Reference: Anathema
American
That is, a curse, a ban, signifies properly something set apart, separated, devoted. It is understood principally to denote the absolute, irrevocable, and entire separation of a person from the communion of the faithful, or from the number of the living, or from the privileges of society; or the devoting of any man, animal, city or thing, to be extirpated, destroyed, consumed, and, as it were, annihilated, Le 27. Thus Jericho, Jos 6:17-21, and Achan were accursed, Jos 7:1-25.
Another kind of anathema, very peculiarly expressed, occurs
1Co 16:22: "If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema, Maranatha." This last word is made up of two Syriac words, signifying, "The Lord cometh," that is, the Lord will surely come, and will execute this curse, by condemning those who love him not. At the same time, the opposite is also implied, that is, the Lord cometh also to reward those who love him. See EXCOMMUNICATION.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
But the city shall be excommunicate, both it and all that is therein, unto the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, both she and all that is with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. And in any wise beware of the excommunicate things, lest ye make yourselves excommunicate. For if you take of the excommunicate things, so shall you make the host of Israel excommunicate and shall trouble it. read more. But all the silver, gold, vessels of brass and iron shall be holy unto the LORD and shall go into his treasury." And the people cried, and blew with horns: for when the people heard the sound of the horns, they shouted a great shout. And the walls fell down, and the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and took the city. And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, ox, sheep and ass, with the edge of the sword.
But yet the children of Israel trespassed in the excommunicate things: for Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah of the tribe of Judah, took of the excommunicate things. And the wrath of the LORD waxed hot against the children of Israel. Then Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai which is beside Bethaven, on the east side of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, "Get you up and view the country." And the men went up and spied out Ai, read more. and returned unto Joshua and said unto him, "Let not all the people go up, but let as it were a two or three thousand men go up and destroy Ai, and make not all the people to labour thither, for they are but few." And so there went up thither about a three thousand men, which fled before the men of Ai. And the men of Ai smote of them upon a thirty and six men, and chased them before the gates even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down. And the hearts of the people were discouraged and melted like water. And Joshua rent his clothes and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, both he and the elders of Israel; and put earth upon their heads. And Joshua said, "Ah, Lord Jehovah, wherefore hast thou brought this people over Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? Would to God we had adventured and dwelt on the other side Jordan. Oh Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies? Moreover, the Canaanites, and all the inhabiters of the land shall hear of it, and shall come about us and destroy the name of us out of the world. And then what wilt thou do unto thy mighty name?" And the LORD said unto Joshua, "Get thee up, wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? Israel hath sinned and also transgressed my covenant, which I commanded them, and have taken of the excommunicate things, and have stolen and hid them, and also put them unto their own stuff: And therefore the children of Israel cannot stand before their enemies. They shall turn their backs before their enemies, because they be excommunicate. Neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the excommunicate from among you. Up, and sanctify the people and bid them to sanctify themselves against the morrow: for so sayeth the LORD God of Israel, 'The excommunication is among you Israel, and therefore ye cannot stand before your enemies, until ye have put the excommunication from among you. Tomorrow morning ye shall come by your tribes. And the tribe which the LORD shall find guilty, shall come by kindreds. And the kindred which the LORD shall find guilty, shall come by households. And the household which the LORD shall find faulty, shall come man by man. And he that is found in the excommunication shall be burnt with fire, both he and all that pertaineth unto him, because he hath transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel.'" And so Joshua rose up early in the morning and brought Israel by their tribes: and the tribe of Judah was caught. Then he brought the kindreds of Judah, and found the kindred of the Zerahites guilty. And he brought the kindred of the Zerahites by householders, and Zabdi was caught. And he brought his household man by man, and Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah in the tribe of Judah was caught. And Joshua said unto Achan, "My son, give glory to the LORD God of Israel, and give him praise, and show me what thou hast done, and hide it not from me." And Achan answered Joshua, and said, "Of a truth I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and so and so have I done. I saw among the spoil a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundredth sicles of silver, and a tongue of gold of fifty sicles weight: and I coveted them, and I took them. And behold they lie hid in the earth in my tent and the silver thereunder." And then Joshua sent messengers which ran unto the tent. And behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver thereunder. And they took them out of the midst of his tent and brought them unto Joshua and unto all the children of Israel, and poured them out before the LORD. And Joshua took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the tongue of gold, and his sons and his daughters, his oxen, asses, sheep, his tent and all that he had, and all Israel with him, and brought them unto the valley of Achor. And Joshua said, "Inasmuch as thou hast troubled us: the LORD shall trouble thee this day." And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burnt them with fire, and overwhelmed them with stones.
