English · KJV
G2622

κατακλάω

katakláō /kat-ak-lah'-o/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom κατά and κλάω
Meaningto break down, i.e. divide
KJV usagebreak.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of katakláō — 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 katakláō, represented by G2622, means to break down or divide. It is a specific term derived from κατά and κλάω. According to biblical records, it is a rare word, appearing just 2 times in 2 unique verses.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

Both occurrences of G2622 are found in the parallel accounts of Jesus feeding the multitude. In these passages, the word describes the precise moment Jesus acted upon the bread before its miraculous multiplication. After taking the loaves and fish and blessing them, He brake the loaves and gave them to His disciples to distribute (Mark 6:41, Luke 9:16). The action of breaking is presented as a deliberate step between blessing the food and giving it for distribution.

Related Words & Concepts

The context of G2622 connects it to several other important actions and objects:

  • G2983 lambánō (to take): This action initiates the sequence. Before breaking the bread, Jesus first "took the five loaves" Mark 6:41.
  • G2127 eulogéō (to speak well of, i.e. (religiously) to bless): This is the spiritual preparation before the physical act of breaking. In the narrative, Jesus "blessed them, and brake" Luke 9:16.
  • G1325 dídōmi (to give): This action immediately follows the breaking. After Jesus brake the loaves, He "gave them to his disciples" to set before the people Mark 6:41.
  • G740 ártos (bread (as raised) or a loaf): This is the object being acted upon. Jesus took bread G740, blessed it, and then broke it Matthew 26:26.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G2622 is found in its specific role within a divine process.

  • An Act of Preparation for Provision: The breaking of the loaves is the necessary physical act that precedes the miraculous feeding of the thousands. It transforms a few whole loaves into pieces ready for wide distribution Luke 9:16.
  • A Deliberate Sequence: The word appears within a consistent pattern of actions by Jesus: taking G2983, blessing G2127, breaking G2622, and giving G1325. This repeated sequence highlights a structured model for ministry and provision.
  • Enabling Division and Sharing: The act of breaking the loaves enables the subsequent act of dividing G3307 the food so it could be shared "among them all" Mark 6:41.

Summary

In summary, G2622 is a precise verb signifying the act of breaking something down. Though used rarely, its appearance is highly significant, locked within the narrative of Christ's miraculous provision. It is not merely a physical action but a key step in a divine formula of taking, blessing, breaking, and giving that turns scarcity into abundance for the multitudes.

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 2 occurrences, inflected in 1 grammatical form — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

  • Aorist Active Indicative 3rd Singular 2×
Singular
One.
3rd
Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Aorist
Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Active
The subject performs the action.
Indicative
A plain statement of fact.

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

G2983 λαμβάνω a prolonged form of a primary verb, which is use only as an alternate in certain tenses; to take (in very many applicati G2127 εὐλογέω from a compound of εὖ and λόγος; to speak well of, i.e. (religiously) to bless (thank or invoke a benediction upon, pros G1325 δίδωμι a prolonged form of a primary verb (which is used as an alternative in most of the tenses); to give (used in a very wide G740 ἄρτος from αἴρω; bread (as raised) or a loaf:--(shew-)bread, loaf. G3307 μερίζω from μέρος; to part, i.e. (literally) to apportion, bestow, share, or (figuratively) to disunite, differ:--deal, be diff

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 2 verses across 2 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Mark and Luke (1 verse each); never once in the other 25.

1
Mark
1
Luke

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.