Tools and resources you need to do a word study on the Greek word for pure or clean: καθαρός
katharos, clean, pure
Strong’s number: G2513
Greek Lexical Dictionary: Strong’s #2513 – καθαρός
Greek Word: καθαρός, ά, όν
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: katharos
Phonetic Spelling: (kath-ar-os’)
Quick Definition: clean (adjective)
Usage: clean, pure, unstained, either literally or ceremonially or spiritually; guiltless, innocent, upright.
NASB translation: clean (12), clear (3), innocent (1), pure (10).
New Testament Usage
New Testament: 22 verses
Mat 5:8; Mat 23:26; Mat 27:59; Luk 11:41; Joh 13:10; Joh 13:11; Joh 15:3; Act 18:6; Act 20:26; Rom 14:20; 1Ti 1:5; 1Ti 3:9; 2Ti 1:3; 2Ti 2:22; Tit 1:15; Heb 10:22; Jas 1:27; Rev 15:6; Rev 19:8; Rev 19:14; Rev 21:18; Rev 21:21.
Septuagint: 145 times in 135 verses
Gen 7:2; Gen 7:3; Gen 7:8; Gen 8:20; Gen 20:5; Gen 20:6; Gen 24:8; Gen 44:10; Exo 25:11; Exo 25:17; Exo 25:23; Exo 25:28; Exo 25:29; Exo 25:31; Exo 25:36; Exo 25:38; Exo 25:39; Exo 27:20; Exo 28:13; Exo 28:14; Exo 28:22; Exo 28:36; Exo 30:3; Exo 30:4; Exo 30:35; Exo 31:8; Exo 36:22; Exo 36:37; Exo 38:2; Exo 38:9; Exo 38:25; Exo 39:16; Lev 4:12; Lev 6:4; Lev 7:19; Lev 10:10; Lev 11:32; Lev 11:36; Lev 11:37; Lev 11:47; Lev 13:6; Lev 13:13; Lev 13:17; Lev 13:34; Lev 13:37; Lev 13:39; Lev 13:40; Lev 13:41; Lev 13:58; Lev 14:4; Lev 14:7; Lev 14:8; Lev 14:9; Lev 14:49; Lev 14:53; Lev 15:8; Lev 15:12; Lev 15:13; Lev 17:15; Lev 20:25; Lev 22:7; Lev 24:2; Lev 24:4; Lev 24:6; Lev 24:7; Num 5:17; Num 5:28; Num 8:7; Num 9:13; Num 18:11; Num 18:13; Num 19:3; Num 19:9; Num 19:12; Num 19:18; Num 19:19; Dt 12:15; Dt 12:22; Dt 14:11; Dt 14:20; Dt 15:22; Dt 23:11; 1Sa 20:26; 2Ch 3:4; 2Ch 3:5; 2Ch 3:8; 2Ch 4:16; 2Ch 4:20; 2Ch 4:21; 2Ch 9:15; 2Ch 13:11; Ezr 2:69; Ezr 6:20; Neh 2:20; Job 4:7; Job 4:17; Job 8:6; Job 9:30; Job 11:4; Job 11:13; Job 11:15; Job 14:4; Job 15:15; Job 16:17; Job 17:9; Job 22:25; Job 22:30; Job 25:5; Job 28:19; Job 33:3; Job 33:9; Job 33:26; Psa 23:4; Psa 50:12; Pro 8:10; Pro 12:27; Pro 14:4; Pro 20:9; Pro 25:4; Ecc 9:2; Isa 1:16; Isa 1:25; Isa 14:19; Isa 14:20; Isa 35:8; Isa 47:11; Isa 65:5; Jer 4:11; Eze 22:26; Eze 36:25; Eze 44:23; Dan 7:9; Hab 1:13; Zec 3:5; Mal 1:11.
Englishman’s Concordance: καθαρός (katharos)
Lexicons
Thayers G2513: clean, pure physically or in a levitical sense; or in an ethical sense.
Strongs G2513: clean, clear, pure; of uncertain affinity; clean (literally or figuratively) — clean, clear, pure.
Mounce G2513: clean, pure, clear of responsibility, innocent
Related words: Strongs G2511 katharizo; Strongs 2512 katharisomos; 2514 katharotes.
Hebrew equivalent words: Strong #: 1249 ‑ בַּר (bar); 2134 ‑ זַךְ (zak); 2135 ‑ זָכָה (zaw‑kaw’); 2219 ‑ זָרָה (zaw‑raw’); 2889 ‑ טָהֹר (haw‑hore’, taw‑hore’); 2891 ‑ טָהֵר (taw‑hare’); 3476 ‑ יֹשֶׁר (yo’‑sher); 3559 ‑ כּוּן (koon); 4356 ‑ מִכְלָה (mik‑law‑aw’, mik‑law’); 4839 ‑ מָרָק (maw‑rawk’); 5343 ‑ נְקֵא (nek‑ay’); 5352 ‑ נָקָה (naw‑kaw’); 5355 ‑ נָקִי (naw‑kee’, naw‑kee’); 5462 ‑ סָגַר (saw‑gar’); 6918 ‑ קָדֹשׁ (kaw‑doshe’, kaw‑doshe’); 7845 ‑ שַׁחַת (shakh’‑ath); 8420 ‑ תָּו (tawv); 8537 ‑ תֹּם (tome);
PreceptsAustin: pure
English words derived from katharos
- catharsis = purifying, cleansing, a term used in psychology and counseling for a cleansing of the mind or emotions – a “soul cleansing” if you will;
- cathartic = any substance used to induce purging especially the digestive tract or to cleanse a wound or infected are in order to make it pure or in psychiatry, the relieving of fears by bringing them to the surface of a person’s consciousness.
- Cathar = member of a medieval sect which sought the purging of all evil from its members.
- katharos is related to the Latin castus, from which we get chaste. To chasten is to discipline in order to cleanse from wrong behavior.
Reference works
21 Matthew 5:8 The pure in heart
GotQuestions: What does it mean to be pure in heart?
Desiring God: Blessed are the Pure in heart
RC Sproul: Blessed are the pure in heart
Ligonier: Purity and peacemaking