Easton
anything laid up or suspended; hence anything laid up in a temple or set apart as sacred. In this sense the form of the word is anath(ee)ma, once in plural used in the Greek New Testament, in Lu 21:5, where it is rendered "gifts." In the LXX. the form anathema is generally used as the rendering of the Hebrew word herem, derived from a verb which means (1) to consecrate or devote; and (2) to exterminate. Any object so devoted to the Lord could not be redeemed (Nu 18:14; Le 27:28-29); and hence the idea of exterminating connected with the word. The Hebrew verb (haram) is frequently used of the extermination of idolatrous nations. It had a wide range of application. The anathema or herem was a person or thing irrevocably devoted to God (Le 27:21,28); and "none devoted shall be ransomed. He shall surely be put to death" (Le 27:29). The word therefore carried the idea of devoted to destruction (Nu 21:2-3; Jos 6:17); and hence generally it meant a thing accursed. In De 7:26 an idol is called a herem = anathema, a thing accursed.
In the New Testament this word always implies execration. In some cases an individual denounces an anathema on himself unless certain conditions are fulfilled (Ac 23:12,14,21). "To call Jesus accursed" [anathema] (1Co 12:3) is to pronounce him execrated or accursed. If any one preached another gospel, the apostle says, "let him be accursed" (Ga 1:8-9); i.e., let his conduct in so doing be accounted accursed.
In Ro 9:3, the expression "accursed" (anathema) from Christ, i.e., excluded from fellowship or alliance with Christ, has occasioned much difficulty. The apostle here does not speak of his wish as a possible thing. It is simply a vehement expression of feeling, showing how strong was his desire for the salvation of his people.
The anathema in 1Co 16:22 denotes simply that they who love not the Lord are rightly objects of loathing and execration to all holy beings; they are guilty of a crime that merits the severest condemnation; they are exposed to the just sentence of "everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord."
See Verses Found in Dictionary
But when the field goeth out in the trumpet year, it shall be holy unto the LORD: even as a thing dedicated, and it shall be the priest's possession.
Notwithstanding, no dedicated thing that a man dedicateth unto the LORD, of all his goods - whether it be man or beast or land of his inheritance - shall be sold or redeemed: for all dedicated things are most holy unto the LORD.
Notwithstanding, no dedicated thing that a man dedicateth unto the LORD, of all his goods - whether it be man or beast or land of his inheritance - shall be sold or redeemed: for all dedicated things are most holy unto the LORD. No dedicated thing therefore that is dedicated of man, may be redeemed, but must needs die.
No dedicated thing therefore that is dedicated of man, may be redeemed, but must needs die.
Then Israel vowed a vow unto the LORD and said, "If thou wilt give this people into our hands, we will destroy their cities." And the LORD heard the voice of Israel, and delivered them the Canaanites. And they destroyed both them and their cities, and called the place Hormah.
Bring not therefore the Abomination to thine house, lest thou be a damned thing as it is: but utterly defy it and abhor it, for it is a thing that must be destroyed.
But the city shall be excommunicate, both it and all that is therein, unto the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, both she and all that is with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.
And some spake of the temple, how it was garnished with goodly stones, and jewels. He said,
When day was come, certain of the Jews gathered themselves together, and made a vow saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.
