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ἀκαταστασία

akatastasía

G181 noun

SILEX Entry

Root καταστα- to establish, to set in place, to render stable

Definition

State or condition of instability; lack of order or fixedness. The term encompasses situations marked by disorder, unrest, or disruptive commotion—whether in social, political, communal, or personal contexts. Broadly denotes a breakdown or absence of orderly arrangement, resulting in confusion, tumult, or disturbance.

Semantic Range

instability, disorder, commotion, disruption, public or civil unrest, inner turmoil, confusion, tumult

Root / Etymology

ἀκαταστασία derives from ἀκατάστατος (unsettled, unstable, disorderly) with the abstract nominal suffix -ια (-ia), denoting a condition or state. The root is καταστα- (from καθίστημι, to set in place or establish), with the privative prefix α- (not, without).

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἀκαταστασία referred chiefly to political or civic unrest, as in revolutions or riots within a city (e.g., Demosthenes, Polybius). In the Septuagint (LXX), it translates Hebrew terms describing social or national turmoil (cf. LXX Isaiah 24:10). In the New Testament it is used both for social and personal disorder (e.g., Luke 21:9 of wars and commotions; 1 Corinthians 14:33 of disorder in worship). The semantic range centers on disruption of an established order, more than mere "confusion." English translations like 'commotion', 'disorder', or 'confusion' only partially capture its breadth; English 'tumult' or 'unrest' also overlap but none fully embody its connection to a disrupted or ungovernable state. The term can refer to collective or individual disorder, depending on context.

Translation Consistency

primary "disorder" 4 occurrences

‘Disorder’ is the most natural, widely-used English term that covers the primary senses of ἀκαταστασία (instability, commotion, unrest, confusion, tumult). It fits both social/political unrest and inner or communal disruption and reads naturally in translation contexts (e.g. “disorder” or “a state of disorder”).

Alternatives (1 occurrence):
"instability" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἀκατάστατος; instability, i.e. disorder:--commotion, confusion, tumult.

Root Family

ἀκαταστασία (akatastasia) — instability, disorder, unrest, disruption, tumult

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G181-04 ἀκαταστασίας akatastasias N ACC F PL of confusion states of instability disorders 2
G181-03 ἀκαταστασίαις akatastasiais N DAT F PL tumults in states of disorder in states of disorder 1
G181-01 ἀκαταστασία akatastasia N NOM F SG disorder instability instability 1
G181-02 ἀκαταστασίαι akatastasiai N NOM F PL disorder states of disorder states of disorder 1

Occurrences in Scripture

5 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G181-04 Luke 21:9 ἀκαταστασίας akatastasias N ACC F PL uprisings states of instability disorders
G181-04 1 Corinthians 14:33 ἀκαταστασίας akatastasias N GEN F SG of confusion states of instability disorders
G181-03 2 Corinthians 6:5 ἀκαταστασίαις akatastasiais N DAT F PL tumults in states of disorder in states of disorder
G181-02 2 Corinthians 12:20 ἀκαταστασίαι akatastasiai N NOM F PL disorder states of disorder states of disorder
G181-01 James 3:16 ἀκαταστασία akatastasia N NOM F SG disorder instability instability
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