anath(ee)ma, once in plural used in the Greek New Testament, in (Luke 21:5) where it is rendered "gifts." In the LXX. 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 devoted to the Lord could not be redeemed (Numbers 18:14; Leviticus 27:28,29) and hence the idea of exterminating 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 (Leviticus 27:21,28) and "none devoted shall be ransomed. He shall surely be put to death" (Leviticus 27:29) The word therefore carried the idea of devoted to destruction (Numbers 21:2,3; Joshua 6:17) and hence generally it meant a thing accursed. In (Deuteronomy 7:26) an idol is called a herem anathema, a thing accursed. In the New Testament this word always implies execration. In some cases an individual denounces an anathema on himself unless certain conditions are fulfilled

(Acts 23:12,14,21) "To call Jesus accursed" [anathema] (1 Corinthians 12:3) is to pronounce him execrated or accursed. If any one preached another gospel, the apostle says, "let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:8,9) i.e., let his conduct in so doing be accounted accursed. In

(Romans 9:3) the expression "accursed" (anathema) from Christ, i.e., excluded from fellowship or alliance with Christ, has occasioned much difficulty. The apostle here does not speak of his wish as a possible thing. It is simply a vehement expression of feeling, showing how strong was his desire for the salvation of his people. The anathema in (1 Corinthians 16:22) denotes simply that they who love not the Lord are rightly objects of loathing and execration to all holy beings; they are guilty of a crime that merits the severest condemnation; they are exposed to the just sentence of "everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord."