### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb ξηραίνω (xēraínō, `{{G3583}}`) is derived from the adjective ξηρός (xēros, "dry"). Its fundamental meaning is "to make dry" or "to desiccate." From this core sense, several significant implications arise:
* **To Wither or Shrivel:** This is the most common implication, particularly when applied to plants. It denotes a loss of moisture, vitality, and freshness, leading to decay or death.
* **To Pine Away:** When applied to living beings, it can suggest a gradual wasting away, a loss of strength or health.
* **To Dry Up (of water bodies):** This signifies the cessation of flow or existence for a body of water.
* **To Be Ripe or Mature:** This is a less intuitive but crucial nuance. In specific contexts, especially concerning crops, the process of drying can indicate readiness for harvest, signifying completion rather than decay. This highlights a dual potential for the word: decline or readiness.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
ξηραίνω appears frequently in the New Testament, illustrating its diverse applications:
* **The Cursing of the Fig Tree:** Perhaps the most vivid use is in the accounts of Jesus cursing the fig tree, where it immediately "withered away" ([[Matthew 21:19-20]], [[Mark 11:20-21]]). Here, the desiccation is sudden and complete, serving as a powerful visual parable of judgment on spiritual barrenness.
* **The Withered Hand:** The term describes a physical ailment, a hand that has become "withered" or shriveled, implying a loss of function and vitality ([[Mark 3:1]], [[Luke 6:6-8]]).
* **The Transience of Life:** ξηραίνω is often used metaphorically to describe the fleeting nature of human life and glory, comparing it to grass or flowers that "wither" and fall ([[James 1:11]], [[1 Peter 1:24]], echoing [[Isaiah 40:7-8]]). This emphasizes ephemerality and decay in contrast to the enduring Word of God.
* **Parable of the Sower:** In the parable, seeds sown on rocky ground "withered away" because they had no deep root ([[Mark 4:6]]). This illustrates a superficial faith that lacks genuine depth and endurance, leading to spiritual failure.
* **Drying Up of Waters:** In prophetic contexts, ξηραίνω describes the literal drying up of a river, such as the Euphrates, as part of divine judgment or preparation for eschatological events ([[Revelation 16:12]]). This signifies removal or cessation by divine decree.
* **Readiness for Harvest:** Uniquely, ξηραίνω is used in the context of the harvest in [[Revelation 14:15]], where the earth's harvest is described as "fully ripe" (ἐξηράνθη). Here, the "drying" signifies a state of completion and readiness for divine action, whether for judgment or ingathering, rather than decay. This specific usage underscores the word's capacity to denote both decline and culmination.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **Antonyms:** Concepts of growth, flourishing, and vitality stand in contrast to ξηραίνω. Words like αὐξάνω (auxanō, "to grow, increase," `{{G837}}`) or βλαστάνω (blastanō, "to sprout, blossom," `{{G985}}`) represent the opposite trajectory of life and vigor.
* **Root Word:** Its direct root, ξηρός (xēros, "dry, withered," `{{G3584}}`), reinforces the core meaning of desiccation and lack of moisture.
* **Theological Parallels:**
* **Transience and Mortality:** Often linked with χόρτος (chortos, "grass," `{{G5528}}`) and ἄνθος (anthos, "flower," `{{G444}}`) to highlight the brevity of human existence.
* **Barrenness and Judgment:** Especially in the context of the fig tree, it connects to themes of spiritual unfruitfulness and divine reckoning.
* **Divine Sovereignty:** In prophetic passages, the drying up of natural elements points to God's ultimate control over creation and history.
* **Hebrew Equivalents:**
* `{{H3001}}` (yabesh): "to dry up," frequently used for land, water, or plants.
* `{{H535}}` (amal): "to languish, wither," often describing the distress of people or the land.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of ξηραίνω is rich and varied, reflecting its semantic breadth:
1. **Divine Judgment and the Consequences of Unbelief:** The most potent theological application is seen in the immediate withering of the fig tree (e.g., [[Mark 11:20-21]]). This act serves as a powerful prophetic sign, symbolizing God's judgment upon spiritual barrenness and unfruitfulness, particularly for those who, like the fig tree, promise much but deliver nothing. It underscores the severity of rejecting divine authority and failing to bear fruit.
2. **The Transience of Human Life and Worldly Glory:** ξηραίνω is frequently employed in passages that underscore the ephemeral nature of human existence and the futility of trusting in worldly accomplishments or fleeting beauty (e.g., [[James 1:11]], [[1 Peter 1:24]]). It serves as a sober reminder of mortality, contrasting the fleeting nature of all flesh with the eternal and enduring Word of God.
3. **Spiritual Decay and the Necessity of Rootedness:** In the parable of the sower, the withering of seeds on rocky ground (e.g., [[Mark 4:6]]) illustrates the danger of superficial faith that lacks deep spiritual roots. It highlights the critical need for genuine commitment, perseverance, and a firm foundation in Christ to withstand trials and bear lasting fruit.
4. **Divine Sovereignty in Eschatological Events:** In apocalyptic literature, the drying up of natural elements (e.g., [[Revelation 16:12]]) signifies God's sovereign control over creation and history. These acts are part of His divine plan, orchestrating events to fulfill ultimate prophecies, often preparing the way for final judgments or the consummation of His purposes.
5. **Readiness for Divine Action (Harvest):** The unique usage in [[Revelation 14:15]], where the harvest is "fully ripe" (ἐξηράνθη), reveals a positive theological dimension. Here, ξηραίνω signifies a divinely appointed moment of completion and readiness, not decay. It points to a time when conditions are perfectly met for God's decisive intervention, whether for the ingathering of the righteous or the execution of judgment.
### Summary
The Greek word ξηραίνω (xēraínō, `{{G3583}}`), derived from ξηρός ("dry"), carries the primary meaning "to make dry" or "to desiccate." Its semantic range extends to "wither," "shrivel," "pine away," and, notably, "to be ripe" or "mature." In the New Testament, ξηραίνω vividly portrays divine judgment on spiritual barrenness, most strikingly in the immediate withering of the fig tree (e.g., [[Mark 11:20-21]]). It frequently serves as a powerful metaphor for the transience of human life and worldly glory, contrasting fleeting human endeavors with the enduring Word of God (e.g., [[James 1:11]], [[1 Peter 1:24]]). The term also illustrates the peril of superficial faith that lacks deep spiritual roots, leading to spiritual decay (e.g., [[Mark 4:6]]). Furthermore, in prophetic contexts, ξηραίνω signifies divine sovereignty over creation, as seen in the drying up of rivers for eschatological purposes (e.g., [[Revelation 16:12]]). Intriguingly, its use to describe a harvest as "fully ripe" (e.g., [[Revelation 14:15]]) demonstrates its capacity to signify a state of completion and readiness for divine action, rather than solely decline. Thus, ξηραίνω is a multifaceted term that powerfully communicates themes of divine judgment, human mortality, spiritual vitality, and God's sovereign timing.
TRV