κοπή
kopḗ
G2871 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A cutting, the act or result of cutting down, especially in contexts implying violent destruction or killing; commonly used of slaughter or massacre in both literal and metaphorical senses. In some contexts can refer to a place laid waste or devastated by conflict.
Semantic Range
cutting, act of cutting, slaughter, massacre, carnage, devastation; destruction by violence
Root / Etymology
Derived from the verb κόπτω ('to strike, cut, beat'), with the nominal suffix -ή forming a noun indicating the act or result of cutting.
Historical & Contextual Notes
κοπή appears infrequently in extant Greek literature and is rare in the New Testament and Septuagint. Primarily attested in the sense of violent killing or massacre, especially in military or apocalyptic contexts. In classical Greek, derivatives of κόπτω focus more generally on acts of cutting or striking, while in Koine usage κοπή often acquires a connotation of mass slaughter or devastation, as seen in apocalyptic or prophetic narratives (e.g. Revelation 18:24). English translations often use 'slaughter' or 'carnage,' but these may miss nuance regarding the destructive aftermath or the act itself. Distinct from generic terms for killing (e.g. φόνος, 'murder') by its emphasis on collective or catastrophic violence. Notable for its association with imagery of judgment or divine retribution in Jewish apocalyptic literature.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from κόπτω; cutting, i.e. carnage:--slaughter.
Root Family
κοπή (kopē) — cutting, striking, slaughter, massacre, violent devastation
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2871-01 |
κοπῆς | kopes | N GEN F SG |
slaughter | of slaughter | slaughter | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2871-01 |
Hebrews 7:1 | κοπῆς | kopes | N GEN F SG |
slaughter | of slaughter | slaughter |