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The subject of curses and cursing is a confusing one. We see David and Paul both cursing others. We see Yahweh Elohim cursing also. But then Paul tells us not to curse. Most of the confusion is due to our own translations from the Greek. We have several words for curse in the Greek which have been translated as one word in English. We can curse ourselves. We can open ourselves up to allow curses in. We can curse others. We can invoke spiritual power to curse others. We can petition God to curse our enemies. David tells us something interesting; he tells us that the one who loves cursing is filled with curses. He also tells us that his curse is reversed. Solomon tells us that some curses do not fly, but others do.
Solomon tells us about curses and compares them to birds, but not any birds. Curses can travel. But curses have to have an opening to take hold.
Proverbs 26:2 G5618 As G3732 birds G4070.3 [3spread out to fly G2532 1and G4765.1 2sparrows], G3779 so G685 [2oath G3152 1a vain] G3756 shall not G1904 come unto G3762 one thing .
685 LSJ Gloss:ἀρά a prayer
Dodson:ἀρά a prayer or prayer for evil, a curse, imprecation a prayer; more commonly: a prayer for evil, a curse, imprecation.
TBESG:ἀρά curse
G:N-F
ἀρά, -ᾶς, ἡ [in LXX chiefly for אָלָה ];
__1. a prayer (MM, see word).
__2. (as in Homer) a curse, malediction: Rom.3:14 (LXX),†
(AS)
Thayer:
1) a prayer, a supplication
2) an imprecation, curse, malediction
ἀρά
ara ar-ah' Probably from G142; properly prayer (as lifted to Heaven), that is, (by implication) imprecation KJV Usage: curse.
1904 LSJ Gloss:ἐπέρχομαι ibo
Dodson:ἐπέρχομαι I approach, overtake, attack
I come to, arrive, come on, come upon, attack.
Thayer:
1) to come to arrive
1a) of time, come on, be at hand, be future
2) to come upon, overtake, one
2a) of sleep
2b) of disease
2c) of calamities
2d) of the Holy Spirit, descending and operating in one
2e) of an enemy attacking one
ἐπέρχομαι
eperchomai ep-er'-khom-ahee From G1909 and G2064; to supervene, that is, arrive, occur, impend, attack, (figuratively) influence KJV Usage: come (in, upon).
If someone curses another person without an opening in the other person’s life, the curse will not come upon them. Ara is an “evil prayer”. Vain means “empty”. This could read: “Even as hens and ostriches have wings, in this manner empty curses shall not attack anyone.” Some birds have wings but do not fly; such as ostriches. Some birds fly low and short distances like hens. The godless curse is like a bird with wings that does not fly. The godless curse won’t fly and attack “no one”, oudeis.
Solomon tells us that a winged creature of heaven will take someone’s cursings, kataraomai, and report those words.
Ecclesiastes 10:20 G2532 And G1065 indeed G1722 in G4893 your conscience G1473 G935 [2a king G3361 1you should not curse]; G2672 G2532 and G1722 in G5009 the closets G2846 of your bedrooms G1473 G3361 you should not curse G2672 G4145 a rich man . G3754 For G4071 a winged creature G3588 G3772 of heaven G667 shall carry G3588 G5456 your voice, G1473 G2532 and G3588 the G2192 one having G3588 the G4420 wings G518 shall report G3056 your word. G1473
2672 LSJ Gloss:καταράομαι to call down curses upon, imprecate upon
Dodson:καταράομαι I curse.
TBESG:καταράομαι to curse
G:V
κατ-αράομαι, -ώμαι depon.
(< κατάρα), [in LXX chiefly for קָלַל pi. ;]
to curse: with accusative, Mrk.11:21; opp. to εὐλογέω,
Refs
Luk.6:26, Rom.12:14, Jas.3:9
; pass. pf. ptcp., accursed, under a curse (see M, Pr., 221): Mat.25:41.†
(AS)
Thayer:
1) to curse, doom, imprecate evil upon
καταράομαι
kataraomai kat-ar-ah'-om-ahee Middle voice from G2671; to execrate; by analogy to doom KJV Usage: curse.
