Maranatha – A Curse

The word maranatha is found only once in the Bible, namely in 1 Corinthians 16:22. The NBG (Dutch Bible Society) translation renders this verse as follows:

“If anyone is not fond of the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema. Maranatha!” (1 Cor. 16:22, CLNT)

“Let him be accursed” is the translation of the Greek word anathema. In Romans 9:3, anathema is rightly translated as “accursed.” Rightly so, because even in the so-called Septuagint translation, anathema appears to be a word connected to the concept of “the ban.” In Leviticus 27:28, we read about this:

“…everything that is banned is most holy to YHWH.” (Lev. 27:28)

It should therefore come as no surprise that the Greek word anathema contains the idea of “devotion” (literally: “to place upward”; in Luke 21:5 a related word is translated as “votive offering”). In the Bible, “the ban” means:

1. A person must not touch it; it belongs to God;
2. It has been handed over for destruction (Joshua 6:17–18).

Immediately after anathema, Paul writes the word maranatha. It is almost always claimed that this is a Syriac or Aramaic word meaning something like “the Lord is coming.” That is correct, but consider also the following:

• Is it logical to assume that Paul, in a letter to Greek-speaking people, would use an Aramaic word just like that, without translation?
• Mara ata, understood as a Hebrew phrase, is the singular form of what we find in Malachi 3:9 as the plural form mara atem (“you are cursed…”). In other words, mara ata, when taken as a Hebrew expression, corresponds to the Greek anathema!
• Paul spoke Hebrew (Acts 21:37–40; 22:1–3; 26:14) and also refers to himself as a Hebrew (Phil. 3:5). Is it then strange to hear a Hebrew exclamation from him—especially when it fits seamlessly into the context?
• The repetition of a word in another familiar language (as in “anathema maranatha”) is a stylistic device used more often. Think of the well-known expression “Abba, Father” (Mark 14:36; Gal. 4:6).

The conclusion must be: maranatha in 1 Corinthians 16:22 is a declaration of ban or a curse.

Delen: