διακαθαρίζω
diakatharízō
G1245 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To cleanse thoroughly, to purify completely; in agricultural contexts, to winnow or remove chaff from grain, signifying a full separation or purification process. Also used more generally to indicate a comprehensive removal of impurity, filth, or extraneous elements; carries a sense of bringing something to a pure or refined state, often with the nuance of a process carried out to completion.
Semantic Range
to cleanse thoroughly, to purify completely, to winnow (separate grain from chaff), to purge of impurities, to remove entirely unwanted elements
Root / Etymology
From διά ('through, across, throughout') and καθαρίζω ('to cleanse, to purify'). The compound intensifies the verbal idea of καθαρίζω, with διά emphasizing the thoroughness or completeness of the cleansing action.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The verb διακαθαρίζω is rare, primarily found in later Hellenistic and Koine Greek literature, and occurs in the New Testament only in Luke 3:17 in the context of winnowing grain. It is used to describe the process of separating valuable grain from worthless chaff, with emphasis on completing the task so that only the desired element remains. This sense of 'thorough purging' can be agricultural or, by extension, refer more generally to any comprehensive purification. In earlier classical literature, the simple form καθαρίζω predominates, but intensified forms like διακαθαρίζω become more common in later Greek. English translations have typically rendered this as 'thoroughly purge' or 'cleanse completely,' but these do not always convey the agricultural specificity when the winnowing context is present. Related terms include καθαίρω (to clean), καθαρίζω (to cleanse), and διακρίνω (to separate), though διακαθαρίζω always implies complete or exhaustive purification, especially by separation.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from διά and καθαρίζω; to cleanse perfectly, i.e. (specially) winnow:--thoroughly purge.
Root Family
διακαθαρ- (diakatharízō) — to thoroughly cleanse, to purify, to winnow
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1245-01 |
διακαθαριεῖ | diakathariei | V FUT ACT IND 3P SG |
he will thoroughly clear | he/she/it will thoroughly cleanse | he will thoroughly cleanse | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1245-01 |
Matthew 3:12 | διακαθαριεῖ | diakathariei | V FUT ACT IND 3P SG |
he will thoroughly clear | he/she/it will thoroughly cleanse | he will thoroughly cleanse |