SermonIndex Audio Sermons
SermonIndex - Promoting Revival to this Generation

Give To SermonIndex
Text Sermons : Greek Word Studies : Accursed (anathema) (331) anathema

Open as PDF

Accursed (Anathema) (331) (anathema from anatíthemi = to place, lay up) means strictly speaking something set up or placed so as to be kept, such as a votive [free will] offering which is "set up" in the temple (eg, see Lk 21:5 but see note below). Most of the NT uses are by Paul who uses anathema in a negative sense of delivering ("setting up" or "placing") someone under divine wrath or a curse (see below).

BDAG notes that anathema in the

Septuagint (Lxx) as a rule (signifies) what is ‘devoted to the divinity’ (which) can be either consecrated or accursed. The meanign of the word in the other NT passages moves definitely in the direction of the latter (as in the Lxx uses in Nu 21:3, Dt 7:26, Josh 6:17, Josh 7:12, Jdg 1:17, Zech 14:11).

Some versions transliterate the Greek directly into English ("anathema" in KJV), while others like the NAS, ESV, NKJV render it as "accursed."

Note that Strong's distinguishes between Anáthema and anáthêma (334) which signifies a votive offering or an offering not involving sacrifice, something consecrated in the temple, a gift, an offering (Lk 21:5).

In addition to the use of anathema in 1Cor 16:22, it is used five other times in the NT...

Acts 23:14 They came to the chief priests and the elders and said, "We have bound ourselves under a solemn (anathema) oath (verb = anathematizo = to invoke consequences if what one says is not true) to taste nothing until we have killed Paul.

Comment: In this usage anathema means that the conspirators have bound themselves to the plot with a dreadful oath, so that if they failed to carry out their plans, the curse would fall upon them!

Ro 9:3- For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh,

1Cor 12:3 Therefore I make known to you, that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

BDAG quoting Laud.Therap. who explains that: When the divinity (daimon = demon) has altered the one it has influenced, then it is altogether the divinity that speaks, for it has skillfully made the victim’s mouth its own instrument;

Gal 1:8 But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed.

Gal 1:9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a Gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed.

Anathema is used 16 times in the non-apocryphal Septuagint (Lxx) - Lev 27:28 (anathema translates "devoted to destruction" = Hebrew words cherem = devoted thing and charam = devoted); Nu 21:3 (anathema translates "Hormah"); Dt 7:26 (anathema translates "ban" = cherem); Dt 13:15, 17; Dt 20:17; Josh 6:17, 18; Josh 7:1, Josh 7:11, 12, 13; Josh 22:20; Jdg 1:17 (anathema translates "Hormah"); 1Chr 2:7; Zech 14:11 (anathema translated "curse" = cherem). The majority of the Lxx uses of anathema translate the Hebrew word for "ban" (cherem).





©2002-2024 SermonIndex.net
Promoting Revival to this Generation.
Privacy Policy