Greek · G2706 · unreviewed

καταφρονέω

To despise

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καταφρονέω G2706

Pronunciation kataphronéō

What does καταφρονέω (kataphronéō) mean in the Bible?

καταφρονέω (kataphronéō) is a Greek word meaning "to despise". κατα-φρονέω, -ῶ [in LXX for בָּגַד, בּוּז, etc.

Full entry for καταφρονέω (G2706) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to despise

Extended definition

Contempt expressed through dismissive thinking; to regard someone as worthless or beneath consideration

to think little of, despise: with genitive, Mat.6:24 18:10, Luk.16:13, Rom.2:4, 1Co.11:22, 1Ti.4:12 6:2, Heb.12:2, 2Pe.2:10.

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith

Grammatical Forms

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

Tenses

Future Aorist Present

Voices

Active

Indicative states a fact or reality 4×

Future Active Matt 6:24 · Luke 16:13 2×

Present Active Rom 2:4 · 1 Cor 11:22 2×

Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose 1×

Aorist Active Matt 18:10 1×

Imperative command or strong request 2×

Present Active 1 Tim 4:12 · 1 Tim 6:2 2×

Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 2×

Aorist Active Heb 12:2 1×

Present Active 2 Pet 2:10 1×

Discourse Aspect

How this verb appears across 9 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).

Aspect

ongoing 2 prospective 2 imperative 2 subjunctive 1 participle 2

Tense

present 5 aorist 2 future 2

Voice

active 9

Mood

indicative 4 imperative 2 participle 2 subjunctive 1

NT Occurrences

Matthew 6:24 καταφρονήσει future active indicative prospective Matthew 18:10 καταφρονήσητε aorist active subjunctive subjunctive Luke 16:13 καταφρονήσει future active indicative prospective Romans 2:4 καταφρονεῖς present active indicative ongoing 1 Corinthians 11:22 καταφρονεῖτε present active indicative ongoing 1 Timothy 4:12 καταφρονείτω present active imperative imperative 1 Timothy 6:2 καταφρονείτωσαν present active imperative imperative Hebrews 12:2 καταφρονήσας aorist active participle participle 2 Peter 2:10 καταφρονοῦντας present active participle participle

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.

Biblical Witnesses

Matthew 6:24 despise kataphronéō Indicative · Future Active

to hate or regard with contempt, contrasted with love in ethical choice

1 Corinthians 11:17-22 despise kataphronéō Indicative · Present Active

to show contempt for the church and its members through disrespectful behavior

1 Timothy 4:12 despise kataphronéō Imperative · Present Active

to regard someone as unworthy or inferior due to youth or perceived lack of authority

Hebrews 12:2 despise kataphronéō Participle · Aorist Active

to treat with scorn and regard as shameful, describing Christ's attitude toward crucifixion

2 Peter 2:10 despise kataphronéō Participle · Present Active

to show bold contempt and disregard for authority and divine majesty

Appears In

Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.

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.

Matthew 18 — Kingdom Humility, Care for the Little Ones, Discipline, and Forgiveness in Christ’s Community

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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