Page "Anathema" Paragraph 8

In Greek usage, an anathema was anything laid up or suspended ; hence anything laid up in a temple or set apart as sacred.

In this sense the form of the word was once ( in plural ) used in the Greek New Testament, in, where it is rendered ' gifts.

' It is used similarly in the Book of Judith, where it is translated as ' gift to the Lord.

' In the Septuagint the form anathema is generally used as the rendering of the Hebrew word herem, derived from a verb which means ( 1 ) to consecrate or devote ; and ( 2 ) to exterminate.

Any object so sacrificed or devoted to the Lord could not be redeemed (; ); and hence the idea of exterminating was connected with the word.

The Hebrew verb ( haram ) is frequently used of the extermination of idolatrous nations.

It had a wide range of application.

The anathema or herem was a person or thing irrevocably devoted to God (, ); and " none devoted shall be ransomed.

He shall surely be put to death " ().

The Hebrew word therefore carried the idea of devoted to destruction (; ); and hence a majority of scholars have treated the word anathema similarly, generally as meaning a thing accursed.

For example, in an idol is called a herem