καταβαίνω (G2597) — Greek Lexicon

καταβαίνω

katabaínō

G2597 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To go or move downward from a higher to a lower place; to descend. This includes both literal physical movement (as from a hill, ship, or higher location) and metaphorical or extended senses, such as descending in rank, status, or spiritual condition. Contextually, may refer to the act of someone coming down from above, entering a lower region, or experiencing a lowering in status or capacity.

Semantic Range

to descend, to go down physically, to come down from a higher place, to step down, to fall down, to move down socially or metaphorically

Root / Etymology

From the preposition κατά (down, against, according to) and the root of βαίνω (to go, to step), thus meaning literally 'to go down' or 'to descend.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

καταβαίνω is broadly attested across classical, Hellenistic, and Koine Greek with its core meaning of descending or moving downward. In narratives, especially in the New Testament and Septuagint, it is often used for physical movement from an elevated place to a lower one: e.g., descending from a mountain, coming down from a ship. In figurative contexts, καταβαίνω may refer to decline or deterioration, such as descending into the grave or undergoing a reduction in status. English translations (e.g., 'come down,' 'descend') generally capture the literal sense but may not convey the full metaphorical or social implications present in certain contexts. The verb contrasts with ἀναβαίνω (to go up, ascend), which denotes upward movement. While used with both personal and impersonal subjects, the context of descent varies depending on the scene—whether geographic, social, or spiritual. In Jewish-Greek texts, καταβαίνω may be employed to describe movement toward the plain or to regions considered lower in elevation (e.g., from Jerusalem, which is on a height, to Jericho).

Translation Consistency

primary "go down" 13 occurrences

Natural, common English that covers the full SILEX range (literal descent, coming down from a higher place, and metaphorical lowering in status). It maps easily to all inflected forms (went down, comes down, descending) and sounds more idiomatic than the one-word formal 'descend' while preserving the basic meaning.

Alternatives (68 occurrences):

"descending" (20x) "went down" (18x) "having gone down" (13x) "descend" (3x) "gone down" (3x) "those going down" (2x) "those having gone down" (2x) "descends" (2x) "having descended" (1x) "come down" (1x) "those descending" (1x) "descended" (1x) "those having descended" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from κατά and the base of βάσις; to descend (literally or figuratively):--come (get, go, step) down, fall (down).

