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κατάπαυσις

katápausis

G2663 noun

SILEX Entry

Root παυ- to stop, to cease, to bring to rest

Definition

'Resting, cessation, or state of being at rest.' The core meaning refers to a state of cessation from activity, tranquility, or repose. In biblical contexts, especially drawing from the Septuagint and Hebrews, it acquires the sense of a divinely granted 'rest,' often in relation to the Land or eschatological fulfillment. Secondary senses include a place or abode of rest, paralleling the idea of entering into a designated rest or dwelling, notably in theological or literary uses.

Semantic Range

cessation from activity, rest, state of being at rest, place or abode of rest, divinely granted rest, Sabbath rest, entry into promised land, eschatological fulfillment

Root / Etymology

Derived from the verb καταπαύω (katapauō, 'to cause to cease, to bring to rest'), itself formed from κατά ('down, completely') + παύω ('to stop, to cease'). The suffix -σις forms a noun of action or state. No evidence of borrowing from non-Greek sources; it is a productive Greek formation.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, κατάπαυσις is rare but attested as 'cessation' or 'rest from troubles/work.' In the Septuagint (e.g., Exodus 35:2; Psalm 94:11 LXX = Psalm 95:11 MT), it translates the Hebrew מְנוּחָה (menuchah), 'resting place, rest,' and is used with reference to the promised land as the Israelites’ destination or as Sabbath rest. In Second Temple and New Testament literature (esp. Hebrews 3–4), the term acquires strong theological nuance: not only physical or geographical rest (i.e., settlement in the land), but also divine, eschatological rest—participation in God's own rest. The English translation 'rest' is largely correct, but often obscures the resonance with 'abode' or 'the place of rest'; ancient audiences may have sensed both a temporal experience and a spatial destination. Unlike other Greek terms for 'rest' (e.g., ἀνάπαυσις), κατάπαυσις is often more formal, with more theological and final connotations. In wider Koine Greek, the term remains uncommon outside Hellenistic Jewish and Christian literature, highlighting its role in translating specific Hebrew concepts and shaping theological discourse.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from καταπαύω; reposing down, i.e. (by Hebraism) abode:--rest.

Root Family

κατάπαυσις (katapausis) — cessation, rest, state of being at rest, repose, resting place

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G2663-02 κατάπαυσίν katapausin N ACC F SG state of rest 8
G2663-01 καταπαύσεώς katapauseos N GEN F SG rest of rest 1

Occurrences in Scripture

9 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G2663-01 Acts 7:49 καταπαύσεώς katapauseos N GEN F SG rest of rest
G2663-02 Hebrews 3:11 κατάπαυσίν katapausin N ACC F SG state of rest
G2663-02 Hebrews 3:18 κατάπαυσιν katapausin N ACC F SG state of rest
G2663-02 Hebrews 4:1 κατάπαυσιν katapausin N ACC F SG state of rest
G2663-02 Hebrews 4:3 κατάπαυσιν katapausin N ACC F SG state of rest
G2663-02 Hebrews 4:3 κατάπαυσίν katapausin-2 N ACC F SG state of rest
G2663-02 Hebrews 4:5 κατάπαυσίν katapausin N ACC F SG state of rest
G2663-02 Hebrews 4:10 κατάπαυσιν katapausin N ACC F SG state of rest
G2663-02 Hebrews 4:11 κατάπαυσιν katapausin N ACC F SG state of rest
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