Word Study for G1642 (ἐλαττόω)

elattóō /el-at-to'-o/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom ἐλάσσων

Meaningto lessen (in rank or influence)

KJV usagedecrease, make lower.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of elattóō — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word elattóō, represented by G1642, means to lessen in rank or influence. It is used to convey the concepts of decreasing or being made lower. Despite its significant theological implications, it appears only 5 times across 3 unique verses in the Bible, highlighting its specific and powerful application.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, G1642 carries a dual meaning of both status and influence. In the book of Hebrews, it is used twice in the same context to describe how Jesus was made lower than the angels (Hebrews 2:7, Hebrews 2:9). This lowering was temporary and for a specific purpose: "the suffering of death." In contrast, John the Baptist uses the word to describe his own diminishing public role in relation to Jesus, stating, "He must increase, but I must decrease" John 3:30. Here, the word signifies a willing reduction of one's own prominence.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the context and consequence of being made lower:

G837 auxánō (to grow, increase): This word is used as the direct opposite of G1642 in John 3:30, where John the Baptist declares that Jesus must increase as he decreases, establishing a clear contrast in their respective missions.
G991 blépō (to look at, see, perceive): In Hebrews 2:9, the act of seeing Jesus is tied to understanding his temporary humiliation. The verse states, "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower," indicating that this lowering is a truth to be perceived by faith.
G4737 stephanóō (to crown): This word is used immediately after G1642 in Hebrews to show the result of Christ's humbling. After being made lower, he was crowned with glory and honor (Hebrews 2:7, Hebrews 2:9).
G2525 kathístēmi (to appoint, make, set): Following the lowering and crowning, Hebrews 2:7 notes that God did set him over the works of His hands, showing a restoration to a position of ultimate authority.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G1642 is focused on the concepts of humility and divine purpose.

Christ's Humiliation: The word is central to the doctrine of Christ's incarnation. It describes his voluntary act of being made lower than the angels, a necessary step so that he could "taste death for every man" Hebrews 2:9. This was not a defeat but a purposeful lowering that led to his exaltation.
The Model of Service: John the Baptist's use of the word in the statement, "I must decrease" John 3:30, provides a powerful model for Christian service. It illustrates the principle of humbling oneself so that the focus and glory can be rightly directed toward Christ.

Summary

In summary, G1642 is a precise term that communicates a profound theological truth. Whether describing Christ being made lower than the angels as part of God's plan for salvation or the call for a believer to decrease in their own importance, the word encapsulates a foundational principle of the faith: that a temporary lessening in status or influence can lead to a greater, God-ordained purpose and glory.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 3 occurrences, inflected in 3 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Aorist Active Indicative 2nd Singular 1×
Perfect Passive Participle Accusative Singular Masculine 1×
Present Middle Or Passive Infinitive 1×

Accusative: The direct object of the verb.
Singular: One.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
2nd: Second person — the one addressed ("you").
Present: Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Perfect: A completed act whose results continue.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Passive: The subject is acted upon.
Middle Or Passive: Can be read as middle or passive; context decides.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Infinitive: The verb as a noun — "to do".
Participle: A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 3 verses across 2 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Hebrews (2 verses); never once in the other 25.

John

Hebrews

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.