κατακόπτω (G2629) — Greek Lexicon

κατακόπτω

katakóptō

G2629 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To cut down, chop up, or cut into pieces with repeated blows; to mutilate or gash (especially referring to the act of inflicting wounds upon oneself or another, often in contexts of mourning, ritual, or violence). In some contexts, particularly in ritual settings, can refer to self-inflicted laceration as an act of lament or religious observance.

Semantic Range

to chop down, to cut into pieces, to mangle, to mutilate, to gash (especially oneself), to wound violently (esp. in ritual or frenzy)

Root / Etymology

From the preposition κατά ('down,' 'against') and the verb κόπτω ('to strike, cut, beat').

Historical & Contextual Notes

κατακόπτω is attested from at least the Hellenistic period and is relatively rare, with occurrences primarily in Jewish-Greek and related ritual or narrative contexts (e.g., Septuagint, Philo). In the Septuagint (e.g., 1 Kings 18:28), it describes the self-laceration of Baal's prophets in their ritual, echoing similar contexts in Greek literature where violent or frenzied cutting is involved. The act often has strong emotional or ritual connotations (mourning, ecstatic worship, or violence). The term retains the base idea of strong, thorough cutting, but English translations ('to cut,' 'to mangle') can understate the emphasis on repeated, downward blows or ritually significant wounding. Unlike the more general κόπτω, κατακόπτω intensifies the action, implying a comprehensive or violent reduction (cutting down entirely, mangling). It is not used for simple or surgical cutting, but for destructive or emotionally charged acts. This distinguishes it from more neutral cutting verbs (e.g., τεμνω).

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from κατά and κόπτω; to chop down, i.e. mangle:--cut.

Root Family

κοπτ- (enkóptō) — to cut, to strike, to make an incision

Root κοπτ- to strike, to cut, to beat

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
G1465	ἐγκόπτω	cut in and hindered
G1581	ἐκκόπτω	you will be cut off
G609	ἀποκόπτω	they cut off

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G2629-01`	κατακόπτων	katakopton	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	cutting	mutilating	cutting	1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G2629-01`	Mark 5:5	κατακόπτων	katakopton	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	cutting	mutilating	cutting

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