ἐπικατάρατος (epikataratos)
epikataratos
cursed
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective epikataratos describes someone or something that is accursed, lying under divine judgment and exposed to God’s wrath. It carries a heavy weight, indicating not just misfortune but a state of being condemned or doomed to destruction. In the New Testament, this term appears only twice, both in Paul’s letter to the Galatians, where it underscores the severity of spiritual separation from grace.
Its meaning is rooted in the idea of invoking a curse upon another, as seen in its connection to the Old Greek translation (LXX) where it translates Hebrew terms for cursing. Paul uses it to contrast the law and grace: those who rely on legal observance are under this curse, while Christ redeems believers by becoming accursed for them (Galatians 3:10-13). The word highlights the seriousness of sin and the necessity of redemption through faith.
Translators often render epikataratos as "cursed" or "accursed," capturing its sense of divine rejection. However, the term’s force lies in its theological context — it is not merely a label but a description of a condition from which only Christ’s sacrifice can deliver. This word serves as a stark reminder of the cost of salvation and the depth of God’s love in bearing what humanity deserved.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word epikataratos carries a heavy weight in Scripture, describing a state of being under divine judgment and separated from God’s grace. In Galatians, Paul uses this term to highlight the impossibility of earning salvation through strict legal observance. It serves as a stark reminder that no amount of human effort can remove the burden of sin or satisfy the demands of perfect righteousness.
Yet, this grim reality leads directly to the good news of the gospel. Christ stepped into this place of condemnation, taking the curse upon Himself so that believers might be freed from it. This substitution is not just a theological concept but a personal rescue. It means that your standing before God rests not on your performance, but on His finished work.
Knowing you are redeemed from this curse brings profound peace. You are no longer living under the threat of condemnation but in the freedom of grace. This truth invites you to rest in what Jesus has accomplished, allowing His love to replace fear with confidence in your identity as a child of God.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Cursed [is]2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐπικατάρατος2×
Key Verses
-
Galatians 3:10
For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who doesn’t continue in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them.”
This verse establishes the universal inability to achieve righteousness through law-keeping, placing all who rely on works under the weight of divine curse.
-
Galatians 3:13
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree,”
Here the word shifts from describing our condition to highlighting Christ’s substitutionary act, showing how He absorbed the curse to secure our redemption.