καθαρίζω (katharizō)
katharizō
to clean
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 30 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb katharizō means to make clean, functioning as a broad term for removing dirt, disease, or defilement. In the New Testament, it appears thirty times, often describing Jesus’ physical healing of lepers, such as when He cures the man in Matthew 8:2-3 or the ten lepers in Luke 17:14. These accounts highlight a tangible restoration to health and social standing.
Beyond physical illness, the word carries significant ethical and ceremonial weight. It describes the purification of the heart, as Peter notes in Acts 15:9, or the cleansing of conscience from dead works in Hebrews 9:14. The sources also link it to ritual purity, marking a shift where food is declared clean (Mark 7:19) and objects are purified for holy use.
Its root relates to the state of being pure, emphasizing the result of the action rather than just the process. Translators often render it as "cleanse," "purify," or "make clean" depending on whether the context involves a body, a conscience, or a ceremonial object. This versatility allows the word to bridge the gap between physical healing and spiritual forgiveness.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word katharizō describes a thorough removal of what defiles. In the Gospels, Jesus uses it to heal lepers, restoring them to health and community. This physical act shows that God cares for our whole person. He does not leave us isolated by illness or shame but brings tangible restoration.
Beyond the body, this cleansing reaches the heart. The New Testament teaches that faith purifies inner motives, freeing us from guilt and dead works. When we trust in Christ, His sacrifice cleanses our conscience, allowing us to serve God with a clear mind. This spiritual renewal is as real as physical healing.
We are invited to respond by letting this truth shape our daily lives. As we face moral struggles or past regrets, we can remember that God’s grace is powerful enough to make us new. This promise offers hope and peace for every believer seeking holiness.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 30 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to cleanse.3×
- do be cleansed.3×
- was cleansed2×
- has cleansed,2×
- do cleanse2×
- are cleansed,2×
- you cleanse,1×
- you cleanse1×
- will purify1×
- were cleansed?1×
- we may cleanse1×
- to be purified1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- καθαρίσθητι.3×
- καθαρίσαι.3×
- ἐκαθάρισεν,2×
- ἐκαθαρίσθη2×
- καθαρίσῃ2×
- καθαρίσας2×
- καθαρίζονται,2×
- καθαρίζετε,2×
- ἐκαθαρίσθησαν;1×
- ἐκαθαρίσθησαν.1×
- ἐκαθαρίσθη.1×
- κεκαθαρισμένους.1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 8:3
Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I want to. Be made clean.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Jesus commands the leper to be made clean, showing His authority over disease and His willingness to restore social standing.
-
Hebrews 9:14
how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without defect to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
This verse highlights the spiritual dimension, explaining how Christ’s blood cleanses the conscience from dead works to enable true service.
-
Acts 15:9
He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
Peter notes that God cleansed the hearts of Gentile believers by faith, showing that purification is based on trust rather than ritual law.
-
Mark 7:19
because it doesn’t go into his heart, but into his stomach, then into the latrine, making all foods clean?”
Jesus declares all foods clean, shifting the focus from external dietary rules to internal moral purity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does katharizō mean in the New Testament?
How is this word different from general cleaning?
Does this word apply only to physical healing?
Where does this word appear most often?
Every Occurrence (30 verses across 10 books)
Matthew 6 verses
Behold, a leper came to him and worshiped him, saying, “Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean.”
Matthew 8:3Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I want to. Be made clean.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Matthew 10:8Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons. Freely you received, so freely give.
Matthew 11:5the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the…
Matthew 23:25“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within…
Matthew 23:26You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the platter, that its outside may become clean also.