κατ-άρα G2671
A curse, an invocation of divine judgment or harm; used theologically of the curse of the Law.
Katara is the noun form meaning a curse -- a solemn invocation of harm or divine judgment upon someone or something. Paul makes dramatic theological use of it in Galatians 3, declaring that all who rely on works of the law are under a curse (Gal 3:10), and that Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us (Gal 3:13). Hebrews warns that land producing thorns and thistles is 'close to being cursed' (Heb 6:8), and James laments that the same tongue produces both blessing and cursing (Jas 3:10). Spanish 'maldicion' and French 'malediction' both derive from Latin roots meaning 'evil-speaking,' highlighting the verbal dimension of curse-pronouncement.
Senses
1. curse — A curse -- a pronouncement invoking harm, misfortune, or divine judgment upon a person or thing. The kata- prefix (down upon) intensifies the root ara (prayer, imprecation), giving the sense of calling down destruction. Paul's use in Galatians 3:10-13 is theologically foundational: the law's curse falls on all who fail to keep it perfectly, and Christ absorbs that curse in substitutionary redemption. Hebrews 6:8 applies it to barren land destined for burning, and James 3:10 pairs it with 'blessing' (eulogia) to expose the inconsistency of the human tongue. The multilingual evidence -- Spanish 'maldicion,' French 'malediction' -- consistently renders it as a formal imprecation. 6×
AR["اللَّعنَةِ", "لَعنَةً", "لَعنَةٌ", "لَعنَةٍ", "لَعنَةِ", "لَعْنَةٍ"]·ben["অভিশাপ", "অভিশাপ,", "অভিশাপের"]·DE["Fluch"]·EN["curse", "cursing", "of-curse"]·FR["malédiction"]·heb["קְלָלָה", "קִלְלַת", "שֶׁל-קְלָלָה"]·HI["शाप", "शाप-की", "श्रअप", "श्रअप,"]·ID["kutuk", "kutuk.", "kutukan"]·IT["maledizione"]·jav["ipat-ipat", "ipat-ipat,", "ipat-ipat.", "laknat", "supata"]·KO["저주", "저주,", "저주-의", "저주가.", "저주에"]·PT["de-maldição", "maldição"]·RU["проклятие.", "проклятием", "проклятия"]·ES["de-maldición", "maldición"]·SW["laana"]·TR["lanet", "lanete", "lanetin", "lanetinden"]·urd["لعنت", "لعنت-کے", "لعنت۔"]
Related Senses
H0559 1. say, speak, tell (5297×)G3004 1. say, tell, speak (2226×)H1696 1. speak, say, tell (Piel) (1105×)H7121 1. call, summon, name (575×)H6680 1. command, order, charge (483×)H6030b 1. answer, respond, reply (289×)G2980 1. speak, talk (277×)H5046 1. Hifil: to tell, report (237×)G0611 1. answer or respond verbally (232×)H1288 1. Piel: bless, invoke blessing (227×)H7650 1. swear, take an oath (Niphal) (154×)H3789 1. Qal passive participle: written, recorded (112×)H1984b 1. praise, laud (Piel) (111×)H7592 1. ask, inquire, question (96×)H3034 1. give thanks, praise (Hifil) (94×)G1321 1. teach, instruct actively (92×)H3789 2. Qal active: write, compose (89×)G1125 1. to write, compose (a letter or document) (84×)H5046 2. Hifil: to declare, proclaim (79×)H7892a 1. song, musical composition (78×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
κατ-άρα [ᾰρ], Ionic dialect κατ-άρη, ἡ, curse, κατάρας ποιέεσθαί τινι to lay curses upon one, NT+5th c.BC+; τὴν κ. ἀναγράψαι, στηλιτεῦσαι, Refs 1st c.BC+ 2.354b; cursing, Refs 1st c.BC+ O.