κατάγω
katágō
G2609 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To lead or bring down from a higher to a lower place; by extension, to bring someone or something from one location to another of lesser elevation or status. In nautical contexts, to bring a ship into harbor, to land or moor a vessel. The word's semantic range includes leading persons from an upper room or public forum, bringing down prisoners for trial, and, in maritime settings, bringing a vessel to land or anchoring.
Semantic Range
to lead (someone) down from an upper place, to bring down or back, to bring forth, to bring a ship to land, to moor or anchor a vessel, to return from exile, to bring someone forth for public action (e.g., trial)
Root / Etymology
From the preposition κατά (kata, 'down', 'according to') and the verb ἄγω (agō, 'to lead', 'to bring'). The compound intensifies the sense of direction (downward or from a height to a lower place).
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, κατάγω appears in literature as early as the 5th c. BCE, most commonly meaning 'to lead down' from a higher place, including spatial, social, or legal contexts (e.g., leading an accused person down to court, or bringing someone down from a platform). In Hellenistic and especially Koine Greek (including the Septuagint and New Testament), the term is frequently used for bringing a ship into harbor (Acts 21:3, 27:3, etc.), emphasizing arrival or landing as opposed to mere travel. English translations often render the term narrowly as 'bring to land' or 'moor', but the broader sense 'to bring down', especially in legal or ritual settings, remains relevant (see Acts 23:15, for bringing Paul down to the council). Related Greek verbs such as ἀνάγω (to lead up, to set sail) serve as antonyms. The primary English tradition ('moor', 'bring to land') does not always capture these broader uses, including cases where social or judicial movement, rather than literal descent, is at stake.
Translation Consistency
Bring is the most natural, flexible choice that covers the primary senses of καταγάγω — to bring/lead down, to bring to land or moor a vessel, to bring someone forth for trial, or to bring back from exile. It works for animate and inanimate subjects and is more generally usable in natural English than the narrower verb "lead."
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from κατά and ἄγω; to lead down; specially, to moor a vessel:--bring (down, forth), (bring to) land, touch.
Root Family
κατάγω (katagō) — to lead down, to bring down, to guide downward
Word Forms
8 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2609-08 |
κατήγαγον | kategagon | V AOR ACT IND 3P PL |
brought down | they led down | they brought down | 2 |
G2609-01 |
καταχθέντες | katachthentes | V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M PL |
landing | having been led down | having landed | 1 |
G2609-03 |
καταγαγεῖν | katagagein | V AOR ACT INF |
to bring down | to lead down | to lead down | 1 |
G2609-05 |
καταγαγὼν | katagagon | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
having brought down | having led down | having led down | 1 |
G2609-04 |
καταγάγῃς | katagages | V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P SG |
you bring down | you might bring down | you might bring down | 1 |
G2609-06 |
καταγαγόντες | katagagontes | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
having brought down | having led down | having brought down | 1 |
G2609-07 |
κατήχθημεν | katechthemen | V AOR PASS IND 1P PL |
we landed | we were led down | we landed | 1 |
G2609-02 |
καταγάγῃ | katagage | V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG |
he bring down | he might lead down | he might lead down | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
9 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2609-06 |
Luke 5:11 | καταγαγόντες | katagagontes | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
having brought down | having led down | having brought down |
G2609-08 |
Acts 9:30 | κατήγαγον | kategagon | V AOR ACT IND 3P PL |
brought down | they led down | they brought down |
G2609-05 |
Acts 22:30 | καταγαγὼν | katagagon | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
having brought down | having led down | having led down |
G2609-02 |
Acts 23:15 | καταγάγῃ | katagage | V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG |
he bring down | he might lead down | he might lead down |
G2609-04 |
Acts 23:20 | καταγάγῃς | katagages | V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P SG |
you bring down | you might bring down | you might bring down |
G2609-08 |
Acts 23:28 | κατήγαγον | kategagon | V AOR ACT IND 1P SG |
I brought down | they led down | they brought down |
G2609-07 |
Acts 27:3 | κατήχθημεν | katechthemen | V AOR PASS IND 1P PL |
we landed | we were led down | we landed |
G2609-01 |
Acts 28:12 | καταχθέντες | katachthentes | V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M PL |
landing | having been led down | having landed |
G2609-03 |
Romans 10:6 | καταγαγεῖν | katagagein | V AOR ACT INF |
to bring down | to lead down | to lead down |