Lexical Summary ara: cursing Original Word: ἄρα Strong's Exhaustive Concordance curse. Probably from airo; properly, prayer (as lifted to Heaven), i.e. (by implication) imprecation -- curse. see GREEK airo NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. word Definition a prayer, curse NASB Translation cursing (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 685: ἄρα (3)ἄρα (3), ἄρας, ἡ, 1. a prayer; a supplication; much more often 2. an imprecation, curse, malediction (cf. κατάρα); so in Romans 3:14 (cf. Psalm 9:28 Strong’s Greek 685 refers to an imprecation or spoken curse. Scripture views such an utterance as the verbal expression of hostility or judgment, standing in sharp contrast to divine blessing. While the word itself appears only once in the Greek New Testament, the theological theme of curse spans the entire canon, beginning with the judgment pronounced on the serpent, the woman, and the ground in Genesis 3 and ending with the promise that “there will be no more curse” in Revelation 22:3. Occurrence in the New Testament Romans 3:14 cites Psalm 10:7 to portray universal human sin: “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness”. The apostle Paul strings together Old Testament quotations (Romans 3:10-18) to show that both Jew and Gentile are under sin and therefore equally in need of the righteousness that comes through faith in Jesus Christ. The presence of ἀρᾶ in this chain emphasizes that fallen humanity expresses its rebellion not only in deeds but in words that invoke harm on others. Old Testament Foundations 1. Judicial curses 2. Imprecatory speech 3. Prophetic oracles These passages frame a biblical worldview in which curses most often proceed from divine justice or human sin, never from arbitrary caprice. Theology of Curse and Blessing Curse and blessing function as covenantal opposites. Blessing communicates favor and life; curse communicates judgment and death (Proverbs 3:33). In redemptive history, Jesus Christ bears the covenant curse to secure covenant blessing for believers. “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13). Key contrasts: Curses in Redemptive History 1. Edenic curse – Introduces death; reversed through resurrection (Romans 5:12-21). Related Greek and Hebrew Terms • ἀναθεμα (anathema, Strong’s Greek 331) – devoted to destruction. Practical and Ministry Implications 1. Guarded speech – Pastors and teachers must model speech that accords with sound doctrine, avoiding malicious or imprecatory language directed at people (Ephesians 4:29). Summary Although ἀρᾶ appears only once in the New Testament, its single occurrence exposes a pervasive human problem: tongues that spew curses reveal hearts alienated from God. Scripture traces the motif from Eden to the New Jerusalem, showing that every curse finds its remedy in the atoning work of Jesus Christ. In Him, believers move from condemnation to blessing, and the final word over the renewed creation is not a curse but eternal grace. |
    |