And they came to the chief priest and elders, and said, "We have bound ourselves with a vow, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.
But follow not their minds: for there lie in wait for him of them, more than forty men, which have bound themselves with a vow, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him. And now are they ready, and look for thy promise."
For I have wished myself to be cursed from Christ, for my brethren and my kinsmen as pertaining to the flesh:
Wherefore I declare unto you that no man speaking in the spirit of God defieth Jesus. Also no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the holy ghost.
If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, the same be anathema. Maranatha.
Nevertheless, though we ourselves, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, hold him as accursed. As I said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other thing unto you, than that ye have received, hold him accursed.
Fausets
Hebrew cheerem; "a thing or person devoted;" so, accursed to the Lord, and incapable of being redeemed, and, if a person, doomed to death (Le 27:28-29; 1Co 12:3; 16:22; Ga 1:9; Ro 9:3, compare Ex 32:32). "I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren," lit. "I was wishing," i.e., the wish was rising within me, so intense is my love for Israel, that I myself were sacrificed in soul as well as body for their sake, were such wish lawful, which it is not; the wish remained incomplete, checked by calmer and more sober thoughts, which vehement zeal for the moment forgot. It never passed beyond the region of deepfeeling, wherein he was transported momentarily out of all other considerations into the all absorbing one, "an ecstasy of charity" (Bacon). "ANATHEMA-MARANATHA" (i.e., "the Lord cometh") 1Co 16:22.
An Aramaic watchword of the first age, suitable for believers in all ages: If He come not to bless, He shall come to smite with a curse) alludes to Mal 4:5-6; "To those who fear in the New Testament 'love' the Lord's name, He comes as the Sun of Righteousness with healing on His wings;" but to those who fear and love Him not, lie will come smiting the earth with a "curse" (cheerem or anathema). Paul pronounces the anathema on those loving Him not, while as yet He is not come, that by fleeing to Him now they may escape the curse and gain the blessing. Paul is God's inspired mouthpiece proclaiming the doom to which those not loving Jesus are set apart, and his inspired prayer of anathema is but praying that (God's will be done. In the Old Testament forcible setting apart to His glory of what ought to have been, but was not willingly, consecrated to Him, is implied.
So in the case of Jericho the city was so devoted to destruction, and all in it, except Rahab; and the silver, gold, brass, and iron, were consecrated to Jehovah (Jos 6:17-26). Similarly Israel's vow (Nu 21:1-3): "if Thou wilt deliver this people into my hand, I will utterly destroy (Hebrew make a cheerem or anathema of) their cities." Therefore they called that place Hormah (Chormah), i.e., the place made a (cheerem) or anathema of; put under a ban; devoted to God for destruction as accursed). This gives the true view of the dooming of the Canaanites; the sinners themselves were to be made an awful example of God's punitive justice to which they were set apart; their possessions were properly the Lord's, but were given by Him to Israel as a gift henceforth to be used to His glory.
The degree of the work of destruction varied: men alone (De 20:18); men, women, and children, the cattle and spoil kept for the army (De 2:34-35); every living creature (De 20:16; 1Sa 15:3); virgins excepted (Nu 31:17). Had the Canaanites humbled themselves before God's judgment and submitted, they would have been spared; but they were given up to judicial hardening to their own ruin (Jos 11:19-20).
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Yet forgive them their sin, I pray thee: If not, wipe me out of thy book which thou hast written."
Yet forgive them their sin, I pray thee: If not, wipe me out of thy book which thou hast written."
Notwithstanding, no dedicated thing that a man dedicateth unto the LORD, of all his goods - whether it be man or beast or land of his inheritance - shall be sold or redeemed: for all dedicated things are most holy unto the LORD.
Notwithstanding, no dedicated thing that a man dedicateth unto the LORD, of all his goods - whether it be man or beast or land of his inheritance - shall be sold or redeemed: for all dedicated things are most holy unto the LORD. No dedicated thing therefore that is dedicated of man, may be redeemed, but must needs die.