Root Family

καταβαίνω (katabainō) — to go down, to descend, to step down, to move downward

Root βαίνω to go, to step, to move

Word Forms

26 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G2597-24`	κατέβη	katebe	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	came down	went down	went down	13
`G2597-14`	καταβὰς	katabas	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	having gone down	having descended	having gone down	12
`G2597-03`	καταβαῖνον	katabainon	`V PRS ACT PTCP ACC N SG`	descending	descending	descending	9
`G2597-15`	καταβάτω	katabato	`V AOR ACT IMP 3P SG`	come down	let him descend	let him go down	5
`G2597-26`	κατέβησαν	katebesan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	they went down	they descended	they went down	5
`G2597-22`	κατάβηθι	katabethi	`V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG`	come down	Descend!	Go down!	4
`G2597-10`	καταβαίνουσαν	katabainousan	`V PRS ACT PTCP ACC F SG`	coming down	descending	descending	3
`G2597-04`	καταβαίνοντα	katabainonta	`V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M SG`	coming down	descending	descending	3
`G2597-16`	καταβῇ	katabe	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	comes down	may descend	he may go down	2
`G2597-07`	καταβαινόντων	katabainonton	`V PRS ACT PTCP GEN M PL`	they came down	of those descending	of those going down	2
`G2597-19`	καταβῆναι	katabenai	`V AOR ACT INF`	to come down	to descend	to come down	2
`G2597-01`	καταβαίνει	katabainei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	comes down	he/she/it descends	descends	2
`G2597-17`	καταβέβηκα	katabebeka	`V PRF ACT IND 1P SG`	I have come down	I have descended	I have gone down	2
`G2597-23`	κατέβαινεν	katebainen	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG`	was going down	was descending	was descending	2
`G2597-20`	καταβήσῃ	katabese	`V FUT MID IND 2P SG`	be brought down	you will descend	you will descend	2
`G2597-12`	καταβάντες	katabantes	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	had come down	those having descended	those having gone down	2
`G2597-21`	καταβήσεται	katabesetai	`V FUT MID IND 3P SG`	shall descend	he/she/it will descend	he himself will go down	2
`G2597-02`	καταβαίνειν	katabainein	`V PRS ACT INF`	come down	to descend	to descend	1
`G2597-06`	καταβαίνοντες	katabainontes	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	falling down	those descending	descending	1
`G2597-05`	καταβαίνοντας	katabainontas	`V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M PL`	descending	descending ones	those descending	1
`G2597-08`	καταβαίνοντος	katabainontos	`V PRS ACT PTCP GEN M SG`	was going down	of the one descending	descending	1
`G2597-09`	καταβαίνουσα	katabainousa	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM F SG`	coming down	descending	descending	1
`G2597-25`	κατέβην	kateben	`V AOR ACT IND 1P SG`	I came down	I descended	I descended	1
`G2597-11`	καταβὰν	kataban	`V AOR ACT PTCP ACC N SG`	to go down	having gone down	having gone down	1
`G2597-13`	καταβάντος	katabantos	`V AOR ACT PTCP GEN M SG`	having come down	of one having descended	of one having descended	1
`G2597-18`	καταβεβηκότες	katabebekotes	`V PRF ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	having come down	those having descended	those having descended	1