This word for “curse” is kataraomai. Kataraomai is a verb, the noun form is katara, meaning “downward evil prayer”. Katara is a compound word from kata, and ara. Ara is a noun. Kata is a “calling down”, while ara is “evil prayer”. The difference is in the invocation. Calling down is different than calling out. Calling down is invoking a spirit being to carry forth the destruction. Katara is calling on spirit beings to do evil. Ara is the individual praying for evil. When a person ara, prays a curse, the curse is like a flightless bird, but when a person katara, calls down a curse, a winged creature takes it and delivers it.
A curse as a noun is a thing, it has some type of substance. A curse as a verb is an action, it has movement. The winged creature of heaven will carry off the sounds and the one possessing the wings announces the logos, words. Solomon is speaking to his people and suggesting that that the people should not curse kings and the wealthy. No matter the people in charge, there will always be those who will send curses. Solomon was probably thinking of his father David, realizing that even though David was overwhelmingly loved, there were people cursing him. This is an insight for us. David gave us further understanding, speaking of a man who likes to call down curses.
Psalm 109:17 G2532 And G25 he loved G2671 a curse, G2532 and G2240 it shall come G1473 to him; G2532 and G3756 he did not G2309 want G2129 a blessing, G2532 and G3118.2 it shall be far G575 from G1473 him.
18 G2532 And G1746 he put on G2671 the curse G5613 as G2440 a cloak, G2532 and G1525 it entered G5616 as G5204 water G1519 into G3588 G1458.3 his insides, G1473 G2532 and G5616 as G1637 oil G1722 in G3588 G3747 his bones. G1473
David is speaking of the mouth of the sinner and the mouth of the deceitful one. David says they spoke against him. David says their words encircled him and waged war against him without charge. Now we can understand what Solomon was saying when he said not to curse the king. David goes on regarding these sinners and then prays against these people. David says that these sinners and deceitful people loved to call down curses, katara, and it shall hēkō, “arrive or be present” to him. David is saying that the very curses that the sinners called down for David will return to the sinners. Even though katara is invoking evil spirits to send the curses, the curses are sent back to the one cursing.
Next David says the sinner is enduō katara, “clothed calling down curses” like a coat. He wears it. He covers himself by calling down curses and it came in like water into his bowels and as olive oil in his bones. David then says may it be like a coat and a belt. David wants the sinner to be covered and abound with curses. Calling down curses is invoking an evil spirit and the evil spirit clothes the curser and enters into his insides. In other words, by doing this the person becomes a house for evil spirits and demons, and it fills him up and covers him over. David wants this to be the condition that the person lives with all the time. That is a harsh reality for the ones cursing.
We see that there are people who curse others and are filled with their curses. We see that David suggests these curses come back to the one cursing. But what causes a curse to come upon someone? What is the entrance point? Sin.
Proverbs 20:1-2 (KJV)
1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
2 The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
The one who provokes a king which is like provoking a lion, adds many sins against himself. Sinning against one’s own soul seems like suicide, why would one want to harm themselves? Jesus’ words are interesting here.
John 5:14 (KJV)
14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath. He told him to pick up his mat and walk. The man did just that. The man walked to the temple and the Jews scolded him for carrying his mat. When Jesus saw the man in the temple he told him not to sin anymore or something worse could come upon him. Reverse that statement. ‘If you do not sin, nothing worse will happen to you.’ We could say, live holy.
Sin opens the door to allowing the devil to attack us. If we want to continue in sin, as compared to unintentionally sinning once, we become a servant to sin. We are enslaved by our sin. People who worship idols are slaves to the idol, serving more to receive a result. People who are bound by lust continue in feeding their lust to get a better “high”.
