3583. xérainó
Lexical Summary
xérainó: To dry up, wither

Original Word: ξηραίνω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: xérainó
Pronunciation: ksay-rah'-ee-no
Phonetic Spelling: (xay-rah'-ee-no)
KJV: dry up, pine away, be ripe, wither (away)
NASB: withered, withered away, dried, withers, dries, ripe, stiffens
Word Origin: [from G3584 (ξηρός - withered)]

1. to make dry
2. (bodily) to wither
3. (by implication) to waste away
4. (of harvest) fully ripe, mature

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
dry up, wither away.

From xeros; to desiccate; by implication, to shrivel, to mature -- dry up, pine away, be ripe, wither (away).

see GREEK xeros

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from xéros
Definition
to dry up, waste away
NASB Translation
dried (2), dries (1), ripe (1), stiffens (1), wither (1), withered (4), withered away (3), withers (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 3583: ξηραίνω

ξηραίνω: 1 aorist ἐξηρανα (James 1:11); passive, present ξηραίνομαι; perfect 3 person singular ἐξήρανται (Mark 11:21), participle ἐξηραμμενος; 1 aorist ἐξηράνθην; cf. Buttmann, 41 (36); (from ξηρός, which see); from Homer down; the Sept. chiefly for יִבֵּשׁ and הובִישׁ; to make dry, dry up, wither: active, τόν χόρτον, James 1:11; passive to become dry, to be dry, be withered (cf. Buttmann, 52 (45)) (the Sept. for יָבֵשׁ): of plants, Matthew 13:6; Matthew 21:19; Mark 4:6; Mark 11:20; Luke 8:6; John 15:6; (1 Peter 1:24); of the ripening of crops, Revelation 14:15; of fluids: πηγή, Mark 5:29; τό ὕδωρ, Revelation 16:12 (Genesis 8:7; Isaiah 19:5); of members of the body, to waste away, pine away: Mark 9:18; ἐξηραμμενη χείρ, a withered hand, Mark 3:1, and R G in 3.

Topical Lexicon
Overview

Strong’s Greek 3583 is used fifteen times across the New Testament, describing the action or state of something becoming dry, withered, or parched. The contexts range from physical ailments and agricultural images to divine judgments and spiritual warnings. Throughout, the verb underscores the contrast between life-giving vitality that comes from God and the barrenness that results when that life is rejected or withheld.

Physical restoration and the ministry of Jesus

1. Mark 3:1 records a man with a “withered hand” standing in the synagogue. Jesus’ instantaneous healing on the Sabbath not only restores physical function but testifies to His messianic authority and compassion.
2. Mark 5:29 notes that the woman with the issue of blood felt in her body that “she was healed of her affliction” when her flow “dried up.” Here the verb depicts disease halted at its source, emphasizing Jesus’ power over long-standing infirmity.

In both cases, the drying or withering that once symbolized hopelessness is reversed, pointing to the Kingdom reality where the Messiah renews what sin and the fall have impaired.

Agricultural imagery and the parable of the soils

Matthew 13:6, Mark 4:6, and Luke 8:6 each mention seedlings that “withered” because they lacked deep root and moisture. Jesus employs common agrarian experience to illustrate the shallow hearer who receives the word with initial enthusiasm but, lacking perseverance, cannot endure tribulation. The verb highlights the inevitable outcome when external circumstances scorch faith that has not taken root in Christ.

Judgment on unfruitfulness: the fig tree

Matthew 21:19-20 and the parallel in Mark 11:20-21 recount the cursing of the barren fig tree. Overnight the tree “withered” from the roots, prompting the disciples’ astonishment. The sign functions as enacted prophecy: Israel’s religious establishment, full of foliage yet devoid of fruit, stands under immediate judgment. The complete drying up signals the thoroughness of divine verdict; what appears verdant to human eyes is exposed and condemned by the Lord who seeks lasting fruit.

Moral exhortation and the fleeting glory of the wicked

James 1:11 draws from Isaiah to warn against trusting earthly wealth: “For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed.” The picture of vegetation shriveling under the sun underscores how quickly riches evaporate, calling believers to anchor their identity in the imperishable Word rather than temporal power.