Occurrences in Scripture

81 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G2597-03`	Matthew 3:16	καταβαῖνον	katabainon	`V PRS ACT PTCP ACC N SG`	descending	descending	descending
`G2597-24`	Matthew 7:25	κατέβη	katebe	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	came down	went down	went down
`G2597-24`	Matthew 7:27	κατέβη	katebe	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	descended	went down	went down
`G2597-13`	Matthew 8:1	καταβάντος	katabantos	`V AOR ACT PTCP GEN M SG`	having come down	of one having descended	of one having descended
`G2597-20`	Matthew 11:23	καταβήσῃ	katabese	`V FUT MID IND 2P SG`	you-will-go-down	you will descend	you will descend
`G2597-14`	Matthew 14:29	καταβὰς	katabas	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	getting down	having descended	having gone down
`G2597-07`	Matthew 17:9	καταβαινόντων	katabainonton	`V PRS ACT PTCP GEN M PL`	were coming down	of those descending	of those going down
`G2597-15`	Matthew 24:17	καταβάτω	katabato	`V AOR ACT IMP 3P SG`	come down	let him descend	let him go down
`G2597-22`	Matthew 27:40	κατάβηθι	katabethi	`V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG`	come down	Descend!	Go down!
`G2597-15`	Matthew 27:42	καταβάτω	katabato	`V AOR ACT IMP 3P SG`	let him come down	let him descend	let him go down
`G2597-14`	Matthew 28:2	καταβὰς	katabas	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	descended	having descended	having gone down
`G2597-03`	Mark 1:10	καταβαῖνον	katabainon	`V PRS ACT PTCP ACC N SG`	descending	descending	descending
`G2597-12`	Mark 3:22	καταβάντες	katabantes	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	came down	those having descended	those having gone down
`G2597-07`	Mark 9:9	καταβαινόντων	katabainonton	`V PRS ACT PTCP GEN M PL`	they came down	of those descending	of those going down
`G2597-15`	Mark 13:15	καταβάτω	katabato	`V AOR ACT IMP 3P SG`	go down	let him descend	let him go down
`G2597-14`	Mark 15:30	καταβὰς	katabas	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	come down	having descended	having gone down
`G2597-15`	Mark 15:32	καταβάτω	katabato	`V AOR ACT IMP 3P SG`	come down	let him descend	let him go down
`G2597-24`	Luke 2:51	κατέβη	katebe	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	he went down	went down	went down
`G2597-19`	Luke 3:22	καταβῆναι	katabenai	`V AOR ACT INF`	to descend	to descend	to have gone down
`G2597-14`	Luke 6:17	καταβὰς	katabas	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	came down	having descended	having gone down
`G2597-24`	Luke 8:23	κατέβη	katebe	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	came down	went down	went down
`G2597-19`	Luke 9:54	καταβῆναι	katabenai	`V AOR ACT INF`	to come down	to descend	to come down
`G2597-20`	Luke 10:15	καταβήσῃ	katabese	`V FUT PASS IND 2P SG`	be brought down	you will descend	you will descend
`G2597-23`	Luke 10:30	κατέβαινεν	katebainen	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG`	was going down	was descending	was descending
`G2597-23`	Luke 10:31	κατέβαινεν	katebainen	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG`	was going down	was descending	was descending
`G2597-15`	Luke 17:31	καταβάτω	katabato	`V AOR ACT IMP 3P SG`	let him come down	let him descend	let him go down
`G2597-24`	Luke 18:14	κατέβη	katebe	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	went down	went down	went down
`G2597-22`	Luke 19:5	κατάβηθι	katabethi	`V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG`	come down	Descend!	Go down!
`G2597-24`	Luke 19:6	κατέβη	katebe	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	came down	went down	went down
`G2597-06`	Luke 22:44	καταβαίνοντες	katabainontes	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	falling down	those descending	descending
`G2597-03`	John 1:32	καταβαῖνον	katabainon	`V PRS ACT PTCP ACC N SG`	descending	descending	descending
`G2597-03`	John 1:33	καταβαῖνον	katabainon	`V PRS ACT PTCP ACC N SG`	descending	descending	descending
`G2597-05`	John 1:51	καταβαίνοντας	katabainontas	`V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M PL`	descending	descending ones	those descending
`G2597-24`	John 2:12	κατέβη	katebe	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	he went down	went down	went down
`G2597-14`	John 3:13	καταβάς	katabas	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	who descended	having descended	having gone down
`G2597-16`	John 4:47	καταβῇ	katabe	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	he come down	may descend	he may go down
`G2597-22`	John 4:49	κατάβηθι	katabethi	`V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG`	come down	Descend!	Go down!
`G2597-08`	John 4:51	καταβαίνοντος	katabainontos	`V PRS ACT PTCP GEN M SG`	was going down	of the one descending	descending
`G2597-01`	John 5:7	καταβαίνει	katabainei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	steps down	he/she/it descends	descends
`G2597-26`	John 6:16	κατέβησαν	katebesan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	went down	they descended	they went down
`G2597-03`	John 6:33	καταβαίνων	katabainon	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	coming down	descending	descending
