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καταντάω

katantáō

G2658 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

to come or arrive at a specific place, state, or goal—often denoting purposeful arrival, whether literal (reaching a physical location) or figurative (reaching a condition, result, or status). The core meaning is active arrival at a definite point, with nuances depending on context: approaching and reaching a destination (geographical or metaphorical), attaining an expected outcome, or coming into contact with someone or something.

Semantic Range

to arrive at (a place or person), to reach (a destination, literal or figurative), to attain (a state or goal), to come up to (in process or journey), to encounter after a process

Root / Etymology

From the prepositional prefix κατά ('down[wards], according to') and a verb related to the root ἀντ- (as in ἀντάω, 'to meet, encounter'). It combines the ideas of motion toward and meeting or encountering, emphasizing directed, purposeful approach; related to ἀντάω in meaning.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, καταντάω is found in prose from the Hellenistic period onwards, rare in earlier authors but well-attested in Plutarch, Polybius, and later sources. Its primary sense is spatial or processual arrival (coming all the way to a place or result), commonly with an accusative of place or result. In the Septuagint and New Testament, it commonly describes both literal journeys ('reach' a city or destination: Acts 16:1; 18:19; 21:7) and metaphorical arrivals—e.g., 'attaining' maturity or a spiritual goal (Eph 4:13). The verb often expresses the idea of finally reaching after a process or journey, whether the process is physical, temporal, or moral/spiritual. Standard English translations ("come to," "arrive at," "attain") each capture only part of its range. The sense of purposeful arrival distinguishes it from verbs such as ἔρχομαι ('to come, go') or φθάνω ('to reach, precede'), which lack this nuance of directed, conclusive attainment. The figurative uses in later Koine literature reflect the development of Greek verbal aspect and the influence of philosophical and rhetorical language emphasizing the achievement of goals or ideals.

Translation Consistency

primary "arrive" 13 occurrences

The primary sense of καταντάω is active arrival—reaching a place, person, or state—so the natural, common English verb 'arrive' best captures both the literal and figurative uses. It matches the majority of existing renderings ('arrived'/'arrive') and preserves the purposeful, terminal nuance of the Greek more naturally than alternatives like 'reach' or 'come'.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from κατά and a derivative of ἀντί; to meet against, i.e. arrive at (literally or figuratively):--attain, come.

Root Family

ἀντ- (katantáō) — to meet, to arrive, to come to

Root ἀντ- to meet, to arrive, to come to
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G473 ἀντί in place of

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2658-06 κατηντήσαμεν katentesamen V AOR ACT IND 1P PL we arrived we arrived at we arrived at 3
G2658-08 κατήντησεν katentesen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG came arrived arrived 3
G2658-07 κατήντησαν katentesan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL came they arrived they arrived 2
G2658-01 καταντῆσαι katantesai V AOR ACT INF to attain to arrive at to arrive at 1
G2658-02 καταντήσαντες katantesantes V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL they might attain having arrived at having arrived at 1
G2658-03 καταντήσω katanteso V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P SG I may attain I may arrive I may arrive 1
G2658-04 καταντήσωμεν katantesomen V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P PL we all attain let us arrive we arrive 1
G2658-05 κατήντηκεν katenteken V PRF ACT IND 3P SG have come has arrived has arrived 1

Occurrences in Scripture

13 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2658-08 Acts 16:1 κατήντησεν katentesen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG he came arrived arrived
G2658-07 Acts 18:19 κατήντησαν katentesan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL they arrived they arrived they arrived
G2658-08 Acts 18:24 κατήντησεν katentesen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG came arrived arrived
G2658-06 Acts 20:15 κατηντήσαμεν katentesamen V AOR ACT IND 1P PL we arrived we arrived at we arrived at
G2658-06 Acts 21:7 κατηντήσαμεν katentesamen V AOR ACT IND 1P PL arrived we arrived at we arrived at
G2658-07 Acts 25:13 κατήντησαν katentesan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL came they arrived they arrived
G2658-01 Acts 26:7 καταντῆσαι katantesai V AOR ACT INF to attain to arrive at to arrive at
G2658-02 Acts 27:12 καταντήσαντες katantesantes V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL they might attain having arrived at having arrived at
G2658-06 Acts 28:13 κατηντήσαμεν katentesamen V AOR ACT IND 1P PL we arrived we arrived at we arrived at
G2658-05 1 Corinthians 10:11 κατήντηκεν katenteken V PRF ACT IND 3P SG have come has arrived has arrived
G2658-08 1 Corinthians 14:36 κατήντησεν katentesen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG has reached arrived arrived
G2658-04 Ephesians 4:13 καταντήσωμεν katantesomen V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P PL we all attain let us arrive we arrive
G2658-03 Philippians 3:11 καταντήσω katanteso V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P SG I may attain I may arrive I may arrive
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