G2602 καταβολή (katabolḗ)

Greek 📖 Greek Word Study

Noun, Feminine

Quick Definition

καταβολή, ῆς, ἡ n.f. a foundation, depositing, sowing

Strong's Definition

a deposition, i.e. founding; figuratively, conception

Derivation: from G2598 (καταβάλλω);

KJV Usage: conceive, foundation

UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

καταβολή (G2602)

noun, f. | -ῆς | βάλλω

42.37 · Perform, Do · Make, Create

creation creation, particularly of the world, with focus upon the beginning phase

MAT 13:35 · MAT 25:34 · LUK 11:50 · JHN 17:24 · EPH 1:4 · HEB 4:3 · HEB 9:26 · 1PE 1:20 · REV 13:8 · REV 17:8

23.49 · Physiological Processes and States · Birth, Procreation

Collocation: καταβολὴ σπέρματος

to conceive, to become pregnant an idiom, literally: sowing of seed In many languages the process of becoming pregnant is expressed in different ways: ‘to begin to become large,’ ‘to receive sperm,’ ‘to let a child enter,’ or ‘to stop bleeding’ (a reference to the cessation of menstrual periods).
There are a number of textual problems involved in this expression in HEB 11:11, and many scholars have concluded that the reference is not to Sarah’s conceiving but to Abraham’s being able to become a father (see Today’s English Version).

HEB 11:11

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

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

κατα-βολή, -ῆς, ἡ, (καταβάλλω, q. V-); ing or laying down: τοῦ σπέρματος (sc. εἰς τὴν μήτραν), the injection or depositing of the virile semen in the womb, Leian. amor. 19; Galen, aphorism. iv. § 1; of the seed of animals and plants, Philo de opif. mund. §§ 22, 45; σπέρματα τὰ εἰς γῆν ἢ μήτραν καταβαλλόμενα, Antonin. 4, 36; accordingly many interpret the words Σάρρα δύναμιν eis καταβολὴν σπέρματος ἔλαβε in Heb. xi. 11, she received power to conceive seed. But since it belongs to the male καταβάλλειν τὸ σπέρμα, not to the female, this interpretation cannot stand [ (ace. to the reading of WH mre. αὐτῇ Σάρρᾳ, Abr. remains the subj. of AaBev; but see 2 below)]; οἵ. Bleek [and, on the other side, Kurtz] ad loc. 2. a founding (laying down a foundation): eis καταβ. σπέρματος, to found a posterity, Heb. xi. 11 [but ef. above] (τυραννίδος, Polyb. 13, 6, 2; dua τῇ πρώτῃ καταβολῇ τῶν ἀνθρώπων, Plat. aquae et ignis comp. 6. 2). ἀπὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου, from the foundation of the world: Mt. xiii. 35 [L Ὁ Tr WH om. κόσμου]: xxv. 34; Lk. xi. 50; Heb. iv. 3; ix. 26; Rev. xiii. 8; xvii. 8; πρὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου, Jn. xvii. 24; Eph.i.4; 1 Pet. i. 20.

Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary

καταβολή katabolē 11x

pr. a casting down; laying the foundation, foundation; beginning, commencement, Mt. 13:35; 25:34; conception in the womb, Heb. 11:11

Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon

** κατα-βολή, -ῆς, ἡ

(< καταβάλλω), [in LXX: II Mac 2:29*;]

a laying down: εἰς κ. σπέρματος, He 11:11 (EV, to conceive seed).

a foundation (of a house, II Mac 2:29): metaph., ἀπὸ κ. κόσμου, Mt 13:35(LXX) (om. κόσμου, WH, R, mg.), Mt 25:34, Lk 11:50, He 4:3 9:26, Re 13:8 17:8; πρὸ κ. κόσμου, Jo 17:24, Eph 1:4, I Pe 1:20.†

Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT

καταβολή. Like its verb (see s.v. καταβάλλω) this noun is frequently found in the sense of ‘‘ payment,”’ e.g. P Par 62¥- 18 (c. B.C. 170) τῶν St καταβολῶν σύμβολα λαμβανέτωσαν παρὰ τοῦ τραπεζίτου, BGU IV. 1135® (prob. B.c. 10) τῇ μην[ιαίᾳ κ]αταβολῇ, P Lond 1171 verso! (A.D. 42) (= III. p. 106) is καταβολὴν τῷ ἐγλήμπτορι τοῦ μέλιτος καὶ κηροῦ, P Strass I. 26! (iv/a.D.) ἡ γὰρ προθεσμία τῆς καταβολῆς συνέστηκεν. See also P Eleph 23'8 (B.C. 223--2) with reference to land ἔχειν pe ταύτης προσβολὴν καὶ κατ[α]βολήν, ἃ καὶ ἐπιδέδειχά σοι. With the noun in Heb 11" cf. καταβολαῖος used of a “‘ store-place,”” P Fay 110% % (A.D. 94).

Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon

καταβολή (katabolē) — beginning. καταβολ-ή, ἡ, throwing down: hence, sowing, [Refs]; especially of begetting, κ. σπέρματος, σπερμάτων, [NT+5th c.BC+]; ἡ Ῥωμύλου σπορὰ καὶ κ. [Refs 1st c.AD+] __b congenital defect, ἀπὸ ξυγγενικῆς αἰτίας καὶ κ. [Refs 1st c.AD+] __c Astrology texts, nativity, ἡ ἐξ ἀρχῆς κ. [Refs 2nd c.AD+]

2. paying down, especially by instalments, καταβάλλειν τὰς κ. [Refs 4th c.BC+]; τὸ ἀργύριον ἔφερε καταβολὴν τῇ πόλει paid money as a deposit (by way of caution),[Refs 2nd c.BC+], etc.; ἔχειν τῆς γῆς.. καταβολήν liability for rent, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: plural, instalments, [Refs 3rd c.AD+]

II. laying of a foundation: hence, building, structure, [LXX+3rd c.BC+]

II.1. foundation, beginning, ἱερῶν ἀγώνων [NT+5th c.BC+] in Alc.Praef.p.8C.; ἐκ καταβολῆς from the foundations: hence, anew, σκάφη ἐκ κ. ἐναυπηγοῦντο, of fresh construction, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; ἐκ κ. πλάττων, of pure invention, [Refs]: hence, of set purpose, deliberately, [Refs]

II.2. ={θυσία},{τελετή}, [Refs 5th c.AD+]

III. periodical attack of illness, fit, τῆς ἀσθενείας [Refs 5th c.BC+] trance, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; cf. Latin catabolicus.

IV. detraction, abuse, [Refs 1st c.BC+]

V. perhaps outer wrapper [Refs] of a bandage, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon

κατα-βολή, -ῆς, ἡ (καταβάλλω), [in LXX: 2Ma.2:29 * ;] __1. a laying down: εἰς κ. σπέρματος, Heb.11:11 (EV, to conceive seed). __2. a foundation (of a house, ii Mac, l.with): metaphorically, ἀπὸ κ. κόσμου, Mat.13:35 (LXX) (om. ἀπὸ κ. κόσμου, WH, R, mg.), Mat.25:34, Luk.11:50, Heb.4:3 9:26, Rev.13:8 17:8; πρὸ κ. κόσμου, Jhn.17:24, Eph.1:4, 1Pe.1:20.† (AS)

Bible Occurrences (11)

13:35 25:34

11:50

17:24

1:4

4:3 9:26 11:11

1:20

13:8 17:8

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

Foundation (2602) katabole

Foundation (2602) (katabole from kataballo = to throw down from kata = down + ballo = throw, cast) is literally a casting down or laying down. The original idea was the laying down of the foundation of a house. Katabole was a technical term for putting seed into the ground, it is also used of the role of the male in impregnating the female and there is one such use in Hebrews 11:11, referring to the casting in or sowing of seed, conveying the idea of begetting. TDNT adds that katabole meant... “laying down,” is used for, e.g., the casting of seed, human begetting, the sowing of war, and the establishment of government. Ten of the 11 NT uses of katabole (there are no uses in the LXX) are in the phrase "foundation of the world". Matthew 13:35 so that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, "I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden since the foundation of the world." Matthew 25:34 "Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Luke 11:50 in order that the blood of all the prophets, shed since the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation, John 17:24 "Father, I desire that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am, in order that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me; for Thou didst love Me before the foundation of the world. Ephesians 1:4 (note) just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love Hebrews 4:3 (note) For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, "As I swore in My wrath, They shall not enter My rest," although His works were finished from the foundation of the world. Hebrews 9:26 (note) Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. Hebrews 11:11 (note) By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised; 1 Peter 1:20 (note) For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you Revelation 13:8 (note) And all who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. Revelation 17:8 (note) "The beast that you saw was and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and to go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth will wonder, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come. Believers have entered into a finished work, something finished from the foundation of the worldââ¬Â¦all that is necessary to rest has been provided.

Matthew 13:35

So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet -: I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden since [the] foundation [of the] world.”

Matthew 25:34

Then the King will say to those on His right, Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from [the] foundation of [the] world.

Luke 11:50

As a result, this generation will be charged with the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since [the] foundation of [the] world,

John 17:24

Father, I want [those] You have given Me to be with Me where I am, that they may see [the] glory You gave Me because You loved Me before [the] foundation of [the] world.

Ephesians 1:4

For He chose us in Him before [the] foundation of [the] world to be holy and blameless in His presence.... In love

Hebrews 4:3

Now [we] who have believed enter... [that] rest. [As for the others, ] it is just as [God] has said: So I swore on oath in My anger, They shall never enter... My rest.’” And yet [His] works have been finished since [the] foundation of [the] world.

Hebrews 9:26

Otherwise, [Christ] would have had to suffer repeatedly since [the] foundation of [the] world. But now He has appeared once [for all] at [the] end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

Hebrews 11:11

By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled... to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised.