"a devoted thing, ordinarily in a bad sense, a person or thing accursed, Rom. 9:3; 1 Cor. 12:3; 16:22; Gal. 1:8, 9; a curse, execration, anathema, Acts 23:14*"
Definition and meaning
a devoted thing, ordinarily in a bad sense, a person or thing accursed, Rom. 9:3; 1 Cor. 12:3; 16:22; Gal. 1:8, 9; a curse, execration, anathema, Acts 23:14*
In the original Greek the word is written: ἀνάθεμα
Historical context
The Roman Empire provided infrastructure no previous civilization had built — roads, sea routes, a common language in Greek, and relative peace across the Mediterranean. Jewish synagogues existed in every major city, giving Paul a starting point everywhere he traveled. The early church had no buildings, no political power, no social standing — and spread faster than any movement in ancient history.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of anathema (G331) across the King James Bible.
And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.
For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
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Common questions
Strong's G331 (anathema) is a Greek word that means: a devoted thing, ordinarily in a bad sense, a person or thing accursed, Rom. 9:3; 1 Cor. 12:3; 16:22; Gal. 1:8, 9; a curse, execration, anathema, Acts 23:14* It appears 6 times in the King James Bible.
The word anathema (G331) appears 6 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G331 is anathema, a Greek word defined as: a devoted thing, ordinarily in a bad sense, a person or thing accursed, Rom. 9:3; 1 Cor. 12:3; 16:22; Gal. 1:8, 9; a curse, execration, anathema, Acts. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
anathema is a Greek word found in the New Testament.