καταποντίζω (G2670) — Greek Lexicon

καταποντίζω

katapontízō

G2670 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To cause to sink deeply, to submerge completely, especially in water; in most contexts, to drown (cause to die by submersion or sinking), or (passively) to go under, be overwhelmed by water or other liquid. The primary sense is to forcibly cause something or someone to be covered over or engulfed (usually by water).

Semantic Range

to drown, submerge, cause to sink, overwhelm by water, destroy by immersion, perish by submersion

Root / Etymology

From the preposition κατά ('down, according to') and a derivative of πόντος ('sea'); literally, 'to send into the deep sea.' The verb is not attested in classical authors but is clearly a compound formed in Koine from established roots.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The verb καταποντίζω appears primarily in Koine Greek, especially in the Septuagint and New Testament, where its sense is almost always literal: to drown or cause to sink beneath water. It is frequently used in narrative contexts describing destruction or judgment by submersion (e.g. the drowning of the Egyptian forces in Exodus narratives, or the fate of someone thrown into the sea). In the New Testament (e.g., Matthew 18:6, Luke 17:2), it carries the notion of being overwhelmed or destroyed by being cast into the depths. The verb is rare outside biblical and related religious literature and does not have the extended metaphorical senses found with words like βυθίζω ('to sink'). Later translations often render it as 'drown' or 'sink,' but the word always retains the strong connotation of complete submersion with negative or destructive outcomes. There is no indication in extant sources that it was used in a purely figurative sense in Koine period texts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from κατά and a derivative of the same as Πόντος; to plunge down, i.e. submerge:--drown, sink.

Root Family

καταποντίζω (katapontizō) — sea, deep, submerge, cause to sink, drown

Root ποντ- sea, deep, to submerge, cause to sink

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G2670-01`	καταποντισθῇ	katapontisthe	`V AOR PASS SUBJ 3P SG`	were drowned	may be submerged	he be drowned	1
`G2670-02`	καταποντίζεσθαι	katapontizesthai	`V PRS PASS INF`	to sink	to be submerged	to be submerged	1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G2670-02`	Matthew 14:30	καταποντίζεσθαι	katapontizesthai	`V PRS PASS INF`	to sink	to be submerged	to be submerged
`G2670-01`	Matthew 18:6	καταποντισθῇ	katapontisthe	`V AOR PASS SUBJ 3P SG`	were drowned	may be submerged	he be drowned

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