καταστέλλω
katastéllō
G2687 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To bring down, reduce, restrain, or cause something to cease or subside; to set in order, arrange, or regulate; used especially of calming disturbances, quieting agitation, or bringing about order after disorder. In some contexts, refers to stilling, quieting, or making calm (e.g., a crowd or unrest); can also mean to arrange or make ready, especially by setting in order or preparation.
Semantic Range
to restrain, to quiet, to cause to cease, to appease, to subdue, to set in order, to calm, to arrange, to bring under control
Root / Etymology
Derived from the preposition κατά (down, according to) and the verb στέλλω (to set, arrange, send, or make ready). The compound thus literally means 'to send or set down,' with extended senses of arranging or subduing.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, καταστέλλω is used for the act of causing something to cease or restoring order, often used in political or military contexts for quelling unrest or reducing passions. In Koine Greek, including the New Testament and Septuagint, the verb frequently refers to calming or restraining disturbances (Acts 19:35: the town clerk 'quieted' the crowd), or figuratively to bringing a situation under control. The underlying notion is not simply calming, but imposing order where there is disturbance. LXX usage includes similar senses of stilling a tumult. English translations vary, sometimes rendering as 'quiet,' 'appease,' or 'restrain,' but none fully convey the order-restoring aspect inherent in the Greek. Not to be confused with σιγάω (to be silent) or ἡσυχάζω (to be still, rest), which indicate more passive states; καταστέλλω carries the nuance of active intervention to create or restore calm or order.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from κατά and στέλλω; to put down, i.e. quell:--appease, quiet.
Root Family
καταστέλλω (katastellō) — to set down, to arrange, to restrain, to quiet
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2687-01 |
καταστείλας | katasteilas | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
having calmed down | having subdued | having calmed down | 1 |
G2687-02 |
κατεσταλμένους | katestalmenous | V PRF PASS PTCP ACC M PL |
to be quiet | having been subdued | restrained | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2687-01 |
Acts 19:35 | καταστείλας | katasteilas | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
having calmed down | having subdued | having calmed down |
G2687-02 |
Acts 19:36 | κατεσταλμένους | katestalmenous | V PRF PASS PTCP ACC M PL |
to be quiet | having been subdued | restrained |