Word Study for G2672 (καταράομαι)

kataráomai /kat-ar-ah'-om-ahee/ Ask about this word

Meaningmiddle voice from κατάρα; to execrate; by analogy, to doom

KJV usagecurse.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of kataráomai — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word kataráomai, represented by G2672, means to execrate or, by analogy, to doom. As a verb, it is defined as "to curse." It appears 6 times across 6 unique verses in the Bible, often highlighting a sharp contrast between worldly actions and divine commands.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In scripture, G2672 is used to convey both human and divine pronouncements. Believers are explicitly commanded to bless those who curse them, a teaching found in both Matthew's and Luke's gospels (Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:28). Paul reiterates this principle, instructing the Roman church to "bless, and curse not" Romans 12:14. James uses the word to point out the hypocrisy of using the tongue to both bless God and curse men, who are made in God's image James 3:9. The term is also used to describe an act of divine authority, as when Jesus cursed the fig tree Mark 11:21 and in the final judgment, where some are declared cursed and sent into everlasting fire Matthew 25:41.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide a fuller context for the actions and attitudes surrounding cursing:

G2127 eulogéō (to speak well of, i.e. (religiously) to bless): This is the direct antonym of G2672 and is the commanded response to being cursed. It is used in direct opposition in verses like "bless them that curse you" (Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:28).
G25 agapáō (to love): This is the foundational command given to believers regarding their enemies, encompassing the more specific instruction not to curse them Matthew 5:44.
G3404 miséō (to detest; by extension, to love less): This word for "hate" is used alongside "curse" to describe the negative actions of others that believers are called to overcome with good Matthew 5:44.
G4336 proseúchomai (to pray to God, i.e. supplicate, worship): This is another prescribed action for believers to take on behalf of those who curse or mistreat them Luke 6:28.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of G2672 is primarily seen in its contrast with Christian ethics and its connection to divine authority.

The Christian Response: The most frequent use of G2672 is to set up a counter-intuitive command for believers. Instead of returning a curse, they are to bless, demonstrating a higher, grace-filled standard of conduct (Romans 12:14, Luke 6:28).
The Power of Speech: James uses the word to teach on the immense power and contradiction of the tongue. The ability to both bless God and curse men reveals a deep spiritual problem that must be addressed James 3:9.
Divine Judgment: The word is not limited to human interactions. It is used to describe a final, authoritative declaration of doom from God upon the unrighteous, underscoring His ultimate power over destiny Matthew 25:41.

Summary

In summary, G2672 is a potent word that signifies execration or doom. While it can describe human malice, its primary role in the New Testament is to serve as a foil for the Christian ethic of blessing one's enemies. It powerfully illustrates the moral discipline required of believers, the spiritual danger of the tongue, and the finality of divine judgment.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 6 occurrences, inflected in 5 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Present Middle Or Passive Deponent Participle Accusative Plural Masculine 2×
Aorist Middle Deponent Indicative 2nd Singular 1×
Perfect Passive Participle Vocative Plural Masculine 1×
Present Middle Or Passive Deponent Imperative 2nd Plural 1×
Present Middle Or Passive Deponent Indicative 1st Plural 1×

Accusative: The direct object of the verb.
Vocative: Direct address — naming who is spoken to.
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
1st: First person — the speaker ("I"/"we").
2nd: Second person — the one addressed ("you").
Present: Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Perfect: A completed act whose results continue.
Middle: The subject acts on or for itself.
Passive: The subject is acted upon.
Middle Deponent: Middle in form but active in meaning.
Passive Deponent: Passive in form but active in meaning.
Middle Or Passive: Can be read as middle or passive; context decides.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Imperative: A command or entreaty.
Participle: A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 6 verses across 5 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Matthew (2 verses); never once in the other 22.

Matthew

Mark

Luke

Romans

James

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.