G2507 καθαιρέω (kathairéō)

Greek 📖 Greek Word Study

Verb

Quick Definition

καθαιρέω v. I take down, depose, destroy

Strong's Definition

to lower (or with violence) demolish (literally or figuratively)

Derivation: from G2596 (κατά) and G138 (αἱρέομαι) (including its alternate);

KJV Usage: cast (pull, put, take) down, destroy

UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

καθαιρέω (G2507)

verb | fut. καθελῶ · aor. καθεῖλον · ptc. καθελών | κατά + αἱρέομαι

15.110 · Linear Movement · Come/Go Down, Descend

to bring down, to lower to cause something or someone to be lowered or brought down For another interpretation of καθαιρέω in MRK 15:36, see 15.199.

MRK 15:36

15.199 · Linear Movement · Carry, Bear

to bring down, to take down to bring something down from one point to another For another interpretation of καθαιρέω in MRK 15:36, see 15.110.

MRK 15:36 · MRK 15:46 · LUK 1:52 · LUK 23:53 · ACT 13:29

20.54 · Violence, Harm, Destroy, Kill · Destroy

to destroy, to tear down, destruction to destroy completely by tearing down and dismantling It may be important in rendering LUK 12:18 to indicate clearly that there is purpose in tearing down the barns, and that presumably materials resulting from the dismantling of the barns would be used in building bigger ones.

LUK 12:18 · 2CO 10:4

20.42 · Violence, Harm, Destroy, Kill · Destroy

to destroy, to conquer to destroy by conquering and overpowering

ACT 13:19

13.38 · Be, Become, Exist, Happen · State

to do away with, to remove, to eliminate to cause a state to cease

ACT 19:27

¹ There are undoubtedly some significant differences of meaning in this series in 13.38, but it is not possible to determine the distinctive differences on the basis of existing contexts.

UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

καθ-αιρέω, -@; fut. καθελῶ (Lk. xii. 18 [see ἀφαιρέω, init.]); 2 aor. καθεῖλον, (fr. obsol. ἕλω) ; pres. pass. καθαιροῦμαι ἔτ. Hom. down; Sept. for Ὑ ὙΠ, to cause to go down; 017, ΚΠ), 7135 1. to take down: without the notion of violence, τινά, to detach from the cross one crucified, Mk. xv. 36, 46; Lk. xxiii. 53, (Polyb. 1, 86, 6; Philo in Flace. § 10); τινὰ ἀπὸ τοῦ ξύλου, Acts xiii. 29 (Sept. Josh. viii. 29; x. 27); with the use of force, to throw down, cast down: τινὰ ἀπὸ θρόνου, LK. i. 52. 2. to pull down, demolish: τὰς ἀποθήκας, Opp. to οἰκοδομεῖν, Lk. xii. 18; λογισμούς, the (subtle) reasonings (of opponents) likened to fortresses, i. q. to refute, 2 Co. x. 4 (5); to destroy, ἔθνη, Acts xiii. 19 (Jer. xxiv. 6; Thue. 1, 4; Ael. v. h. 2, 35); τὴν μεγαλειότητά τινος, Acts xix. 27, where if preference is given (with LT Tr WH) to the reading τῆς μεγαλειότητος αὐτῆς, it must be taken as a partitive gen. somewhat of her magnificence; cf. B. 158 (138) note [so Meyer; cf. Xen. Hell. 4, 4, 13. Al. translate that she should even be deposed from her magnificence; cf. W. § 30, 6; B. § 132, 5].

Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary

καθαιρέω kathaireō 9x

take or bring down, Mk. 15:36, 46; Lk. 1:52; 23:53; Acts 13:29; tear down, destroy, Lk. 12:18; Acts 13:19; 19:27; 2 Cor. 10:4*

Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon

καθ-αιρέω, -ῶ,

[in LXX for נתץ, פּרץ, ירד, etc.;]

to take down: c. acc. pers. (the technical term for removal after crucifixion, Field, Notes, 44), Mk 15:36, 46, Lk 23:53, Ac 13:29.

to put down by force, pull down, destroy: ἀποθήκας, Lk 12:18 (opp. to οἰκοδομεῖν); δυνάστας, Lk 1:52; ἔθνη, Ac 13:19; pass., Ac 19:27 (diminished, Field, Notes, 129 f.); fig., to refute: λογισμούς, II Co 10:5.†

Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT

καθαιρέω is used apparently in the full sense of “ pull down,” ‘‘demolish,”’ in P Petr I. 26° (B.c. 241) καθειρηκότος τὰς στέγας, and 7d. III. 46(1)15 χρεμάτισον Διονυσίωι ᾿Απολλωνίου τ[ῶ]ι ἐξειληφότει (corr. --ότι) τὴν βασιλεικὴν (corr. -τἰκὴν) κατάλυσιν προυπαρχοῦσαν ἐν ΤΠτολεμαίδει (corr. --ἰδι) καθελεῖν διὰ τὸ πεπονηκέναι, “pay Dionysios, son of Apollonios, who has contracted to take down the Royal quarters previously existing at Ptolemais, owing to their dilapidation”’ (Edd.). A somewhat weaker meaning is found in P Amh II. 54° (B.c. 112) οἶκος καθειρημένος ἧς of τῦχοι (1. οἴκου καθῃρημένου οὗ οἱ τοῖχοι) περίεισιν καὶ εἴσοδος καὶ ἔξοδος, “ἐᾷ dismantled house of which the walls are standing and the entrance and the exit’: cf. P Tor I. 1-1 (B.c. 117), P Leid ΜῈ (ii/B.c.). See Field Votes, p. 129, on the translation of Ac 1927, and cf. further Aristeas 263 © θεὸς τοὺς ὑπερηφάνους καθαιρεῖ, τοὺς δὲ ἐπιεικεῖς Kal ταπεινοὺς ὑψοῖ. In P Oxy XII. 140878 (c. A.D. 210-4) [τὸ τοὺς λῃστὰς κα]θαι[ρ]εῖν χωρὶς τῶν ὑποδεχομένων μὴ δύνασθαι πᾶ[σι φανερόν, the editors render ‘‘that it is impossible to exterminate robbers apart from those who shelter them is evident to all.

Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon

καθαιρέω (kathaireō) — to take down. καθαιρ-έω, Ionic dialect κατ-, Aeolic dialect κατάγρημι, which see: future -ήσω[Refs 8th c.BC+]: future [Refs 1st c.AD+]aorist 2 καθεῖλον, infinitive καθελεῖν: aorist 1 καθεῖλα [LXX]: Ionic dialect perfect participle passive καταραιρημένος [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—take down, καθείλομεν ἱστία [Refs 8th c.BC+]; κ. ἄχθος take it down, i.e. off one's shoulders, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κ. τῶν ἐκ τῆς στοᾶς ὅπλων some of them, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κ. τινά, from the cross, [Refs 2nd c.BC+] —middle, κατελέσθαι τὰ τόξα take down one's bow, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

2. put down, close the eyes of the dead, ὄσσε καθαιρήσουσι θανόντι περ [Refs 8th c.BC+]

3. of sorcerers, bring down from the sky, σελήνην [Refs 5th c.BC+]

4. κατά με πέδον γᾶς ἕλοι may earth swallow me! [Refs 5th c.BC+]

II. put down by force, destroy, ὅτε κέν μιν μοῖρ᾽ ὀλοὴ καθέλῃσι [Refs 8th c.BC+], etc.; kill, slay, ταῦρον[Refs 7th c.BC+]; ἐάν τις ἀποκτείνῃ.. ἐν ὁδῷ καθελών Legal cited in [Refs 4th c.BC+]:—passive, of criminals, to be executed, [Refs 1st c.AD+]

II.2. put down, reduce, κ. Κῦρον καὶ τὴν Περσέων δύναμιν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; καθαιρεθῆναι, opposed to ἀρθῆναι, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; especially depose, dethrone, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κ. τὸ λῃστικὸν ἐκ τῆς θαλάσσης remove it utterly from.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κ. ὕβριν τινός [LXX+5th c.BC+]passive, καθῃρημένος τὴν αἴσθησιν bereft of sense, [Refs 1st c.AD+]; καθαιρεῖσθαι τῆς μεγαλειότητος [Ἀρτέμιδος] [NT]

II.3. raze to the ground, demolish, πόλεις [LXX+5th c.BC+]; τῶν τειχῶν a part of the walls, [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

II.4. cancel, rescind, τὸ Μεγαρέων ψήφισμα [Refs 5th c.BC+]

II.5. as law-term, condemn, ἡ καθαιροῦσα ψῆφος a verdict of guilty, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: with infinitive, ἐμὲ πάλος καθαιρεῖ.. λαβεῖν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; simply, decide, ὅ τι ἂν αἱ πλείους ψῆφοι καθαιρῶσι [Refs 1st c.BC+]; in book-keeping, ἃν καθαιρῶσιν αἱ ψῆφοι whatever the counters (or accounts) prove, probably in [Refs 4th c.BC+]

II.6. reduce, τῶν αὐξανομένων καὶ καθαιρουμένων γραμμῶν [Refs 4th c.BC+]; of mild caustics, τὰ ὑπερσαρκέοντα καθαιρεῖ (probably to be read instead of καθαίρει) [Refs 5th c.BC+]: Rhet., minimize, [Refs 4th c.BC+]

