Category Archives: anathema Anathema (from Koine Greek ἀνάθεμα
“something dedicated, especially dedicated to evil” from
ἀνατίθημι anatithēmi, “I set upon, offer as a votive gift”)
originally meant something lifted up as an offering to the gods;
it later evolved to mean: - to be formally set apart; -
banished, exiled, excommunicated; - denounced, sometimes
accursed; or - a literary term. There is some difficulty
translating this word, especially since it has now become
commonly used with the term accursed or accustomed. The original
meaning of the Greek word, as used in non-Biblical Greek
literature, was an offering to a god. The Hebrew word herem
(חרם) referred to something forbidden or off limits. It was used
in verses such as Leviticus 27:28 to refer to things offered to
God, and hence off limits to common (non-religious) use. Because
the Greek word anathema meant things offered to God, it was used
to translate the Hebrew word herem in such contexts. Thus, the
meaning of the Greek word, under the influence