John 8:34 (KJV)
34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
As Jesus was trying to instruct the Jews regarding sins, they claimed they were not slaves to anyone, yet Jesus told them they were slaves to sin. He then told them that the servant does not abide in the house forever like a son. Therefore don’t be enslaved by sin. Don’t become a servant of the devil.
If we behave badly and sin, then we we allow the devil to accuse us. We open ourselves to his punishment. Jesus does cleanse us from our sin, our sin will not keep us out of heaven. Jesus has covered us by his blood, but the devil can punish us if we habitually sin. If a saved person habitually sins, he/she is accused by the devil. If a non-saved person habitually sins, he/she is allowed to continue until he/she wants to make Jesus their Lord. If we do not habitually sin but come under attack from the devil, then we have the right to invoke the blood of Jesus.
Coming back to curses, the serpent was accursed. To be accursed is different than calling down evil prayer from the earth. It is sending down evil prayer from above.
Gen 3:14 And G2532 [3said G2036 1 the LORD G2962 G3588 2God] G2316 to the G3588 serpent, G3789 Because G3754 you did G4160 this, G3778 accursed G1944 are you G1473 from G575 all G3956 the G3588 cattle, G2934 and G2532 from G575 all G3956 the G3588 wild beasts G2342 of the ones G3588 upon G1909 the G3588 earth. G1093 Upon G1909 G3588 your breast G4738 G1473 and G2532 G3588 belly G2836 you shall go, G4198 and G2532 earth G1093 you shall eat G2068 all G3956 the G3588 days G2250 G3588 of your life. G2222 G1473
G1944
ἐπικατάρατος epikataratos
Thayer Definition:
1) accursed, execrable, exposed to divine vengeance, lying under God’s curse
Part of Speech: adjective
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from G1909 and a derivative of G2672
G1909
ἐπί epi
Thayer Definition:
1) upon, on, at, by, before
2) of position, on, at, by, over, against
3) to, over, on, at, across, against
Part of Speech: preposition
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: a root
G2672
καταράομαι kataraomai
Thayer Definition:
1) to curse, doom, imprecate evil upon
Part of Speech: verb
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: middle voice from G2671
Epikataratos means “upon”, “on”, or “over”, “calling down doom”. The serpent is under God’s curse. Yahweh Elohim made the adam to rule and control the world, but the devil inspired the satan to sin and when he did he became the slave to the devil. The satan then seduced Eve.
The Secrets of Enoch 31:1 Adam has life on earth, and I created a garden in Eden in the east, that he should observe the testament and keep the command. 2 I made the heavens open to him, that he should see the angels singing the song of victory, and the gloomless light. 3 And he was continuously in paradise, and the devil understood that I wanted to create another world, because Adam was lord on earth, to rule and control it. 4 The devil is the evil spirit of the lower places, as a fugitive he made Sotona from the heavens as his name was Satanail (Satan), thus he became different from the angels, (but his nature) did not change (his) intelligence as far as (his) understanding of righteous and sinful (things). 5 And he understood his condemnation and the sin which he had sinned before, therefore he conceived thought against Adam, in such form he entered and seduced Eva (Eve), but did not touch Adam. 6 But I cursed ignorance, but what I had blessed previously, those I did not curse, I cursed not man, nor the earth, nor other creatures, but man’s evil fruit, and his works.
Anonime. The Book of the Secrets of Enoch . Axioma. Kindle Edition.
Notice in this understanding from Enoch, the devil made the satan to sin. The satan became a slave to sin. The satan then inspired a spirit in a serpent to seduce Eve. They did not touch the adam. Now as Enoch points out, man’s works are accursed.
