διακαθαρίζω (diakatharizō)
diakatharizō
to clear out
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb diakatharizō means to clear out or cleanse thoroughly. It appears only once in the New Testament, in Luke 3:17 (parallel to Matthew 3:12), where John the Baptist describes the coming judgment. The word combines a prefix indicating thoroughness with the root for cleansing, emphasizing a complete removal of impurity.
In this specific context, it describes how the Messiah will separate wheat from chaff. The imagery is agricultural: the clean grain is gathered into the barn, while the worthless husks are burned. This usage highlights a decisive and final action, leaving nothing behind. Translators often render it as "cleanse" or "purify," but the Greek suggests a more intensive process than simple washing.
The rarity of this word makes its single occurrence significant. It underscores the thoroughness of divine judgment, contrasting with less intense terms for purification. The sources confirm that the prefix adds emphasis, ensuring the reader understands the action is comprehensive and irreversible.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word diakatharizō appears only once in the New Testament, carrying a sense of thoroughness that goes beyond simple cleaning. In Luke and Matthew, it describes the Messiah separating wheat from chaff with decisive action. This imagery reminds us that God’s work in our lives is not superficial but complete.
For your faith, this means you can trust in a purification that leaves nothing half-done. When challenges arise or old habits persist, remember that divine cleansing aims for total renewal. It is an invitation to rest in the certainty that what God begins, He finishes with care and precision.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- He will clear1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- διακαθαριεῖ1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 3:12
His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.”
This verse uses the word to emphasize the finality of judgment, where the separation is complete and irreversible.