Word Study for G2723 (κατηγορέω)

katēgoréō /kat-ay-gor-eh'-o/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom κατήγορος

Meaningto be a plaintiff, i.e. to charge with some offence

KJV usageaccuse, object.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of katēgoréō — 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 katēgoréō, represented by G2723, is derived from κατήγορος and means to be a plaintiff or to charge with some offence. It appears 24 times across 21 unique verses in the Bible, most often translated as accuse or object. The term carries a strong legal and confrontational connotation, referring to the act of bringing a formal charge against someone.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, G2723 is frequently used in the context of legal trials and malicious plots. The chief priests and elders repeatedly accused Jesus, but he answered nothing (Matthew 27:12, Mark 15:3). These accusations included specific charges, such as perverting the nation and forbidding the payment of tribute to Caesar Luke 23:2. In many instances, the word describes attempts to entrap Jesus, as his opponents sought reasons they might accuse him concerning healing on the Sabbath Matthew 12:10 or his teachings Luke 11:54. The Apostle Paul is also frequently the subject of accusation, with Roman officials noting that an accused person must have a chance to answer the charges Acts 25:16.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the concept of accusation and legal defense:

G2725 katḗgoros (accuser): This is the noun form, meaning a complainant at law. It is used in contexts like the trial of Paul, where he was to face his accusers Acts 25:16, and is specially used to identify Satan as the accuser Revelation 12:10.
G626 apologéomai (answer for self, excuse self): As the direct counterpart to being accused, this word describes the act of making a legal plea or defense. It appears in contrast to G2723 where conscience may be accusing or else excusing Romans 2:15.
G1294 diastréphō (pervert, distort): This term often describes the nature of a false charge. Jesus' opponents accused him by claiming he was perverting the nation Luke 23:2.
G483 antilégō (dispute, refuse, speak against): This word describes verbal opposition that can lead to a formal accusation. Paul was constrained to appeal to Caesar after the Jews spake against his case Acts 28:19.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G2723 is significant, highlighting themes of justice, false witness, and spiritual conflict.

False Accusation and Righteousness: The word is central to the passion narratives, where Jesus stands as the righteous one unjustly accused by his enemies. Pilate, after examining him, declared he found no fault in Jesus concerning the things whereof they accuse him Luke 23:14.
The Internal Conscience: G2723 is used to describe the inner workings of the human conscience, which can bear witness by accusing or excusing one's own thoughts and actions Romans 2:15.
Divine and Covenantal Judgment: Jesus deflects the role of accuser, stating that it is Moses, in whom the people trust, who will accuse them to the Father John 5:45.
Cosmic Conflict: The term is used in a cosmic sense in Revelation, identifying "the accuser of our brethren" who accused them before God day and night, but has been cast down Revelation 12:10.

Summary

In summary, G2723 is a powerful term that moves beyond a simple complaint to a formal, often legal, accusation. It is foundational to understanding the trial narratives of both Jesus and Paul, illustrating the conflict between innocence and malicious charges. The word also carries profound theological weight, defining the internal moral court of the conscience and the ultimate spiritual battle against the "accuser of the brethren."

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 24 occurrences, inflected in 14 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Present Active Infinitive 6×
Aorist Active Subjunctive 3rd Plural 3×
Present Active Indicative 3rd Plural 3×
Present Active Participle Nominative Singular Masculine 2×
Future Active Indicative 1st Singular 1×
Imperfect Active Indicative 3rd Plural 1×
Present Active Imperative 3rd Plural 1×
Present Active Indicative 1st Plural 1×
Present Active Indicative 2nd Plural 1×
Present Active Participle Genitive Plural Masculine 1×
Present Active Participle Nominative Plural Masculine 1×
Present Passive Indicative 3rd Singular 1×

+ 2 rarer forms

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Genitive: Possession or source — often "of".
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.
Imperfect: Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
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 21 verses across 7 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Acts (9 verses); never once in the other 20.

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

Acts

Romans

Revelation

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.