ἀναθεματίζω (anathematizō)
anathematizō
to take an oath
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb anathematizō carries the heavy weight of being devoted to destruction or placed under a divine curse. In its most striking appearance in the New Testament, Peter uses it when he denies knowing Jesus, swearing that he is cursed if he is lying (Mark 14:71). This usage highlights the word’s intensity; it is not merely a casual oath but a binding appeal to severe judgment against oneself.
The term appears four times in Scripture, with three occurrences clustered in Acts. In Acts 23, Paul takes an oath, declaring that he will be cursed if his testimony about Jesus is false (Acts 23:12-21). The root connects to the Hebrew concept of cherem, found in the Old Testament where things or people were irrevocably dedicated to God, often through destruction. This background gives the word a sense of finality and seriousness that goes beyond simple swearing.
Translators typically render anathematizō as "curse" or "swear," capturing the gravity of invoking divine punishment. The word underscores the solemnity of truth-telling in biblical contexts, where one’s life and standing before God were on the line. Its limited use in the New Testament marks it as a rare and powerful expression of conviction or denial.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word anathematizō carries a weight that feels almost unbearable to us today: it means to place oneself under a curse or divine judgment if one is lying. In Mark’s Gospel, we see Peter using this intense language when he denies Jesus, swearing that he deserves destruction if he is deceiving the crowd. This is not casual swearing; it is a desperate, binding appeal to God as the ultimate witness of truth. The gravity of the term reminds us how seriously Scripture treats honesty and our standing before God.
In Acts, we see this same fierce language used by a group of conspirators who bind themselves under a curse to kill Paul. Here, the word highlights the dangerous lengths some will go to for hatred or religious zealotry. It serves as a stark contrast to the peace and truth found in Christ. While these figures use oaths to enforce violence, the Gospel invites us into a relationship where our word is simply true because of who God is.
For your faith life, this word underscores the solemnity of truth-telling. We do not need to invoke curses to prove our integrity; rather, we are called to let our yes be yes and our no be no, trusting in God’s grace. When we speak honestly, we reflect the character of a God who is faithful even when we are not. This assurance frees us from the fear of being exposed, allowing us to live with open hands and truthful hearts.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- we have bound1×
- was put under an oath1×
- to curse1×
- put under an oath1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀνεθεμάτισαν2×
- ἀνεθεματίσαμεν1×
- ἀναθεματίζειν1×
Key Verses
-
Mark 14:71
But he began to curse and to swear, “I don’t know this man of whom you speak!”
Peter uses this intense oath to deny Jesus, showing how desperation can lead to binding oneself under a curse rather than facing fear with faith.
-
Acts 23:12
When it was day, some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.
A group of conspirators bind themselves under a curse to kill Paul, illustrating how this word can be weaponized for violence and hatred.
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Acts 23:14
They came to the chief priests and the elders, and said, “We have bound ourselves under a great curse to taste nothing until we have killed Paul.
The plotters repeat their vow to the religious leaders, emphasizing the unbreakable nature of their self-imposed curse as they seek political support.
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Acts 23:21
Therefore don’t yield to them, for more than forty men lie in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse to neither eat nor drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, looking for the promise from you.”
Paul’s nephew warns the commander about the lethal commitment of those who have bound themselves under a curse, highlighting the real danger Paul faces.