Gen 3:17 And to G3588 G1161 Adam G* he said, G2036 Because G3754 you hearkened to G191 the G3588 voice G5456 G3588 of your wife, G1135 G1473 and G2532 ate G2068 from G575 the G3588 tree G3586 of which G3739 I gave charge G1781 to you, saying, G1473 This G3778 alone G3441 you are not G3361 to eat G2068 from G575 it -- G1473 and you ate; G2068 accursed G1944 is the G3588 land G1093 among G1722 G3588 your works; G2041 G1473 in G1722 distresses G3077 you will eat G2068 it G1473 all G3956 the G3588 days G2250 G3588 of your life. G2222 G1473
Epikataratos, “accursed is the land in the works”. Man will eat the fruits from the ground, but it will be through sweat, distress, and toil. The spiritual dynamic of this curse is not from man via evil spirits to man, it is Yahweh Elohim to man, or evil being, or the works of man. Cain was accursed, the Lord cursed Cain.
Gen 4:10 And G2532 the LORD said, G2036 G2962 What G5100 did you do? G4160 The voice G5456 of the blood G129 G3588 of your brother G80 G1473 yells G994 to G4314 me G1473 from G1537 the G3588 ground. G1093
Gen 4:11 And G2532 now, G3568 accursed G1944 are you G1473 from G575 the G3588 earth G1093 which G3739 gaped wide G5462.2 G3588 her mouth G4750 G1473 to take G1209 the G3588 blood G129 G3588 of your brother G80 G1473 from G1537 G3588 your hand. G5495 G1473
The blood of Abel still cries out from the ground. Cain was imprecated upon by Yahweh. What exactly happened?
Jasher 1:15 And it was at the expiration of a few years, that they brought a first-fruit offering to the Lord, and Cain brought from the fruit of the ground, and Abel brought from the firstlings of his flock from the fat thereof, and God turned and inclined to Abel and his offering, and a fire came down from the Lord from heaven and consumed it. 16 And to Cain and his offering the Lord did not turn, and he did not incline to it, for he had brought from the inferior fruit of the ground before the Lord, and Cain was jealous against his brother Abel on account of this, and he sought an opportunity to kill him.
Lumpkin, Joseph. Enoch, Jubilees, Jasher: Banned from the Bible (p. 178). Fifth Estate. Kindle Edition.
Cain did not bring the best unblemished first fruits. He did not divide his offering correctly. Cain was also angry that Abel’s flocks ate his vegetables. However, Cain ate Abel’s animals and wore their skins.
Jasher 1:21 Cain said to his brother Abel, Certainly if I kill you this day, who will require your blood from me? 22 And Abel answered Cain, saying, Certainly God who has made us in the earth, he will avenge my cause, and he will require my blood from you should you kill me, for the Lord is the judge and arbiter, and it is he who will repay man according to his evil, and the wicked man according to the wickedness that he may do on earth. 23 And now, if you should kill me here, certainly God knows your secret views, and will judge you for the evil which you did declare to do to me this day. 24 When Cain heard the words which Abel his brother had spoken, the anger of Cain was set ablaze against his brother Abel for declaring this thing. 25 Cain hurried and rose up, and took the iron part of his plowing instrument, with which he suddenly struck his brother and he killed him, and Cain spilt the blood of his brother Abel on the earth, and the blood of Abel streamed on the earth before the flock.
Lumpkin, Joseph. Enoch, Jubilees, Jasher: Banned from the Bible (p. 179). Fifth Estate. Kindle Edition.
Abel was murdered. Before Jesus came, died, and took back the keys to death and hades, there was a place among hades for those who had been murdered. Enoch tells us of this place.
Enoch 22:1 And I went out to another place west where there was a mountain and hard rock. 2 And there was in it four hollow places, deep and wide and very smooth. How smooth are the hollow places and looked deep and dark. 3 Then Raphael answered, one of the holy angels who was with me, and said to me: 'These hollow places have been created for this very purpose, that the spirits of the souls of the dead should be gathered here, that all the souls of the children of men should brought together here. And these places have been made to receive them until the day of their judgment and until the period appointed, until the great judgment comes on them.’
There are four places for the spirits of the souls of the dead. These places are appointed until the great white throne judgment or until the period appointed. There was an appointed time for the righteous to leave Abraham’s Bay.
Enoch 22:4 I saw the spirit of a dead man, and his voice went out to heaven and made petitions. 5 And I asked Raphael the angel who was with me, and I said to him: 'This spirit which petitions, 6 Whose is it, whose voice goes up and petitions heaven?' 7 And he answered me saying: 'This is the spirit which went out from Abel, whom his brother Cain slew, and he makes his suit against him until his offspring is destroyed from the face of the earth, and his offspring are annihilated from among the children of men.’
Abel did not have offspring. Cain’s offspring eventually died in the flood.
Enoch 22:8 Then I asked, regarding all the hollow places: 'Why is one separated from the other?' 9 And he answered me and said to me: 'These three have been made that the spirits of the dead might be separated. Divisions have been made for the spirits of the righteous, in which there is the bright spring of water.
The place Jesus told us about, Abraham’s Bay or Creek is the place for the righteous before Jesus took them to paradise.
Enoch 22:10 And one for sinners when they die and are buried in the earth and judgment has not been executed on them in their lifetime. 11 Here their spirits shall be set apart in this great pain until the great day of judgment and punishment and torment of those who curse forever and retribution for their spirits. 12 There He shall bind them forever…
The spirits of sinners wait until the great white throne judgment to be judged. They are in great pain and I’m sure they would rather be on the earth during the tribulation than in hades.
Enoch 22:12…And such a division has been made for the spirits of those who make their petitions, who make disclosures concerning their destruction, when they were slain in the days of the sinners. 13 Such has been made for the spirits of men who were not righteous but sinners, who were complete in transgression, and of the transgressors they shall be companions, but their spirits shall not be destroyed in the day of judgment nor shall they be raised from here.' 14 Then I blessed the Lord of glory and said: 'Blessed be my Lord, the Lord of righteousness, who rules forever.'
Lumpkin, Joseph. Enoch, Jubilees, Jasher: Banned from the Bible (pp. 31-33). Fifth Estate. Kindle Edition.
There is a division for the spirits of those who make petitions. They are praying for justice because they had been murdered. They were slain in the days of sinners. These are the days of sinners. Sin allows curses to harm us. By the adam, sin came into the world. Then death came into the world due to sin. Now notice what Paul says in Romans.
Romans 5:12-13 (KJV)
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
Sin is not charged when there is no law. Up until the time Moses gave us the law, there was no sin charged to people. Death however still reigned from Adam to Moses. The law made the terms clear, life or death, blessings or curses. But the law came so that sin might abound.
Romans 5:20-21 (KJV)
20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
If sin abounds, so does grace. Grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life. Now the law we live under is the law of love. We love the Almighty, Most High, Eternal, Father with all our hearts, soul, mind, and strength, and love our neighbors as we love ourselves.
Moses gave this warning to the people, that if they did not listen to Yahweh Elohim they would essentially curse themselves.
Deuteronomy 28:15 (KJV)
15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:
Downward imprecations would come upon Israel for their own disobedience. Downward curses from evil spiritual beings are waiting for an opportunity to cause doom and destruction. When all is said and done, and all these blessings and curses have come upon the people, Yahweh will bring them back to the land of their fathers.
Deuteronomy 30:1-5 (KJV)
1 And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee,
2 And shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul;
3 That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee.
4 If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the LORD thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee:
5 And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers.
Has this happened yet? No. They will be brought back from the outermost parts of heaven and earth. Jesus told us the same thing, his angels will gather the elect from the four corners of heaven to live in the land of their fathers, and at that time Jesus will be King.
Jesus will separate the sheep from the goats at the end of his millennial kingdom, Revelation 20. The criteria that Jesus is using to separate the sheep from the goats is their behaviors towards others on the earth. Feeding, watering, and clothing the poor, and taking care of strangers, visiting the sick and those in prison. This is the criteria for the non believers in Jesus as Lord and Messiah.
