Lexical Summary xérainó: To dry up, wither Original Word: ξηραίνω 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 Originfrom 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: ξηραίνωξηραίνω: 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: ἡ 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 OverviewStrong’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. 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. Practical ministry considerations • Preaching: The verb’s vivid imagery supports sermons on perseverance, stewardship of spiritual growth, and warning against nominal faith. 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 xēraínetaiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 13:6 V-AIP-3SGRK: 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 Matthew 21:20 V-AIP-3S Mark 3:1 V-RPM/P-AFS Mark 4:6 V-AIP-3S Mark 5:29 V-AIP-3S Mark 9:18 V-PIM/P-3S Mark 11:20 V-RPM/P-AFS Mark 11:21 V-RIM/P-3S Luke 8:6 V-AIP-3S John 15:6 V-AIP-3S James 1:11 V-AIA-3S 1 Peter 1:24 V-AIP-3S Revelation 14:15 V-AIP-3S Revelation 16:12 V-AIP-3S Strong's Greek 3583 |