No dedicated thing therefore that is dedicated of man, may be redeemed, but must needs die.
And when king Arad the Cananite, which dwelt in the south parts, heard tell that Israel came by the way that the spies had found out: he came and fought with Israel and took some of them prisoners.
And when king Arad the Cananite, which dwelt in the south parts, heard tell that Israel came by the way that the spies had found out: he came and fought with Israel and took some of them prisoners. Then Israel vowed a vow unto the LORD and said, "If thou wilt give this people into our hands, we will destroy their cities."
Then Israel vowed a vow unto the LORD and said, "If thou wilt give this people into our hands, we will destroy their cities." And the LORD heard the voice of Israel, and delivered them the Canaanites. And they destroyed both them and their cities, and called the place Hormah.
And the LORD heard the voice of Israel, and delivered them the Canaanites. And they destroyed both them and their cities, and called the place Hormah.
Now, therefore, slay all the men-children and the women that have lain with men, fleshly.
Now, therefore, slay all the men-children and the women that have lain with men, fleshly.
And we took all his cities the same season, and destroyed all the cities with men, women, and children and let nothing remain,
And we took all his cities the same season, and destroyed all the cities with men, women, and children and let nothing remain, save the cattle only we caught unto ourselves and the spoil of the cities which we took:
save the cattle only we caught unto ourselves and the spoil of the cities which we took:
But in the cities of these nations which the LORD thy God giveth thee to inherit, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth.
But in the cities of these nations which the LORD thy God giveth thee to inherit, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth.
that they teach you not to do after all their abominations which they do unto their gods, and so should sin against the LORD your God.
that they teach you not to do after all their abominations which they do unto their gods, and so should sin against the LORD your God.
But the city shall be excommunicate, both it and all that is therein, unto the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, both she and all that is with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.
But the city shall be excommunicate, both it and all that is therein, unto the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, both she and all that is with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. And in any wise beware of the excommunicate things, lest ye make yourselves excommunicate. For if you take of the excommunicate things, so shall you make the host of Israel excommunicate and shall trouble it.
And in any wise beware of the excommunicate things, lest ye make yourselves excommunicate. For if you take of the excommunicate things, so shall you make the host of Israel excommunicate and shall trouble it. But all the silver, gold, vessels of brass and iron shall be holy unto the LORD and shall go into his treasury."
But all the silver, gold, vessels of brass and iron shall be holy unto the LORD and shall go into his treasury." And the people cried, and blew with horns: for when the people heard the sound of the horns, they shouted a great shout. And the walls fell down, and the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and took the city.
And the people cried, and blew with horns: for when the people heard the sound of the horns, they shouted a great shout. And the walls fell down, and the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and took the city. And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, ox, sheep and ass, with the edge of the sword.
And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, ox, sheep and ass, with the edge of the sword. Then Joshua said to the two men that went to spy out the country: go into the harlot's house, and bring out thence, both the woman and all that pertaineth to her, as ye sware to her.
Then Joshua said to the two men that went to spy out the country: go into the harlot's house, and bring out thence, both the woman and all that pertaineth to her, as ye sware to her. And the young men that were spies went in and brought out Rahab, and her father, and mother, and all the brethren and all that she had. And they brought out all her household and put them without the host of Israel.
And the young men that were spies went in and brought out Rahab, and her father, and mother, and all the brethren and all that she had. And they brought out all her household and put them without the host of Israel. And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein. Only the silver, the gold, and the things of brass and iron they put unto the treasure of the house of the LORD.
And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein. Only the silver, the gold, and the things of brass and iron they put unto the treasure of the house of the LORD. And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot, and her father's household and all that pertained unto her, and she dwelt in Israel - even unto this day - because she hid the messengers which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot, and her father's household and all that pertained unto her, and she dwelt in Israel - even unto this day - because she hid the messengers which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. And Joshua cursed at that time, saying, "Cursed be the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: so that he lay the foundation with the death of his eldest son, and with the death of his youngest set up the gates."
