κατακολουθέω
katakolouthéō
G2628 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To follow closely, to come after someone or something with particular attention—primarily of literal physical following, but also in a figurative sense of imitating or conforming attentively to a pattern, teaching, or example. The sense emphasizes close pursuit, diligence, or careful attentiveness in following.
Semantic Range
to follow closely, to accompany or attend diligently, to conform to or imitate closely, to pursue attentively
Root / Etymology
From κατα- (kata-, 'down, intensive, closely') + ἀκολουθέω (akoloutheō, 'to follow'), thus meaning 'to follow closely' or 'attend strictly alongside.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Koine and later Greek, κατακολουθέω is relatively rare compared to ἀκολουθέω. When used, it intensifies the act of following, with κατα- lending a sense of close, exact, or thorough pursuit. In the New Testament, the verb appears in reference to attentive or exact following, whether literally accompanying a person or conforming to an example with diligence. No strict technical or religious usage is apparent, and it retains a primarily general (but intensified) meaning compared to its root. English Bible translations often render it simply as 'follow,' but this may obscure the added sense of close or exact attentiveness. The verb does not carry the technical connotations of μαθητεύω ('to be a disciple') or the broader sense of πορεύομαι ('to go'), focusing instead on the specific act of closely following. The prefix κατα- as an intensifier is found in various Koine compounds indicating completeness or thoroughness.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from κατά and ἀκολουθέω; to accompany closely:--follow (after).
Root Family
ἀκολουθ- (exakolouthéō) — to follow, to accompany, to pursue
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| G1811 | ἐξακολουθέω | having thoroughly followed |
| G1872 | ἐπακολουθέω | you may follow closely |
| G190 | ἀκολουθέω | Keep following |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2628-01 |
κατακολουθήσασαι | katakolouthesasai | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM F PL |
having followed | having closely followed | having closely followed | 1 |
G2628-02 |
κατακολουθοῦσα | katakolouthousa | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM F SG |
following | closely following | closely following | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2628-01 |
Luke 23:55 | κατακολουθήσασαι | katakolouthesasai | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM F PL |
having followed | having closely followed | having closely followed |
G2628-02 |
Acts 16:17 | κατακολουθοῦσα | katakolouthousa | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM F SG |
following | closely following | closely following |