καθαρός (G2513) — Greek Lexicon

καθαρός

katharós

G2513 attributive adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

Primarily, free from dirt, stain, or impurities (literal sense); by extension, morally untainted, undefiled, sincere, or ritually acceptable depending on context. Used of physical cleanliness (objects, water, persons), ritual acceptability (suitable for sacrifice or participation in sacred rites), and moral uprightness (without guilt or corruption). Secondary senses include clear, distinct (of sound or speech), and figuratively, unalloyed or unmixed (of motives or composition).

Semantic Range

clean (physically or ritually); pure (morally, emotionally, or compositionally); clear (of sound, water, or perception); unalloyed, sincere, untainted, undefiled

Root / Etymology

From the root καθαρ-; possibly related to the verb καθαίρω ('to cleanse, purify'); exact etymology uncertain, but used widely in classical and Hellenistic Greek as an adjective for both tangible and intangible forms of purity or cleanness.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, καθαρός most frequently designates something physically clean or ritually pure, especially in cultic or domestic settings. In the Septuagint, it translates Hebrew טָהוֹר (tahor), aligning both with ritual purity (e.g., animals suitable for sacrifice, objects permitted in sacred rite) and with abstract notions of innocence or blamelessness. In Koine Greek, including the New Testament, it continues these senses: καθαρός may describe hands (physically clean), hearts (morally upright), or foods (ritually acceptable). The term often stands in contrast to ἀκάθαρτος ('unclean', defiled, impure), especially in discussions of ritual or ethical boundaries. English translations as 'clean', 'pure', or 'clear' can obscure differences between ritual, moral, and physical conceptions of purity; context is essential to determine the sense. The word informs the term 'catharsis' (κάθαρσις, 'purification, cleansing') in Greek philosophy and drama, although this nominal form has its own trajectory. καταρός is never limited to ritual cleanness: it is frequently used in broader moral or even aesthetic senses (e.g. 'a pure heart', 'clear water').

Translation Consistency

primary "pure" 12 occurrences

Katharós most commonly denotes freedom from impurity—moral, ritual, or compositional—as well as unalloyed or sincere quality. "Pure" naturally covers ritual/moral purity (pure/impure), physical/chemical cleanliness (pure water), and figurative senses (pure motives, pure gold) more smoothly than alternatives. Choosing "pure" yields a single, natural English word that fits the typical semantic range and will read well across contexts.

Alternatives (15 occurrences):

"clean" (11x) "clean ones" (4x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of uncertain affinity; clean (literally or figuratively):--clean, clear, pure.

Root Family

καθαρός (katharos) — clean, pure, unmixed

Root καθαρ- clean, pure, unmixed

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G2513-01`	καθαρᾷ	kathara	`ADJ.A DAT F SG`	pure	to a pure one	pure	7
`G2513-06`	καθαρόν	katharon	`ADJ.P NOM N SG`	pure	clean	clean	7
`G2513-04`	καθαροὶ	katharoi	`ADJ.S NOM M PL`	clean	clean ones	clean ones	4
`G2513-02`	καθαρᾶς	katharas	`ADJ.A GEN F SG`	pure	of pure	pure	3
`G2513-07`	καθαρὸς	katharos	`ADJ.P NOM M SG`	clean	clean	clean	3
`G2513-03`	καθαρῷ	katharo	`ADJ.A DAT N SG`	pure	to/for a pure one	pure	2
`G2513-05`	καθαροῖς	katharois	`ADJ.S DAT M PL`	pure	to pure ones	who are pure	1

Occurrences in Scripture

27 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G2513-04`	Matthew 5:8	καθαροὶ	katharoi	`ADJ.S NOM M PL`	pure	clean ones	clean ones
`G2513-06`	Matthew 23:26	καθαρόν	katharon	`ADJ.P NOM N SG`	clean	clean	clean
`G2513-01`	Matthew 27:59	καθαρᾷ	kathara	`ADJ.A DAT F SG`	clean	to a pure one	clean
`G2513-01`	Luke 11:41	καθαρὰ	kathara	`ADJ.P NOM N PL`	are clean	to a pure one	are clean
`G2513-07`	John 13:10	καθαρὸς	katharos	`ADJ.P NOM M SG`	clean	clean	clean
`G2513-04`	John 13:10	καθαροί	katharoi	`ADJ.P NOM M PL`	clean	clean ones	clean ones
`G2513-04`	John 13:11	καθαροί	katharoi	`ADJ.P NOM M PL`	clean	clean ones	clean ones
`G2513-04`	John 15:3	καθαροί	katharoi	`ADJ.P NOM M PL`	clean	clean ones	clean ones
`G2513-07`	Acts 18:6	καθαρὸς	katharos	`ADJ.P NOM M SG`	clean	clean	clean
`G2513-07`	Acts 20:26	καθαρός	katharos	`ADJ.P NOM M SG`	innocent	clean	clean
`G2513-01`	Romans 14:20	καθαρά	kathara	`ADJ.P NOM N PL`	pure	to a pure one	clean
`G2513-02`	1 Timothy 1:5	καθαρᾶς	katharas	`ADJ.A GEN F SG`	pure	of pure	pure
`G2513-01`	1 Timothy 3:9	καθαρᾷ	kathara	`ADJ.A DAT F SG`	pure	to a pure one	pure
`G2513-01`	2 Timothy 1:3	καθαρᾷ	kathara	`ADJ.A DAT F SG`	pure	to a pure one	pure
`G2513-02`	2 Timothy 2:22	καθαρᾶς	katharas	`ADJ.A GEN F SG`	pure	of pure	pure
`G2513-01`	Titus 1:15	καθαρὰ	kathara	`ADJ.P NOM N PL`	are pure	to a pure one	to a pure one
`G2513-05`	Titus 1:15	καθαροῖς	katharois	`ADJ.S DAT M PL`	pure	to pure ones	who are pure
`G2513-06`	Titus 1:15	καθαρόν	katharon	`ADJ.P NOM N SG`	is pure	clean	is pure
`G2513-03`	Hebrews 10:22	καθαρῷ	katharo	`ADJ.A DAT N SG`	pure	to/for a pure one	pure
`G2513-01`	James 1:27	καθαρὰ	kathara	`ADJ.A NOM F SG`	pure	to a pure one	pure
`G2513-02`	1 Peter 1:22	καθαρᾶς	katharas	`ADJ.A GEN F SG`	pure	of pure	pure
`G2513-06`	Revelation 15:6	καθαρὸν	katharon	`ADJ.A ACC N SG`	pure	clean	clean
`G2513-06`	Revelation 19:8	καθαρόν	katharon	`ADJ.A ACC N SG`	pure	clean	clean
`G2513-06`	Revelation 19:14	καθαρόν	katharon	`ADJ.A ACC N SG`	clean	clean	clean
`G2513-06`	Revelation 21:18	καθαρὸν	katharon	`ADJ.A NOM N SG`	pure	clean	is pure
`G2513-03`	Revelation 21:18	καθαρῷ	katharo	`ADJ.A DAT M SG`	pure	to/for a pure one	pure
`G2513-06`	Revelation 21:21	καθαρὸν	katharon	`ADJ.A NOM N SG`	pure	clean	clean

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