Word Study for G2620 (κατακαυχάομαι)

katakaucháomai /kat-ak-ow-khah'-om-ahee/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom κατά and καυχάομαι

Meaningto exult against (i.e. over)

KJV usageboast (against), glory, rejoice against.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of katakaucháomai — 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 katakaucháomai, represented by G2620, means to exult against or boast against someone or something. It is formed from the words κατά and καυχάομαι. Appearing 5 times across 3 unique verses, its usage in scripture conveys a strong sense of glorying over, rejoicing against, or boasting in a way that implies superiority or triumph.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical text, G2620 is used in both a triumphant and a cautionary manner. In a positive sense, it describes how mercy rejoiceth against judgment, signifying the ultimate victory of compassion James 2:13. Conversely, it is used negatively as a command to not boast against the "branches," a metaphor warning Gentile believers against arrogance toward Israel, reminding them that they are sustained by the root, not the other way around Romans 11:18. It also serves as a prohibition to not glory when one's heart contains bitter envying and strife, as such boasting is a lie against the truth James 3:14.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide context for the actions associated with G2620:

G1656 éleos (mercy): This term for active compassion is what rejoiceth against judgment, showing its superior standing James 2:13.
G2205 zēlos (envy): The presence of this "bitter envying" in the heart is given as a reason one should not glory or boast James 3:14.
G2052 eritheía (strife): Defined as intrigue or faction, its presence alongside envy is a condition that makes glorying an act against the truth James 3:14.
G941 bastázō (to bear): This word for sustaining or carrying is used to counter the impulse to boast, reminding believers that the root bears them, not the other way around Romans 11:18.
G225 alḗtheia (truth): Boasting that comes from a place of envy and strife is considered a lie against the truth James 3:14.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G2620 is found in its sharp contrasts.

The Triumph of Mercy: The most positive use of G2620 establishes a key theological principle: mercy triumphs over and rejoiceth against judgment, highlighting a fundamental aspect of God's redemptive plan James 2:13.
Warning Against Spiritual Arrogance: In Romans, the command not to boast against the branches is a crucial lesson in humility, reminding believers that their position is one of dependence on God's covenant root, not of superiority Romans 11:18.
Sign of Inner Corruption: The act of glorying is directly linked to a corrupt inner state. When bitter envying G2205 and strife G2052 are in the heart, to glory is to lie against the truth G225, making this action a clear indicator of a spiritual problem James 3:14.

Summary

In summary, G2620 is more than a simple word for boasting; it is a term that reveals the posture of the heart. It captures both the righteous exultation of mercy triumphing over judgment and the sinful pride of glorying from a place of envy and strife. Its few appearances in scripture serve as powerful and distinct warnings against spiritual arrogance while simultaneously celebrating the ultimate victory of God's compassion.

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 4 occurrences, inflected in 4 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Present Middle Or Passive Deponent Imperative 2nd Plural 1×
Present Middle Or Passive Deponent Imperative 2nd Singular 1×
Present Middle Or Passive Deponent Indicative 2nd Singular 1×
Present Middle Or Passive Deponent Indicative 3rd Singular 1×

Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
2nd: Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Present: Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
Middle: The subject acts on or for itself.
Passive: The subject is acted upon.
Passive Deponent: Passive in form but active in meaning.
Middle Or Passive: Can be read as middle or passive; context decides.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Imperative: A command or entreaty.

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 James (2 verses); never once in the other 25.

Romans

James

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.