`G2597-17`	John 6:38	καταβέβηκα	katabebeka	`V PRF ACT IND 1P SG`	I have come down	I have descended	I have gone down
`G2597-14`	John 6:41	καταβὰς	katabas	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	that came down	having descended	having gone down
`G2597-17`	John 6:42	καταβέβηκα	katabebeka	`V PRF ACT IND 1P SG`	I have come down	I have descended	I have gone down
`G2597-03`	John 6:50	καταβαίνων	katabainon	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	coming down	descending	descending
`G2597-14`	John 6:51	καταβάς	katabas	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	that-came-down	having descended	having gone down
`G2597-14`	John 6:58	καταβάς	katabas	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	having come down	having descended	having gone down
`G2597-24`	Acts 7:15	κατέβη	katebe	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	went down	went down	went down
`G2597-25`	Acts 7:34	κατέβην	kateben	`V AOR ACT IND 1P SG`	I came down	I descended	I descended
`G2597-12`	Acts 8:15	καταβάντες	katabantes	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	had come down	those having descended	those having gone down
`G2597-10`	Acts 8:26	καταβαίνουσαν	katabainousan	`V PRS ACT PTCP ACC F SG`	descends	descending	descending
`G2597-26`	Acts 8:38	κατέβησαν	katebesan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	they went down	they descended	they went down
`G2597-03`	Acts 10:11	καταβαῖνον	katabainon	`V PRS ACT PTCP ACC N SG`	descending	descending	descending
`G2597-22`	Acts 10:20	κατάβηθι	katabethi	`V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG`	go downstairs	Descend!	Go down!
`G2597-14`	Acts 10:21	καταβὰς	katabas	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	having gone down	having descended	having gone down
`G2597-03`	Acts 11:5	καταβαῖνον	katabainon	`V PRS ACT PTCP ACC N SG`	descending	descending	descending
`G2597-26`	Acts 14:11	κατέβησαν	katebesan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	have come down	they descended	they went down
`G2597-26`	Acts 14:25	κατέβησαν	katebesan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	they went down	they descended	they went down
`G2597-26`	Acts 16:8	κατέβησαν	katebesan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	they came down	they descended	they went down
`G2597-24`	Acts 18:22	κατέβη	katebe	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	went down	went down	went down
`G2597-14`	Acts 20:10	καταβὰς	katabas	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	went down	having descended	having gone down
`G2597-11`	Acts 23:10	καταβὰν	kataban	`V AOR ACT PTCP ACC N SG`	to go down	having gone down	having gone down
`G2597-24`	Acts 24:1	κατέβη	katebe	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	came down	went down	went down
`G2597-16`	Acts 24:22	καταβῇ	katabe	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	comes down	may descend	he may go down
`G2597-14`	Acts 25:6	καταβὰς	katabas	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	having gone down	having descended	having gone down
`G2597-18`	Acts 25:7	καταβεβηκότες	katabebekotes	`V PRF ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	having come down	those having descended	those having descended
`G2597-21`	Romans 10:7	καταβήσεται	katabesetai	`V FUT MID IND 3P SG`	shall descend	he/she/it will descend	he/she/it will go down
`G2597-24`	Ephesians 4:9	κατέβη	katebe	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	he descended	went down	went down
`G2597-14`	Ephesians 4:10	καταβὰς	katabas	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	who descended	having descended	having gone down
`G2597-21`	1 Thessalonians 4:16	καταβήσεται	katabesetai	`V FUT MID IND 3P SG`	will descend	he/she/it will descend	he himself will go down
`G2597-03`	James 1:17	καταβαῖνον	katabainon	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM N SG`	coming down	descending	descending
`G2597-09`	Revelation 3:12	καταβαίνουσα	katabainousa	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM F SG`	coming down	descending	descending
`G2597-04`	Revelation 10:1	καταβαίνοντα	katabainonta	`V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M SG`	coming down	descending	descending
`G2597-24`	Revelation 12:12	κατέβη	katebe	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	has come down	went down	went down
`G2597-02`	Revelation 13:13	καταβαίνειν	katabainein	`V PRS ACT INF`	come down	to descend	to descend
`G2597-01`	Revelation 16:21	καταβαίνει	katabainei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	comes down	he/she/it descends	descends
`G2597-04`	Revelation 18:1	καταβαίνοντα	katabainonta	`V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M SG`	coming down	descending	descending
`G2597-04`	Revelation 20:1	καταβαίνοντα	katabainonta	`V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M SG`	coming down	descending	descending
`G2597-24`	Revelation 20:9	κατέβη	katebe	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	came down	went down	went down
`G2597-10`	Revelation 21:2	καταβαίνουσαν	katabainousan	`V PRS ACT PTCP ACC F SG`	coming down	descending	descending
`G2597-10`	Revelation 21:10	καταβαίνουσαν	katabainousan	`V PRS ACT PTCP ACC F SG`	descending	descending	descending

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