σαρόω (saroō)
saroō
to sweep
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb saroō means to sweep or clean a floor by brushing away dust and debris. It is a late form of sairo, appearing only three times in the New Testament, primarily in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.
This word carries a vivid image of thorough cleaning. In Luke 15:8, it describes a woman sweeping her house to find a lost coin, highlighting careful, persistent effort. In contrast, Matthew 12:44 and Luke 11:25 use the passive voice to describe an unclean spirit returning to a swept house. Here, the act of sweeping represents a superficial removal of evil without filling the space with good, leaving it vulnerable to worse infestation.
The sources note that saroō is closely related to sairo, both referring to the physical action of brushing off dirt. Its limited usage underscores its specific role in these parables: illustrating either diligent search or empty preparation.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word saroō paints a vivid picture of cleaning a floor by brushing away dust and debris. It appears only three times in the New Testament, carrying a sense of thoroughness and care. In Luke 15:8, a woman sweeps her house with determination to find a lost coin, showing that God values every detail of our lives. This image reminds us that He searches for what is lost with persistent love.
Yet, the same word appears in Matthew 12:44 and Luke 11:25 to describe a house swept clean but left empty. Here, it warns against superficial change. Removing bad habits without filling our hearts with God’s presence leaves room for deeper trouble. True cleansing requires more than just removing dirt; it needs a new heart filled with His Spirit.
When we feel overwhelmed by the messiness of life, remember that God sees the value in every part of us. He does not just brush away surface issues but invites us into a relationship where our hearts are truly renewed. Let this word encourage you to seek His presence deeply, knowing He cares for even the smallest details.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- swept2×
- she sweeps1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- σεσαρωμένον2×
- σαροῖ1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 15:8
“Or what woman, if she had ten drachma coins, if she lost one drachma coin, wouldn’t light a lamp, sweep the house, and seek diligently until she found it?
This verse uses saroō to highlight a woman’s diligent effort in searching for a lost coin, illustrating God’s persistent love for what is lost.
-
Matthew 12:44
Then he says, ‘I will return into my house from which I came;’ and when he has come back, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order.
Here, the passive form of saroō describes an empty house swept clean, warning that removing evil without filling the heart with God leaves one vulnerable.
-
Luke 11:25
When he returns, he finds it swept and put in order.
Similar to Matthew, this verse uses saroō to show how a superficially cleaned life can become a target for greater spiritual danger if not filled with God.