σᾰρόω G4563
to sweep, sweep clean; to remove dirt or debris by sweeping
This verb means to sweep or sweep clean, removing dirt and debris. Classical usage was straightforward domestic cleaning. The New Testament uses it in Jesus' teaching about spiritual housecleaning—both in parables about demons returning to swept houses and in the parable of the woman searching for her lost coin. The term combines literal cleaning with spiritual implications.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Describes sweeping clean, with both practical and spiritual dimensions. Matthew 12:44 and Luke 11:25 present nearly identical teaching about the unclean spirit finding the house 'swept and put in order'—a warning about empty reformation. Luke 15:8 tells of the woman who lost a coin: 'does she not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?' The Spanish 'barre/barrida' and French 'balayer' are simple domestic actions. Jesus uses this ordinary household task to illustrate spiritual truths: mere moral cleanup without new life leaves one vulnerable, while diligent searching for what is lost brings joy. 3×
AR["تَكْنُسُ", "مَكنُوسًا", "مَكْنوساً"]·ben["ঝাঁটা", "ঝাড়ু-দেওয়া", "ঝাড়ে"]·DE["σαροῖ", "σεσαρωμένον"]·EN["sweeps", "swept"]·FR["balayer"]·heb["מְטַאֲטֵאת", "מְטֻאָטָאת", "מְטֻאטָא"]·HI["बुहारती-है", "सअफ-किय-हुअ", "साफ़-किया-हुआ"]·ID["menyapu", "tersapu"]·IT["saroi", "sesaromenon"]·jav["kasaponi", "kasaponi,", "nyaponi"]·KO["쓸어-놓고", "쓸어-있고", "쓸지"]·PT["varre"]·RU["выметенным", "подметёт"]·ES["barre", "barrida"]·SW["huifagia", "imefagiliwa", "imefagiwa,"]·TR["süpürülmüş", "süpürür"]·urd["جھاڑا-ہوا", "جھاڑتی-ہے"]
Related Senses
G0846 1. third-person pronoun reference (5552×)H???? 1. (4670×)H6213a 1. do, perform, act (2383×)G4160 1. do, act, perform (473×)H5221 1. Hifil: to strike in battle, smite enemies (362×)H0899b 1. garment, article of clothing (216×)H6213a 2. make, construct, fabricate (148×)H3772 1. cut a covenant / make a pact (97×)H5060 1. touch physically (Qal) (96×)H3615 1. complete a task (Piel) (85×)H3772 2. cut off / destroy (Hifil causative) (81×)H3920 1. capture, seize (Qal) (76×)H???? 12. (76×)H3772 3. be cut off / be eliminated (Niphal) (74×)H6213a 3. be done, be made (Niphal) (73×)G4160 2. make, construct, create (62×)H3847 1. Qal: put on, wear (60×)H8210 1. pour out (liquid/libation) (59×)G2440 1. garment or clothing (general) (54×)H4191 4. kill / put to death (Hifil causative) (50×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
σᾰρόω, = σαίρω (B), sweep clean, τὴν οἰκίαν NT+2nd c.AD+:—passive, οἶκος σεσαρωμένος NT: metaphorically, to be swept clean, exhausted, Refs 2nd c.AD+ __II passive, of the thing swept, κῦμα.. μεταξὺ χοιράδων σαρούμενον Refs 3rd c.BC+