Mat 25:41 Then G5119 he will say G2046 also G2532 to the ones G3588 on G1537 his left, G2176 Go G4198 from G575 me! G1473 O ones G3588 being cursed G2672 into G1519 the G3588 [2fire G4442 G3588 1eternal], G166 the one G3588 having been prepared G2090 for the G3588 devil G1228 and G2532 G3588 his angels. G32 G1473
The people who rejected Jesus will be judged as sheep or goats. they have been waiting in one of the compartments of hades until this time. The final white throne judgment will see all the nations before the Lord as he sits on his throne. The goats have cursed themselves. How? They didn’t take care of other people, they only cared for themselves. Notice, eternal fire is ready for the devil and his angels. Why? Because they cursed themselves. They rebelled and they brought down curses from Yahweh upon themselves.
There is another word katanathematizō which comes from anathema, “putting up as an offering”. In this case Peter put himself under a curse or bound himself to destruction. He did this intentionally.
Mat 26:74 Then G5119 he began G756 to bind by a curse G2653 and G2532 swear by an oath G3660 that, G3754 I have not known G3756 G1492 the G3588 man. G444 And G2532 immediately G2112 a rooster G220 called out. G5455
Mar 14:71 And he G3588 G1161 began G756 to devote to consumption G332 and G2532 to swear by an oath G3660 that, G3754 I have not known G3756 G1492 G3588 this man G444 G3778 of whom G3739 you speak. G3004
G2653
καταναθεματίζω katanathematizō
Thayer Definition:
1) to curse
Part of Speech: verb
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from G2596 (intensive) and G332
G332
ἀναθεματίζω anathematizō
Thayer Definition:
1) to devote to destruction
2) to declare one’s self liable to the severest divine penalties
Part of Speech: verb
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from G331
Strong's Concordance
anathematizó: to declare anathema, devote to destruction
Original Word: ἀναθεματίζω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: anathematizó
Phonetic Spelling: (an-ath-em-at-id'-zo)
Definition: to declare anathema, devote to destruction
Usage: I curse, invoke curses, devote to destruction.
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).
There were some Jews who also put themselves under a curse. They did this until they could kill Paul. In this instance it is a ceremonial act which included fasting. They are attempting to call on spiritual help.
Act 23:12 And becoming G1096 G1161 day, G2250 [4having made G4160 1some G5100 2of the G3588 3Jews] G* a confederacy, G4963 devoted G332 themselves, G1438 saying G3004 to neither G3383 eat G2068 nor G3383 drink G4095 until G2193 G3739 they should kill G615 G3588 Paul. G*
If they honestly held to the curse they bound themselves to, they would have died of starvation and dehydration. They probably did not. However, the weight of this act of fasting and self denial carried spiritual power. Evil spirit beings were being activated through these Jews to assist in killing Paul. As we know, Paul was not murdered by them.
Revelation tells us that curses will end in the new heaven and new earth.
Rev 22:3 And G2532 every G3956 great curse G2652 shall not be G3756 G1510.8.3 any longer; G2089 and G2532 the G3588 throne G2362 G3588 of God G2316 and G2532 of the G3588 lamb G721 [2in G1722 3her G1473 1will be]; G1510.8.3 and G2532 G3588 his bondmen G1401 G1473 shall serve G3000 to him. G1473
G2652
κατανάθεμα katanathema
Thayer Definition:
1) curse
Part of Speech: noun neuter
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from G2596 (intensive) and G331
HELPS Word-studies
2652 katanáthema (from 2596 /katá, "according to, down," intensifying 331 /anáthema, "a curse") – properly, an anathema; an oath-curse which "devotes something to destruction" (literally, to take it down).
