"ceremonial cleansing, purification, Lk. 2:22; 5:14; mode of purification, Jn. 2:6; 3:25; cleansing of lepers, Mk. 1:44; met. expiation, Heb. 1:3; 2 Pet. 1:9*"
Definition and meaning
ceremonial cleansing, purification, Lk. 2:22; 5:14; mode of purification, Jn. 2:6; 3:25; cleansing of lepers, Mk. 1:44; met. expiation, Heb. 1:3; 2 Pet. 1:9*
In the original Greek the word is written: καθαρισμός
Historical context
The Gospel of Mark moves urgently — the word "immediately" appears over 40 times. It was written for a Roman audience familiar with power and action. Jesus is portrayed as a man who acts, heals, and commands authority that the Roman world had never seen from a Jewish teacher.
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 katharismos (G2512) across the King James Bible.
And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;
And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.
Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying.
But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
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Common questions
Strong's G2512 (katharismos) is a Greek word that means: ceremonial cleansing, purification, Lk. 2:22; 5:14; mode of purification, Jn. 2:6; 3:25; cleansing of lepers, Mk. 1:44; met. expiation, Heb. 1:3; 2 Pet. 1:9* It appears 6 times in the King James Bible.
The word katharismos (G2512) appears 6 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2512 is katharismos, a Greek word defined as: ceremonial cleansing, purification, Lk. 2:22; 5:14; mode of purification, Jn. 2:6; 3:25; cleansing of lepers, Mk. 1:44; met. expiation, Heb. 1:3; 2 Pe. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
katharismos is a Greek word found in the New Testament.