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κατέρχομαι

katérchomai

G2718 verb

SILEX Entry

Root κατ- (prepositional prefix), ἐρχ- to come, to go, to move downward

Definition

To come down, go down, or descend (from a higher to a lower place); to travel downward physically or metaphorically. In specific contexts, also used for descending from a place of prominence, disembarking from a ship, or departing from a location. The primary lexical meaning involves physical or metaphorical movement from a higher to a lower position.

Semantic Range

to come down, to go down, to descend (physically or metaphorically), to disembark (from a ship), to land, to depart (from a higher or central place), to move from prominence to a lesser status

Root / Etymology

Formed from the preposition κατά ('down, according to') and the verb ἔρχομαι ('to come, to go'); thus, κατέρχομαι conveys 'to come/go down'. The compound construction is frequent in Hellenistic and Koine Greek.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical and Hellenistic Greek, κατέρχομαι is generally used for descending or coming down, especially in reference to movements from higher to lower locations: from the mountains to the plain, from the city to the harbor, etc. In the context of sea travel, it can mean 'to disembark' or 'to land' from a ship, which is a specialized extension of 'coming down' from a ship onto land. In the New Testament and Septuagint, it can also carry metaphorical senses such as coming down socially or in status, and, less often, departing as a movement away from a place of importance. Standard English translations often use 'descend', 'come down', or 'go down', though 'depart' and 'land' (in nautical contexts) are also possible. The usage is consistent from classical through Koine Greek, though nuances related to ship travel are especially common in Hellenistic texts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from κατά and ἔρχομαι (including its alternate); to come (or go) down (literally or figuratively):--come (down), depart, descend, go down, land.

Root Family

κατέρχομαι (katerchomai) — to come down, to go down, to descend

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G2718-05 κατελθὼν katelthon V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG went down having come down 7
G2718-03 κατῆλθεν katelthen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG came down came down 2
G2718-02 κατελθεῖν katelthein V AOR ACT INF he came down to go down 2
G2718-01 κατήλθαμεν katelthamen V AOR ACT IND 1P PL we came we went down 1
G2718-08 κατερχομένη katerchomene V PRS MID PTCP NOM F SG coming down coming down 1
G2718-06 κατελθόντες katelthontes V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL having come down having come down 1
G2718-07 κατελθόντων katelthonton V AOR ACT PTCP GEN M PL having come down of those having come down 1
G2718-04 κατήλθομεν katelthomen V AOR ACT IND 1P PL we landed we descended 1

Occurrences in Scripture

16 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G2718-03 Luke 4:31 κατῆλθεν katelthen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG he went down came down
G2718-07 Luke 9:37 κατελθόντων katelthonton V AOR ACT PTCP GEN M PL having come down of those having come down
G2718-05 Acts 8:5 κατελθὼν katelthon V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG went down having come down
G2718-02 Acts 9:32 κατελθεῖν katelthein V AOR ACT INF he came down to go down
G2718-05 Acts 11:27 κατῆλθον katelthon V AOR ACT IND 3P PL came down having come down
G2718-05 Acts 12:19 κατελθὼν katelthon V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG having gone down having come down
G2718-05 Acts 13:4 κατῆλθον katelthon V AOR ACT IND 3P PL went down having come down
G2718-06 Acts 15:1 κατελθόντες katelthontes V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL having come down having come down
G2718-05 Acts 15:30 κατῆλθον katelthon V AOR ACT IND 3P PL went down having come down
G2718-05 Acts 18:5 κατῆλθον katelthon V AOR ACT IND 3P PL came down having come down
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