G331
ἀνάθεμα anathema
Thayer Definition:
1) a thing set up or laid by in order to be kept
1a) specifically, an offering resulting from a vow, which after being consecrated to a god was hung upon the walls or columns of the temple, or put in some other conspicuous place
2) a thing devoted to God without hope of being redeemed, and if an animal, to be slain; therefore a person or thing doomed to destruction
2a) a curse
2b) a man accursed, devoted to the direst of woes
Part of Speech: noun neuter
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from G394
Strong's Concordance
anathema: that which is laid up, i.e. a votive offering
Original Word: ἀνάθεμα, ατος, τό
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: anathema
Phonetic Spelling: (an-ath'-em-ah)
Definition: that which is laid up, a votive offering
Usage: a votive offering, a thing devoted to God; a curse, the thing cursed.
HELPS Word-studies
331 anáthema (from 303 /aná, "up" concluding a process, which intensifies 5087 /títhēmi, "to place") – properly, place up, referring to something pledged (given up) to destruction; a divine curse/ban ("accursed"); an "oath-curse."
[331 (anáthema) is the root of the English word, "anathema."]
There will no longer be people calling down curses in the new Jerusalem. There will no longer be evil spirit beings to carry out curses.
Interestingly, Paul curses people who do not love the Lord Jesus Christ.
1Co 16:22 If anyone G1536 is not G3756 fond of G5368 the G3588 Lord G2962 Jesus G* Christ, G5547 be G1510.5 anathema! G331 Maranatha. G3134
If we understand the weight of this curse, it is upon all those people who do not love the Lord Jesus Christ. We see the effects of this curse in our societies where people act mentally and emotionally compromised towards those who do love Jesus Christ our Lord. Isn’t this why people who do not love Jesus seem to become taken over by demonic spirits when they encounter a son or daughter of the Most High God? Paul’s words are strong, and still binding. Paul also invokes a curse on those distorting the gospel.
Gal 1:8 But G235 even G2532 if G1437 we G1473 or G2228 an angel G32 out of G1537 heaven G3772 should announce good news G2097 to you G1473 beyond G3844 which G3739 good news we announced to you, G2097 G1473 let him be anathema! G331 G1510.5
Gal 1:9 As G5613 we described beforehand, G4280 and G2532 just now G737 again G3825 I say, G3004 If anyone G1536 announces good news to you G1473 G2097 beyond G3844 what G3739 you took to yourselves, G3880 let him be anathema! G331 G1510.5
Paul dictates, let people and angels be cursed or given up to destruction if they announce a different gospel. It seems strange that Paul would curse, or doom for destruction, those who do not love the Lord Jesus Christ and those who preach a different gospel, because he also said not to curse people.
Rom 12:14 Bless G2127 the ones G3588 persecuting G1377 you! G1473 bless G2127 and G2532 do not G3361 curse! G2672
We see the difference in the words used and can now determine what Paul means. Kataraomai is calling down a curse with spiritual influence, compared to Paul himself calling doom and destruction upon others. Paul is not invoking the help of a spiritual being when cursing people who do not love Jesus. He is speaking the harsh reality of their own destiny. What Paul is saying is that those who do not love Jesus Christ or speak a false gospel, are offered to the Almighty, Most High, Eternal, Living Father, and are not redeemed, but are doomed for destruction. It would be like saying to someone that you cannot help them and you are giving them to God to be judged. If they have rejected Jesus and the gospel, they have put themselves under their own curse. Paul is not adding any spiritual burden to what they have already put on themselves.
If someone loves cursing as David suggested, that person is filled with his own curses.The person cursing an innocent victim, will have his curses come back on him. As Solomon suggested, flying creatures in the heavens will bring a curse to the intended victim. Solomon also suggested evil prayers are like flightless birds, and they will not hurt anyone. Holiness is our key to resisting curses, living a sinless life. However if we reject the command that Jesus gave us, loving God and loving our neighbor, and loving the disciples, we put ourselves under our own curses as the Israelites did when they rejected Mosaic law. Yet one day the devil and his angels will be sent to eternal fire, along with the goats, and the new Jerusalem will be free from anyone calling down an oath devoting others to destruction.
