332. anathematizó
Lexical Summary
anathematizó: To curse, to declare anathema, to devote to destruction

Original Word: ἀναθεματίζω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: anathematizó
Pronunciation: an-ath-em-at-ID-zo
Phonetic Spelling: (an-ath-em-at-id'-zo)
KJV: (bind under a) curse, bind with an oath
NASB: bound under a curse, bound under an oath, bound under oath, curse, under oath
Word Origin: [from G331 (ἀνάθεμα - accursed)]

1. to bind with a vow under penalty of curse and damnation

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
curse, bind with an oath.

From anathema; to declare or vow under penalty of execration -- (bind under a) curse, bind with an oath.

see GREEK anathema

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 332 anathematízō – literally, anathematize, put under a divine curse (anathema); "to devote to destruction, declare or invoke anathema" (Abbott-Smith). See 331 (anathema).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from anathema
Definition
to declare anathema, devote to destruction
NASB Translation
bound...under...oath (1), bound...under a curse (2), bound...under an oath (2), curse (1), under...oath (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 332: ἀναθεματίζω

ἀναθεματίζω; 1 aorist ἀνεθεμάτισα; (ἀνάθεμα, which see); a purely Biblical and ecclesiastical word, to declare anathema or accursed; in the Sept. equivalent to הֶחֱרִים to devote to destruction (Joshua 6:21, etc.; 1 Macc. 5:5); ἑαυτόν to declare oneself liable to the severest divine penalties, Acts 23:12, 21; ἀναθέματι ἀναθεματίζειν (Deuteronomy 13:15; Deuteronomy 20:17 (Winers Grammar, § 54, 3; Buttmann, 184 (109))) ἑαυτόν, followed by an infinitive, to bind oneself under a curse to do something, Acts 23:14. absolutely, to asseverate with direful imprecations: Mark 14:71. (Compare: καταναθεματίζω.)

Topical Lexicon
Overview

Strong’s Greek 332 represents a solemn, self-imprecatory act in which a person invokes divine judgment upon himself if a stated condition is not met. All four New Testament occurrences show people binding themselves by such a curse, illustrating the gravity with which first-century hearers regarded spoken vows and the peril that accompanies misdirected zeal.

Occurrences in the New Testament

Mark 14:71 – In the courtyard Peter, pressed to acknowledge Jesus, “began to curse and to swear, ‘I do not know this man you are talking about!’”. Under the pressure of fear he calls down judgment upon himself to make his denial appear credible.
Acts 23:12 – A group of Jews “formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.”
Acts 23:14 – They tell the chief priests and elders, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.”
Acts 23:21 – Paul’s nephew reports, “They have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him.”

Each passage portrays a life-or-death context: Peter disowns the Lord to save his own life; Paul’s opponents pledge their lives to take his.

Historical Background

Second-Temple Judaism preserved a tradition of vows that included self-malediction. Parallel formulas appear in rabbinic literature, often phrased, “May I be accursed if…,” emphasizing sincerity and determination. Such oaths were thought irrevocable (cf. Judges 11:30-40; 1 Samuel 14:24-45), yet Scripture also records the tragic fallout of rash vows, warning against careless speech (Proverbs 20:25; Ecclesiastes 5:4-6).

Connection to the Old Testament Ban (ḥerem)

The noun cognate anathema translates the Hebrew ḥerem—objects or persons devoted to the LORD for destruction (Leviticus 27:28-29; Joshua 6:17). By extension, to place oneself under a curse was to hand oneself over to divine judgment. The verb in Strong’s 332 carries that heritage into the New Testament narrative.

Christ and the Curse

Peter’s failure highlights human weakness, but Christ’s mercy restores him (John 21:15-19). Galatians 3:13 teaches that “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse for us.” The gospel answers both the reality of divine judgment and the futility of self-imposed curses by offering substitutionary atonement.

Ethics of Speech and Vow-Taking

Jesus directly addressed oath-making: “Do not swear at all… Let your ‘Yes’ be yes, and your ‘No,’ no; anything more comes from the evil one” (Matthew 5:34-37). James echoes, “Above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or earth… but let your ‘Yes’ be yes and your ‘No,’ no, so that you will not fall under judgment” (James 5:12). The few New Testament appearances of Strong’s 332 therefore function as cautionary illustrations—warnings against invoking God’s wrath to bolster unreliable words or misguided zeal.

Implications for Ministry

1. Integrity over theatrics: Believers should cultivate credibility that renders oaths unnecessary.
2. Pastoral counsel: Encourage repentance where people have made destructive vows; lead them to the freedom Christ secures (John 8:36).
3. Intercession for opponents: Paul’s would-be assassins display how religious passion can harden into violence. The church prays that persecutors may, like Saul himself, turn into servants of Christ.
4. Guarded zeal: Zeal must be governed by truth and love (Romans 10:2; 1 Corinthians 13:1-3), lest it degenerate into curses against God’s purposes.

Theological Reflection

Strong’s 332 underscores the power of words and the seriousness of invoking divine judgment. The gospel redirects that seriousness toward the cross, where the ultimate “curse” fell on Christ, freeing believers from condemnation and reshaping their speech into instruments of blessing (Ephesians 4:29).

Forms and Transliterations
αναθεματιείς αναθεματιείτε αναθεματιζειν αναθεματίζειν ἀναθεματίζειν αναθεματίσαι αναθεματισθήσεται αναθεματιώ ανατεθεματισμένον ανεθεματισαμεν ανεθεματίσαμεν ἀνεθεματίσαμεν ανεθεματισαν ανεθεμάτισαν ἀνεθεμάτισαν ανεθεμάτισε ανεθεμάτισεν anathematizein anathematízein anethematisamen anethematísamen anethematisan anethemátisan
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Mark 14:71 V-PNA
GRK: δὲ ἤρξατο ἀναθεματίζειν καὶ ὀμνύναι
NAS: But he began to curse and swear,
KJV: But he began to curse and to swear,
INT: moreover he began to curse and to swear

Acts 23:12 V-AIA-3P
GRK: οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι ἀνεθεμάτισαν ἑαυτοὺς λέγοντες
NAS: formed a conspiracy and bound themselves
KJV: themselves under a curse, saying
INT: the Jews put under an oath themselves declaring

Acts 23:14 V-AIA-1P
GRK: εἶπαν Ἀναθέματι ἀνεθεματίσαμεν ἑαυτοὺς μηδενὸς
NAS: and said, We have bound ourselves
KJV: and said, We have bound ourselves
INT: said With an oath we have bound ourselves nothing

Acts 23:21 V-AIA-3P
GRK: τεσσεράκοντα οἵτινες ἀνεθεμάτισαν ἑαυτοὺς μήτε
NAS: for him who have bound themselves
KJV: themselves with an oath, that they will
INT: forty who put under an oath themselves neither

Strong's Greek 332
4 Occurrences


ἀναθεματίζειν — 1 Occ.
ἀνεθεματίσαμεν — 1 Occ.
ἀνεθεμάτισαν — 2 Occ.

331
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