ritual defilement, enabling temporary access to the earthly sanctuary. They could not penetrate to the core of human sinfulness or truly cleanse the conscience.
* **Superiority of Christ's Atonement:** The contrast drawn in [[Hebrews 9:14]] is stark: if the blood of animals could provide external katharótēs, how much more effectively does the blood of Christ cleanse the conscience? Christ's sacrifice, offered "without blemish" through the "eternal Spirit," achieves a purification that is internal, complete, and eternal. This moves the concept of purity from the realm of outward ritual to inward spiritual transformation.
* **True Access to God:** The ultimate theological implication is that true purity is essential for fellowship with a holy God. While the Old Covenant provided a temporary, outward katharótēs that facilitated ritual access, the New Covenant, through Christ's perfect sacrifice, provides a permanent, internal katharótēs of the conscience. This enables believers to approach God with confidence, serving Him not merely in ritual but in spirit and truth.
* **From Shadow to Substance:** katharótēs in Hebrews functions as a "shadow" (cf. [[Hebrews 10:1]]) of the "substance" found in Christ. The external, ritualistic katharótēs of the Old Covenant foreshadowed the true, spiritual katharótēs made possible by Christ's atoning work, which addresses the root of defilement – sin in the conscience.
### Summary
The Greek word G2514 (katharótēs) signifies "cleanness" or "purification," with a strong emphasis on ceremonial or ritual purity. Its singular occurrence in the New Testament, in [[Hebrews 9:13]], is highly significant. Here, it describes the "purification of the flesh" provided by Old Covenant sacrifices, which merely conferred outward, ritual cleanness. The author of Hebrews masterfully uses this limited katharótēs as a foil to magnify the infinitely superior and comprehensive cleansing of the conscience achieved by the blood of Christ. Thus, katharótēs serves as a critical term for understanding the progressive nature of God's revelation, underscoring the transition from the temporary and external purity of the Old Covenant to the profound, internal, and eternal purity secured by Christ's sacrifice, enabling genuine spiritual worship and communion with God.
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