Word Study for G2690 (καταστρέφω)

katastréphō /kat-as-tref'-o/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom κατά and στρέφω

Meaningto turn upside down, i.e. upset

KJV usageoverthrow.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of katastréphō — 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 katastréphō, represented by G2690, means to turn upside down or to overthrow. It is a potent and descriptive term derived from the words κατά and στρέφω. Despite its strong meaning, it is used sparingly in scripture, appearing only 2 times in 2 unique verses.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

Both occurrences of G2690 are found in the parallel accounts of Jesus cleansing the temple. In this powerful display of divine authority, Jesus entered the temple of God and began to drive out those engaged in commerce. The word is used specifically to describe how he overthrew the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of those selling doves, physically upending the corrupt practices taking place (Matthew 21:12; Mark 11:15). This action serves as a dramatic and literal fulfillment of the word's meaning.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide context for the scene in which G2690 appears:

G1525 eisérchomai (to enter): This word describes the initial action of Jesus as he went into the temple precincts before the overthrow took place Matthew 21:12. It is often used to signify entry into a physical place or a spiritual state, such as the kingdom of God John 3:5.
G1544 ekbállō (to eject): Used in conjunction with G2690, this term describes how Jesus cast out the merchants from the temple (Matthew 21:12; Mark 11:15). It carries a sense of forceful expulsion and is also used for casting out devils Mark 16:17 or sending forth laborers into the harvest Luke 10:2.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of G2690 is concentrated in its singular context.

Divine Judgment on Corruption: The act of overthrowing the tables is a physical manifestation of judgment against the defilement of a sacred space. It demonstrates a decisive and righteous response to the commercialization within the "temple of God" Matthew 21:12.
Messianic Authority: By using such a forceful action, Jesus asserts his authority over the temple and its activities. This overturning is not a mere display of anger but a deliberate act signifying his power to cleanse and restore proper worship.
Upsetting the Profane Order: The literal turning upside down of tables symbolizes the spiritual upsetting of a system that prioritized profit over piety. It represents a direct confrontation with the established, yet corrupt, order.

Summary

In summary, G2690 is a rare but impactful word that captures a pivotal moment in Jesus's ministry. While its usage is limited to a single event, its meaning—to overthrow or turn upside down—is vividly illustrated in the cleansing of the temple. The word powerfully conveys the finality and authority with which Jesus confronted the desecration of His Father's house, making it a key term for understanding divine judgment and the purification of worship.

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 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Aorist Active Indicative 3rd Singular 2×
Perfect Passive Participle Accusative Plural Neuter 1×

Accusative: The direct object of the verb.
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Neuter: Neuter grammatical gender.
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
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.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
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 2 verses across 2 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Matthew and Mark (1 verse each); never once in the other 25.

Matthew

Mark

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.