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καταβολή

katabolḗ

G2602 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Act of laying down, foundation, or establishing; primarily refers to the act of setting in place or founding something. In specific contexts, denotes the laying of a foundation for a building or structure (literal), the inception or beginning of a process or entity (metaphorical), or, in some Hellenistic and Septuagintal contexts, the creation or origin of the world. In later and figurative usage, it can refer to the beginning or instigation of abstract processes or plans.

Semantic Range

act of founding, laying a foundation, establishment, sowing (metaphorical), beginning, origin, instigation, founding event, basis (abstract), foundational act (cosmological or historical context)

Root / Etymology

From the verb καταβάλλω (katabállō, 'to throw down, lay down, establish'), formed by preposition κατά ('down') + βάλλω ('to throw').

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, καταβολή was used for the act of 'casting down' or 'laying down,' especially in building or agricultural contexts (e.g., laying the foundation of a house, sowing seed). In the Septuagint and later Jewish-Greek literature, it acquires significance in cosmological contexts as the 'foundation' or beginning of the cosmos (e.g., 'καταβολή κόσμου'—'foundation of the world'). The New Testament maintains this cosmological sense, most notably in the phrase 'ἀπὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου' ('from the foundation of the world'). Standard English translations often render it as 'foundation,' but this can obscure the broader connotations of initiating or establishing. The figurative sense meaning 'conception' or 'instigation' is later and less common. Unlike θεμέλιος, which often means the physical foundation stone or base, καταβολή emphasizes the action or event of founding or beginning.

Translation Consistency

primary "foundation" 10 occurrences

καταβολή most commonly denotes the act or result of laying a foundation, the founding or basis of something (literal or figurative). “Foundation” is the natural, frequent English noun that covers literal building foundations, beginnings/origins, and abstract bases, matching the typical SILEX range and the majority of attested renderings.

Alternatives (1 occurrence):
"founding act" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from καταβάλλω; a deposition, i.e. founding; figuratively, conception:--conceive, foundation.

Root Family

καταβαλ- (katabolḗ) — to throw down, to lay down, to establish

Root καταβαλ- to throw down, to lay down, to establish

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2602-02 καταβολῆς kataboles N GEN F SG foundation of founding foundation 10
G2602-01 καταβολὴν katabolen N ACC F SG conception founding act founding act 1

Occurrences in Scripture

11 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2602-02 Matthew 13:35 καταβολῆς kataboles N GEN F SG the foundation of founding foundation
G2602-02 Matthew 25:34 καταβολῆς kataboles N GEN F SG foundation of founding of foundation
G2602-02 Luke 11:50 καταβολῆς kataboles N GEN F SG foundation of founding of foundation
G2602-02 John 17:24 καταβολῆς kataboles N GEN F SG foundation of founding of foundation
G2602-02 Ephesians 1:4 καταβολῆς kataboles N GEN F SG foundation of founding foundation
G2602-02 Hebrews 4:3 καταβολῆς kataboles N GEN F SG foundation of founding foundation
G2602-02 Hebrews 9:26 καταβολῆς kataboles N GEN F SG foundation of founding of foundation
G2602-01 Hebrews 11:11 καταβολὴν katabolen N ACC F SG conception founding act founding act
G2602-02 1 Peter 1:20 καταβολῆς kataboles N GEN F SG foundation of founding of foundation
G2602-02 Revelation 13:8 καταβολῆς kataboles N GEN F SG foundation of founding foundation
G2602-02 Revelation 17:8 καταβολῆς kataboles N GEN F SG the foundation of founding foundation
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