Word Study for G2647 (καταλύω)

katalýō /kat-al-oo'-o/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom κατά and λύω

Meaningto loosen down (disintegrate), i.e. (by implication) to demolish (literally or figuratively); specially (compare κατάλυμα) to halt for the night

KJV usagedestroy, dissolve, be guest, lodge, come to nought, overthrow, throw down.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of katalýō — 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 katalýō, represented by G2647, primarily means to loosen down or demolish. It appears 20 times across 16 unique verses in the Bible. Its definition encompasses both literal and figurative destruction, including to destroy, dissolve, overthrow, or throw down. The word also possesses a distinct, special meaning: to halt for the night, translated as to be guest or lodge.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical narratives, G2647 is used in several key ways. It frequently refers to the literal destruction of physical structures. Jesus prophesied that not one stone of the great buildings of the temple would be left on another that would not be thrown down (Matthew 24:2, Mark 13:2). This same accusation, that he claimed he could destroy the temple, was later used against him Matthew 26:61. Figuratively, the word warns against subverting spiritual truths, as when Paul admonishes believers not to destroy the work of God for the sake of meat Romans 14:20. The word's alternative meaning is found in the Gospels, where the disciples suggest the multitude lodge in nearby towns Luke 9:12 and a crowd complains that Jesus has gone to be guest with a sinner Luke 19:7.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the meaning and context of G2647:

G3618 oikodoméō (to be a house-builder): This word functions as a direct antonym. It is often used in contrast within the same sentence, such as the accusation that Jesus claimed he could destroy G2647 the temple and build G3618 it in three days Matthew 26:61.
G4137 plēróō (to make replete, to fulfil): This provides a crucial theological contrast. In a foundational statement of his ministry, Jesus clarifies he did not come to destroy G2647 the Law or the Prophets, but to fulfil G4137 them Matthew 5:17.
G2314 theomáchos (an opponent of deity): This word highlights the gravity of opposing God's work. Gamaliel advises the council that if a plan is of God, they cannot overthrow G2647 it; to try would be to fight against God G2314 Acts 5:39.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G2647 is significant, often used to frame contrasts between the human and the divine.

The Permanence of God's Work: The word is central to Gamaliel's argument contrasting human and divine endeavors. A work initiated by men will come to nought G2647, but a work of God cannot be overthrown Acts 5:38-39.
Fulfillment, Not Destruction: Jesus's teaching in Matthew 5:17 uses G2647 to establish the nature of his mission. He came not to destroy the established law, but to bring it to its intended completion.
The Temporal and the Eternal: Paul uses the term to distinguish between the mortal body and the eternal one. Our "earthly house" is a temporary structure that can be dissolved G2647, which is then replaced by an eternal building G3619 from God 2 Corinthians 5:1.

Summary

In summary, G2647 is a multifaceted word that signifies much more than demolition. It is used to describe the literal razing of buildings, the figurative collapse of human plans, and the dissolution of the mortal body, while also carrying the unique meaning of taking shelter for the night. Theologically, it serves as a critical term to contrast the temporary nature of human works with the permanence of God's work and to define Christ's mission as one of fulfillment rather than destruction.

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 17 occurrences, inflected in 9 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Aorist Active Infinitive 5×
Future Passive Indicative 3rd Singular 3×
Aorist Passive Subjunctive 3rd Singular 2×
Present Active Participle Vocative Singular Masculine 2×
Aorist Active Indicative 1st Singular 1×
Aorist Active Subjunctive 3rd Plural 1×
Future Active Indicative 1st Singular 1×
Future Active Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
Present Active Imperative 2nd Singular 1×

Vocative: Direct address — naming who is spoken to.
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
1st: First person — the speaker ("I"/"we").
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.
Future: Action yet to take place.
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Passive: The subject is acted upon.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Imperative: A command or entreaty.
Subjunctive: Possibility or purpose — "might", "should".
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 16 verses across 7 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Matthew (4 verses); never once in the other 20.

Matthew

Mark

Luke

Acts

Romans

2 Corinthians

Galatians

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.