III. overpower, seize, κὰδ δέ μιν ὕπνος ᾕρει [Refs 8th c.BC+]; κ. τινά overtake, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κ. τινὰ ἐν ἀφροσύνῃ catch in the act of folly, [Refs 5th c.BC+] seize by.., [Refs 3rd c.BC+]:—passive, κ. ὑπό τινος [Refs 5th c.BC+]

IV. fetch down as a reward or prize, καθαιρεῖν ἀγῶνας [Refs 1st c.AD+]: metaphorically, achieve, ἀγώνιον.. εὖχος ἔργῳ καθελών [Refs 5th c.BC+]future infinitive καθαρεῖν, παστόν, μίτραν[Refs]:—middle, φόνῳ καθαιρεῖσθ᾽, οὐ λόγῳ, τὰ πράγματα [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

V. less frequently like the simple αἱρεῖν, take and carry off, [Refs]

STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon

καθ-αιρέω, -ῶ [in LXX for נָתַץ, פָּרַץ, יָרַד, etc. ;] __1. to take down: with accusative of person(s) (the technical term for removal after crucifixion, Field, Notes, 44), Mrk.15:36, 46, Luk.23:53, Act.13:29. __2. to put down by force, pull down, destroy: ἀποθήκας, Luk.12:18 (opposite to οἰκοδομεῖν); δυνάστας, Luk.1:52; ἔθνη, Act.13:19; pass., Act.19:27 (diminished, Field, Notes, 129 f.); figuratively, to refute: λογισμούς, 2Co.10:5.† (AS)

Bible Occurrences (9)

15:36 15:46

1:52 12:18 23:53

13:19 13:29 19:27

10:5

📖 Greek Word Study — In-Depth Study from Precept Austin

Destroying (2507) kathaireo

Destroying (2507) (kathaireo from kata = down + haireo = to take for oneself) means to cause something or someone to be lowered. To take or bring down (Of our Lord Jesus from the Cross - Mark 15:36, 46, Lk 23:53, Acts 13:29; of buildings - Lk12:18) or to bring something down from one point to another. Figuratively kathaireo speaks of bringing down rulers (Lk 1:52 - overthrowing them, taking away their power) or destroying evil nations (Acts 13:19), evil idols (Acts 19:27) or evil thoughts (2Co 10:4). TDNT writes that kathaireo has... four main senses a. “to take down,” b. “to tear down,” c. “to destroy,” and d. “to dethrone.” The LXX uses it in all these senses for various Hebrew equivalents, e.g., taking down the brazen sea, tearing down houses etc., destroying cities, and dethroning rulers. The participle "destroying" is present tense which speaks of continuous activity. There are only 9 uses of kathaireo in Scripture, all in the NT... Mark 15:36 And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink, saying, "Let us see whether Elijah will come to take Him down." Mark 15:46 And Joseph bought a linen cloth, took Him down, wrapped Him in the linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Luke 1:52 "He has brought down rulers from their thrones, And has exalted those who were humble. Luke 12:18 "And he said, 'This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. Luke 23:53 And he took it down and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever lain. Acts 13:19 "And when He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land as an inheritance-- all of which took about four hundred and fifty years. Acts 13:29 "And when they had carried out all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in a tomb. Acts 19:27 "And not only is there danger that this trade of ours fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis be regarded as worthless and that she whom all of Asia and the world worship should even be dethroned from her magnificence." 2 Corinthians 10:4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.

Mark 15:36

And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine. He put [it] on a reed and held it up for [Jesus] to drink..., saying, Leave [Him] alone. Let us see if Elijah comes to take Him down....

Mark 15:46

So [Joseph] bought a linen cloth, took down [the body of Jesus], wrapped [it] in the cloth, and placed [it] in a tomb that had been cut out of [the] rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb.

Luke 1:52

He has brought down rulers from [their] thrones, [but] has exalted [the] humble.

Luke 12:18

Then he said, This [is what] I will do: I will tear down my barns and will build bigger [ones], and there I will store up all my grain and [my] goods.

Luke 23:53

Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and placed it in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one... had yet been laid.

Acts 13:19

And having vanquished seven nations in Canaan, {He gave} their land [to His people] as an inheritance.

Acts 13:29

When they had carried out all that was written about Him, they took [Him] down from the tree [and] laid [Him] in a tomb.

Acts 19:27

[There is] danger not only [that] our business will fall into disrepute, but also [that] the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited...... and her majesty deposed — [she] who is worshiped by all [ the province of ] Asia and the [whole] world.