Similarly, 1 Peter 1:24 cites the same Old Testament text: “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of the field; the grass withers and the flower falls.” The verb exposes human frailty while setting up the contrast: “but the word of the Lord stands forever.” What dries up by nature finds permanence only in God’s revelation.

Spiritual sterility and separation from Christ

John 15:6 offers a solemn warning: “If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned.” The branch’s drying is not sudden but progressive, depicting the inevitable outcome of severance from the true Vine. Fruitfulness, therefore, is inseparable from abiding fellowship; apart from Christ, spiritual life ebbs until only judgment remains.

Eschatological scenes of decisive intervention

Revelation furnishes two occurrences. In Revelation 14:15 the harvested earth is declared “ripe,” literally “dried up,” signaling the appointed moment for divine reaping. Revelation 16:12 portrays the Euphrates River “dried up” to prepare the way for the kings from the east, demonstrating God’s sovereignty over geopolitical events in the last days. What naturally resists evaporation is supernaturally drained, facilitating the outworking of God’s final purposes.

Old Testament resonance and covenant themes

Although the entry concerns New Testament usage, the imagery resonates deeply with Old Testament passages where the same Hebrew concept appears: streams drying in divine judgment (Jeremiah 50:38), the Red Sea’s waters turned into “dry land” for Israel’s deliverance (Exodus 14:21), and blossoms fading under scorching wind (Isaiah 40:7-8). The New Testament writers assume this prophetic backdrop, enriching their message by invoking shared covenant memory.

Theological implications

1. Divine prerogative: Whether bringing blessing (restored health) or judgment (withered fig tree), God alone commands life and death, fruitfulness and barrenness.
2. Necessity of abiding: Sustained vitality is contingent on remaining in Christ; removal from Him results in inevitable spiritual dehydration.
3. Transience of earthly glory: Riches, status, and even bodily health are momentary. Only what is grounded in the eternal Word endures.
4. Eschatological certainty: God will “dry up” obstacles and decisively reap the earth, vindicating His righteousness and fulfilling prophetic promises.

Practical ministry considerations

• Preaching: The verb’s vivid imagery supports sermons on perseverance, stewardship of spiritual growth, and warning against nominal faith.
• Counseling: Believers experiencing spiritual dryness can be directed to the necessity of abiding practices—prayer, Scripture intake, fellowship—to prevent withering of the soul.
• Missions: The drying up of barriers, like the Euphrates in Revelation, encourages confidence that God removes hindrances to the spread of the gospel.

Historical reception

Early church writers such as Augustine viewed the withered fig tree as emblematic of Judaism’s ritualism without Christ, while Reformers applied John 15:6 to underscore sola fide: only living faith, not mere outward connection to the visible church, prevents spiritual desiccation. Contemporary scholarship continues to see in the verb a rich convergence of agricultural reality and theological depth.

Conclusion

Strong’s 3583 threads through narratives of healing, parables, prophetic acts, pastoral warnings, and apocalyptic visions. Each occurrence underscores that vitality comes from God alone; removal from His life-giving presence results in certain and often swift desiccation. For the church today, the call is clear: remain rooted, bear fruit, and trust the One who alone can keep life from withering away.

Forms and Transliterations
εξηραμμενην εξηραμμένην ἐξηραμμένην εξήρανας εξήρανε εξηρανεν ἐξήρανεν εξηρανθη εξηράνθη εξήρανθη ἐξηράνθη εξηράνθην εξηράνθησαν εξήρανθησαν εξηράνθσαν εξηρανται εξήρανται ἐξήρανται ξηραινεται ξηραίνεται ξηραινόμενος ξηραίνων ξηρανεί ξηρανθείη ξηρανθήναι ξηρανθήσεται ξηρανθήσονται ξηρανώ ξηρασία ξηρασίας exerammenen exeramménen exērammenēn exēramménēn exeranen exēranen exḗranen exerantai exērantai exḗrantai exeranthe exeránthe exēranthē exēránthē xerainetai xeraínetai xērainetai xēraínetai
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 13:6 V-AIP-3S
GRK: ἔχειν ῥίζαν ἐξηράνθη
NAS: no root, they withered away.
KJV: no root, they withered away.
INT: having root were dried up

Matthew 21:19 V-AIP-3S
GRK: αἰῶνα καὶ ἐξηράνθη παραχρῆμα ἡ
NAS: the fig tree withered.
KJV: presently the fig tree withered away.
INT: age And dried up immediately the

Matthew 21:20 V-AIP-3S
GRK: Πῶς παραχρῆμα ἐξηράνθη ἡ συκῆ
NAS: did the fig tree wither [all] at once?
KJV: soon is the fig tree withered away!
INT: How immediately is dried up the fig tree

Mark 3:1 V-RPM/P-AFS
GRK: ἐκεῖ ἄνθρωπος ἐξηραμμένην ἔχων τὴν
NAS: was there whose hand was withered.
KJV: there which had a withered hand.
INT: there a man withered having the

Mark 4:6 V-AIP-3S
GRK: ἔχειν ῥίζαν ἐξηράνθη
NAS: no root, it withered away.
KJV: no root, it withered away.
INT: having root it withered away

Mark 5:29 V-AIP-3S
GRK: καὶ εὐθὺς ἐξηράνθη ἡ πηγὴ
NAS: of her blood was dried up; and she felt
KJV: blood was dried up; and
INT: And immediately was dried up the flow

Mark 9:18 V-PIM/P-3S
GRK: ὀδόντας καὶ ξηραίνεται καὶ εἶπα
NAS: his teeth and stiffens out. I told
KJV: teeth, and pineth away: and I spake
INT: his teeth and is withering away And I spoke

Mark 11:20 V-RPM/P-AFS
GRK: τὴν συκῆν ἐξηραμμένην ἐκ ῥιζῶν
NAS: the fig tree withered from the roots
KJV: the fig tree dried up from
INT: the fig tree dried up from [the] roots

Mark 11:21 V-RIM/P-3S
GRK: ἣν κατηράσω ἐξήρανται
NAS: which You cursed has withered.
KJV: which thou cursedst is withered away.
INT: which you cursed is dried up

Luke 8:6 V-AIP-3S
GRK: καὶ φυὲν ἐξηράνθη διὰ τὸ
NAS: [soil], and as soon as it grew up, it withered away, because
KJV: as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because
INT: and having sprung up it withered because it

John 15:6 V-AIP-3S
GRK: κλῆμα καὶ ἐξηράνθη καὶ συνάγουσιν
NAS: as a branch and dries up; and they gather
KJV: and is withered; and
INT: branch and is dried up and they gather

James 1:11 V-AIA-3S
GRK: καύσωνι καὶ ἐξήρανεν τὸν χόρτον
NAS: with a scorching wind and withers the grass;
KJV: but it withereth the grass,
INT: burning heat and dried up the grass

1 Peter 1:24 V-AIP-3S
GRK: ἄνθος χόρτου ἐξηράνθη ὁ χόρτος
NAS: THE GRASS WITHERS, AND THE FLOWER
KJV: The grass withereth, and
INT: [the] flower of grass Withers the grass

Revelation 14:15 V-AIP-3S
GRK: θερίσαι ὅτι ἐξηράνθη ὁ θερισμὸς
NAS: the harvest of the earth is ripe.
KJV: the harvest of the earth is ripe.
INT: to reap because is ripe the harvest

Revelation 16:12 V-AIP-3S
GRK: Εὐφράτην καὶ ἐξηράνθη τὸ ὕδωρ
NAS: and its water was dried up, so
KJV: thereof was dried up, that
INT: Euphrates and was dried up the water

Strong's Greek 3583
15 Occurrences


ἐξηραμμένην — 2 Occ.
ἐξήρανεν — 1 Occ.
ἐξήρανται — 1 Occ.
ἐξηράνθη — 10 Occ.
ξηραίνεται — 1 Occ.

3582
Top of Page
Top of Page