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ὑποκάτω

hypokátō

G5270 preposition

SILEX Entry

Root ὑπο-, κατω- under, beneath, below

Definition

Properly: (located) underneath, beneath a position or object, indicating a position lower than or directly under something. The term is primarily spatial, denoting a location, object, or person lying or being situated under another object or reference point. In some contexts, can also express subordination or figurative inferiority; however, the literal, physical sense is dominant.

Semantic Range

underneath, beneath, situated below, down under, at the foot/base of, figuratively: subordinate

Root / Etymology

From the preposition ὑπό ('under, below') and κἀτω ('down, below,' adverb of place); a compound formed to emphasize the sense of being under or beneath. Standard construction in Koine Greek for more precise spatial relations.

Historical & Contextual Notes

ὑποκάτω appears mainly in Koine Greek, occurring infrequently but always with spatial reference. Its use in the New Testament (e.g., Mark 15:39, Matthew 27:51) typically refers to something physically beneath or below (such as at the foot of a cross or altar). While closely related to κάτω ('down, below') and ὑπό ('under'), ὑποκάτω makes explicit the sense of 'directly beneath' rather than merely 'lower' or 'below' more generally. The classical period favored using ὑπό or κάτω separately; the compound is more characteristic of Hellenistic and later Greek. English translations often simply render it as 'under' or 'beneath,' which reflects the core meaning but sometimes overlooks the spatial precision implied by the compound form. There is no significant difference in meaning between its use in biblical Greek and wider Koine sources, though the LXX and New Testament show a preference for this more precise expression in narrative or descriptive passages.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ὑπό and κάτω; down under, i.e. beneath:--under.

Root Family

ὑποκάτω (hypokatō) — under, beneath, below

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G5270-01 ὑποκάτω upokato PREP GEN under underneath 11

Occurrences in Scripture

11 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G5270-01 Matthew 22:44 ὑποκάτω upokato PREP GEN underneath
G5270-01 Mark 6:11 ὑποκάτω upokato PREP GEN under underneath
G5270-01 Mark 7:28 ὑποκάτω upokato PREP GEN under underneath
G5270-01 Mark 12:36 ὑποκάτω upokato PREP GEN under underneath
G5270-01 Luke 8:16 ὑποκάτω upokato PREP GEN under underneath
G5270-01 John 1:50 ὑποκάτω upokato PREP GEN under underneath
G5270-01 Hebrews 2:8 ὑποκάτω upokato PREP GEN underneath
G5270-01 Revelation 5:3 ὑποκάτω upokato PREP GEN underneath
G5270-01 Revelation 5:13 ὑποκάτω upokato PREP GEN underneath
G5270-01 Revelation 6:9 ὑποκάτω upokato PREP GEN underneath
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