And Joshua cursed at that time, saying, "Cursed be the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: so that he lay the foundation with the death of his eldest son, and with the death of his youngest set up the gates."
for there was no city that made peace with the children of Israel, save those Hittites that inhabited Gibeon. All other they took with battle,
for there was no city that made peace with the children of Israel, save those Hittites that inhabited Gibeon. All other they took with battle, for it came of the LORD to harden their hearts that they should come against Israel in battle: even to destroy them utterly, that they should have no mercy, but to bring them to naught. As the LORD commanded Moses.
for it came of the LORD to harden their hearts that they should come against Israel in battle: even to destroy them utterly, that they should have no mercy, but to bring them to naught. As the LORD commanded Moses.
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet: before the coming of the day of the great and fearful LORD.
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet: before the coming of the day of the great and fearful LORD. He shall turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, that I come not and smite the earth with cursing."
He shall turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, that I come not and smite the earth with cursing."
For I have wished myself to be cursed from Christ, for my brethren and my kinsmen as pertaining to the flesh:
For I have wished myself to be cursed from Christ, for my brethren and my kinsmen as pertaining to the flesh:
If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, the same be anathema. Maranatha.
If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, the same be anathema. Maranatha.
As I said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other thing unto you, than that ye have received, hold him accursed.
As I said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other thing unto you, than that ye have received, hold him accursed.
Hastings
Morish
This is a Greek word untranslated in 1Co 16:22; it occurs also in Ro 9:3; 1Co 12:3; Ga 1:8-9 and is uniformly translated 'accursed.' The solemn passage in 1 Cor. 16 is "If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed, Maranatha (the Lord cometh)." In Galatians it is said that if any person or even an angel from heaven preached any other gospel than that which they had received, let him be accursed. Two solemn denunciations relating to the person of the Lord Jesus and the gospel of God.
The word ??????? was used for any votive offering in a heathen temple, which could not be redeemed; hence anything devoted. In the N.T. it is devoted to God's curse, destruction.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
For I have wished myself to be cursed from Christ, for my brethren and my kinsmen as pertaining to the flesh:
If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, the same be anathema. Maranatha.
Nevertheless, though we ourselves, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, hold him as accursed. As I said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other thing unto you, than that ye have received, hold him accursed.
Smith
Anathema,
which literally means a thing suspended, is the equivalent of the Hebrew word signifying a thing or person voted. Any object so devoted to Jehovah was irredeemable. If an inanimate object, it was to be given to the priests,
if a living creature or even a man, it was to be slain.
The word anathema frequently occurs in St. Paul's writings, and is generally translated accused. An examination of the passages in which it occurs shows that it had acquired a more general sense as expressive either of strong feeling,
or of dislike and condemnation.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Notwithstanding, no dedicated thing that a man dedicateth unto the LORD, of all his goods - whether it be man or beast or land of his inheritance - shall be sold or redeemed: for all dedicated things are most holy unto the LORD. No dedicated thing therefore that is dedicated of man, may be redeemed, but must needs die.
For I have wished myself to be cursed from Christ, for my brethren and my kinsmen as pertaining to the flesh:
Wherefore I declare unto you that no man speaking in the spirit of God defieth Jesus. Also no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the holy ghost.
If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, the same be anathema. Maranatha.
As I said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other thing unto you, than that ye have received, hold him accursed.
Watsons
ANATHEMA, from ?????????, signifies something set apart, separated, or devoted, Mic 4:13, or the formula by which this is effected. To anathematize is generally understood to denote the cutting off or separating any one from the communion of the faithful, the number of the living, or the privileges of society; or the devoting of an animal, city, or other thing, to destruction. See ACCURSED.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Therefore get thee up, O thou daughter Zion, and thresh out the corn. For I will make thy horn iron. and thy claws brass, that thou mayest grind many people: their goods shalt thou appropriate unto the LORD, and their substance unto the ruler of the whole world.