κατασφάττω
kataspháttō
G2695 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To kill in a violent or ritualized manner, to slaughter, especially in the sense of a decisive or mass killing. The term often carries the implication of putting someone or something to death with a strong, forceful action, and may involve the image of slaughter as in sacrificial or violent contexts. While the core sense is 'to kill,' the term suggests thoroughness or completion (with κατα- as intensifier) and is frequently used regarding victims of war or persecution rather than for ordinary killing.
Semantic Range
to slaughter violently, to massacre, to slay (especially in battle or judicial context), to kill systematically (as in persecution), to kill with thoroughness or emphasis
Root / Etymology
From the prefix κατα- (down, against, thoroughly) + the verb σφάζω (to slay, slaughter, cut the throat, especially in sacrificial rites). Thus, κατασφάττω intensifies the notion of slaying to connote complete or thorough slaughter.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Attested in later Koine and early Christian texts, κατασφάττω is a rarer and more forceful variant of σφάζω. The prefix κατα- strengthens the sense of totality or completeness of the act. In the Septuagint, the term appears in contexts describing violent or comprehensive destruction, often applied to battle scenes or acts of divine judgment. In the New Testament (Rev 6:11; 18:24), it carries strong associations with martyrological violence, the systematic slaying of groups, or judicial executions. The word is more vivid and intense than verbs like ἀποκτείνω (to kill generally), centering specifically on the act of slaying with an overtone of brutality or finality. English Bible translations often render it as 'slay' or 'slaughter,' but these may not always convey the thoroughness or force implied in the Greek. There is no indication of ritual or sacrificial slaughter in all uses, but this nuance may be present by association with σφάζω. In classical Greek, σφάζω typically refers to ritual slaughter; the compound, however, more often suggests a violent, unceremonious mass killing in Hellenistic and later sources.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from κατά and σφάζω; to kill down, i.e. slaughter:--slay.
Root Family
κατασφάττω (katasphattō) — to slaughter, to slay violently, to massacre, to kill thoroughly
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2695-01 |
κατασφάξατε | katasphaxate | V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL |
slay | Slaughter thoroughly! | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2695-01 |
Luke 19:27 | κατασφάξατε | katasphaxate | V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL |
slay | Slaughter thoroughly! |