### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb G2666 καταπίνω (katapínō) is a compound word derived from the preposition κατά (katá), meaning "down" or "against," and the verb πίνω (pínō), meaning "to drink" (`{{G4095}}`). This etymological foundation immediately conveys a sense of forceful, complete consumption. Its core meaning is "to drink down" or "to gulp entirely."
The semantic range extends from the literal act of swallowing or drowning to more profound figurative applications. In its literal sense, it denotes the complete ingestion of something, often with a swift or violent action. Figuratively, katapínō signifies to "devour," "overwhelm," "absorb," or "destroy completely." This can apply to physical entities, such as the earth swallowing something, or to abstract concepts, such as sorrow overwhelming a person, or life triumphing over mortality. The consistent thread throughout its usage is the idea of complete absorption or annihilation, leaving no remainder.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term G2666 καταπίνω appears several times in the New Testament, each context illuminating a facet of its semantic range:
* **Literal Drowning:** In [[Hebrews 11:29]], the word describes the fate of the Egyptians who "were drowned" in the Red Sea while pursuing the Israelites. Here, katapínō vividly portrays the complete engulfment and destruction by water, a literal act of being swallowed by the sea.
* **Divine Intervention & Protection:** [[Revelation 12:16]] presents a dramatic scene where "the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth." This usage highlights God's sovereign power to intervene supernaturally, using creation itself to protect His people by completely absorbing the enemy's attack.
* **Overwhelming Sorrow:** In [[2 Corinthians 2:7]], Paul urges the Corinthian church to forgive a repentant brother, "lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow." This is a powerful figurative use, depicting sorrow not merely as a feeling, but as an overwhelming force that can consume and destroy a person's spirit, emphasizing the need for restorative grace.
* **Victory Over Mortality:** Two profoundly theological passages employ katapínō to describe the ultimate triumph of life and victory over death.
* [[1 Corinthians 15:54]]: "Death is swallowed up in victory." This declaration, drawing from [[Isaiah 25:8]] (in the Septuagint), proclaims the definitive and utter defeat of death through Christ's resurrection. Death, humanity's greatest enemy, is not merely vanquished but completely absorbed and nullified by the power of Christ's victory.
* [[2 Corinthians 5:4]]: "that mortality might be swallowed up of life." Here, the perishable nature of human existence is depicted as being completely consumed and transformed by the eternal life offered in Christ. This speaks to the eschatological hope of resurrection and glorification, where the mortal is wholly subsumed by the immortal.
### Related Words & Concepts
G2666 καταπίνω shares conceptual space with several other Greek terms and theological ideas:
* **πίνω (pínō, `{{G4095}}`):** The base verb, meaning "to drink." The addition of κατά intensifies the action, implying completeness or finality.
* **ἀναλίσκω (analískō, `{{G355}}`):** To consume, destroy. While analískō focuses on the act of destruction, katapínō often implies a more complete, engulfing form of consumption.
* **ἐσθίω (esthíō, `{{G2068}}`):** To eat. katapínō implies a more forceful and total consumption than simply eating.
* **Consumption/Destruction:** The word is inherently tied to concepts of complete consumption, whether literal (drowning, earth swallowing) or metaphorical (sorrow, death).
* **Overwhelming Force:** The idea of being overwhelmed by a superior power, whether divine, natural, or emotional, is central to its meaning.
* **Divine Sovereignty:** In instances like [[Revelation 12:16]], katapínō underscores God's ultimate control and ability to intervene decisively in history.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of G2666 καταπίνω is profound, particularly in its eschatological and soteriological applications.
Firstly, its usage in [[1 Corinthians 15:54]] and [[2 Corinthians 5:4]] highlights the absolute triumph of Christ over death and mortality. The resurrection of Jesus is not merely a defeat of death, but its utter annihilation, its complete absorption into the victory of life. This signifies that death, once the reigning power over humanity, is now utterly vanquished and has no lasting dominion over those in Christ. This provides a powerful foundation for the Christian hope of resurrection and eternal life, where perishable existence is fully transformed into imperishable glory.
Secondly, the word's application to overwhelming sorrow in [[2 Corinthians 2:7]] underscores the destructive power of unmitigated grief and the vital importance of forgiveness and reconciliation within the Christian community. It serves as a pastoral warning against allowing spiritual and emotional forces to completely consume an individual, emphasizing the need for grace and restoration.
Finally, katapínō in [[Revelation 12:16]] illustrates God's active and decisive intervention in the cosmic conflict. The earth's swallowing of the dragon's flood demonstrates God's unfailing protection of His people and His ultimate control over all forces, visible and invisible. This reinforces the theme of divine sovereignty and the assurance that God will ultimately overcome all opposition.
### Summary
G2666 καταπίνω (katapínō) is a potent Greek verb signifying a complete and forceful act of "swallowing up," "devouring," or "overwhelming." Rooted in the idea of drinking down, its semantic range extends from literal drowning and earth-swallowing to profound metaphorical uses. Biblically, it vividly portrays the destructive power of sorrow, the decisive intervention of God in protection, and, most significantly, the ultimate and total victory of life over death through Jesus Christ. The word underscores the completeness of God's triumph over all adversarial forces, particularly in the eschatological hope where mortality is utterly swallowed up by eternal life. It is a term that speaks to finality, complete absorption, and the ultimate triumph of God's purposes.
TRV