katharizo denotes cleansing, especially of leprous persons, and also of hearts, conduct, foods, and objects.

The attested usage chiefly concerns the cleansing of people afflicted with leprosy. It also describes cleansing hearts, conscience, conduct, and a people, as well as foods, vessels, and things cleansed with sacrifices; Acts 10:15 and Acts 11:9 place it in the contrast between what God has cleansed and what must not be called common.

1. Cleansing from leprosy · dominant

   In Matthew 8:2 the leprous man asks to be cleansed, and Matthew 8:3 places the passive command beside the immediate cleansing of his leprosy. Mark 1:42 and Luke 5:13 likewise connect the result with the departure of leprosy, while Luke 17:14 reports that the ten were cleansed as they went.

   Matthew 8:2Matthew 8:3Mark 1:42Luke 5:13Luke 17:14Luke 17:17
2. Cleansing persons inwardly or morally · common

   Acts 15:9 uses an aorist active participle for hearts cleansed by faith. In 1 John 1:7 and 1 John 1:9 the APB renders the clauses with cleansing from sin and unrighteousness; Hebrews 9:14 speaks of a conscience cleansed from dead works, and Titus 2:14 of a people cleansed for good works.

   Acts 15:91 John 1:71 John 1:9Hebrews 9:142 Corinthians 7:1Titus 2:14
3. Cleansing foods, vessels, and sacrificial things · common

   Luke 11:39 and Matthew 23:25 describe cleaning the outside of a cup and dish, while Matthew 23:26 directs that the inside be cleaned first. Mark 7:19 refers to cleansing all foods; Hebrews 9:22 and Hebrews 9:23 speak of things cleansed with blood or sacrifices. In Acts 10:15 the APB renders the divine action as having cleansed what must not be called common.

   Luke 11:39Matthew 23:26Mark 7:19Hebrews 9:22Hebrews 9:23Acts 10:15

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB variously uses "cleanse," "cleansed," "clean," "cleaned," and "cleansing" across these verses. Because its English is a whole-verse translation, these renderings show the clauses' presentation rather than a fixed English equivalent for each occurrence.