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Greek · G2647 · unreviewed

καταλύω

To destroy/lodge

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καταλύω G2647
Pronunciation katalýō

What does καταλύω (katalýō) mean in the Bible?

καταλύω (katalýō) is a Greek word meaning "to destroy/lodge". κατα-λύω [in LXX for לוּן, שָׁבַת, etc. Indicates complete dismantling.

Full entry for καταλύω (G2647) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to destroy/lodge
Extended definition

Destroy/overthrow physically or figuratively; also means lodge by unharnessing—two opposite semantic poles.

1to destroy, cast down: Mat.24:2, Mrk.13:2, Luk.21:6; τ. ναόν, Mat.26:61 27:40, Mrk.14:58 15:29, Act.6:14; οἰκίαν, 2Co.5:1; opposite to οἰκοδομεῖν, Gal.2:18. Metaphorical, to overthrow, annul, abrogate: Act.5:38-39; τ. ἔργον τ. θεοῦ, Rom.14:20; τ. νόμον, Mat.5:17 (2Ma.2:22).
2to unloose, unyoke (e.g. horses), hence intrans., of travellers (cf. κατάλυμα), to take up one's quarters, lodge (cl., Gen.19:2, al.): Luk.9:12 19:7.
Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith
Why This Word Matters
Indicates complete dismantling.
Grammatical Forms

How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.

Tenses
Aorist Future Present
Voices
Active Passive
Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract 5×
Aorist Active Matt 5:17 · Matt 26:61 · Luke 19:7 · Acts 5:39 5×
Indicative states a fact or reality 6×
Future Passive Matt 24:2 · Luke 21:6 · Acts 5:38 3×
Future Active Mark 14:58 · Acts 6:14 2×
Aorist Active Gal 2:18 1×
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 2×
Present Active Matt 27:40 · Mark 15:29 2×
Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose 3×
Aorist Passive Mark 13:2 · 2 Cor 5:1 2×
Aorist Active Luke 9:12 1×
Imperative command or strong request 1×
Present Active Rom 14:20 1×
17 total occurrences across all forms in the biblical text Morphology: MorphGNT SBLGNT — CC BY-SA 3.0
Discourse Aspect

How this verb appears across 17 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).

Aspect
completed 1 prospective 5 imperative 1 subjunctive 3 infinitive 5 participle 2
Tense
aorist 9 future 5 present 3
Voice
active 12 passive 5
Mood
indicative 6 infinitive 5 subjunctive 3 participle 2 imperative 1
NT Occurrences
Matthew 5:17 καταλῦσαι aorist active infinitive infinitive Matthew 5:17 καταλῦσαι aorist active infinitive infinitive Matthew 24:2 καταλυθήσεται future passive indicative prospective Matthew 26:61 καταλῦσαι aorist active infinitive infinitive Matthew 27:40 καταλύων present active participle participle Mark 13:2 καταλυθῇ aorist passive subjunctive subjunctive Mark 14:58 καταλύσω future active indicative prospective Mark 15:29 καταλύων present active participle participle Luke 9:12 καταλύσωσιν aorist active subjunctive subjunctive Luke 19:7 καταλῦσαι aorist active infinitive infinitive Luke 21:6 καταλυθήσεται future passive indicative prospective Acts 5:38 καταλυθήσεται future passive indicative prospective Acts 5:39 καταλῦσαι aorist active infinitive infinitive Acts 6:14 καταλύσει future active indicative prospective Romans 14:20 κατάλυε present active imperative imperative 2 Corinthians 5:1 καταλυθῇ aorist passive subjunctive subjunctive Galatians 2:18 κατέλυσα aorist active indicative completed

Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.

Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)

Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

Additional Occurrences
Luke 21:5–24 καταλυθήσεται katalýō
Will be destroyed
Mark 13:1–2 καταλύω katalýō
to dismantle, overthrow, destroy
New Testament Witnesses
Mark 13:1–2 καταλυθῇ katalýō Subjunctive · Aorist Passive
be destroyed
Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

Mark 13 — Watch and Endure: Temple Judgment, Gospel Witness, Tribulation, the Son of Man, and Readiness Matthew 24 — The Olivet Discourse: Temple Desolation, Coming Judgment, the Son of Man, and Watchful Readiness Matthew 5 — Kingdom Blessedness, Fulfilled Law, and Heart-Level Righteousness Romans 14 — Receiving One Another, Honoring the Lord, and Pursuing Peace in Matters of Conscience

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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