καταστρέφω (G2690) — Greek Lexicon

καταστρέφω

katastréphō

G2690 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To overturn or turn something upside down; to destroy or demolish, often with the connotation of violent or total ruin. In extended contexts, refers to the act of bringing something (a city, an order, someone's plans) to complete collapse or devastation, both literally (physically turning over or razing) and figuratively (causing failure or ruin).

Semantic Range

to overturn, to turn upside down, to destroy, to ruin, to raze, to cause downfall, to overthrow (cities, individuals, plans), to devastate

Root / Etymology

From the preposition κατά (down, against) and the verb στρέφω (to turn), forming a compound verb meaning 'to turn down' or 'to overturn.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical and Hellenistic Greek, καταστρέφω is used for both literal and metaphorical overturning, often of cities or structures (to raze or sack), as well as more abstract overturning, such as subverting an argument or plot. In the Septuagint, the verb frequently translates Hebrew terms describing God's destruction of cities (e.g., Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19:25,29), conveying total devastation. In the New Testament, καταστρέφω can describe physical destruction or the bringing to ruin of entities or persons, with a strong emphasis on total and often divinely sanctioned overthrow. English translations often render it as 'overthrow,' 'destroy,' or 'turn upside down,' but this can under-represent the strength of the term's catastrophic connotation in Greek. Unlike ἀναστρέφω ('to turn back' or 'live'), καταστρέφω always has a destructive or reversing sense, implying a reversal of order leading to collapse. Its use does not intrinsically denote moral judgment but focuses on the action of overturning, whether literal or metaphorical in nature.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from κατά and στρέφω; to turn upside down, i.e. upset:--overthrow.

Root Family

καταστρέφω (katastréphō) — to turn, to overturn, to reverse, to destroy

Root στρεφ- to turn, to overturn, to reverse

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G2690-02`	κατέστρεψεν	katestrepsen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	he overturned	he overturned	he overturned	2
`G2690-01`	κατεστραμμένα	katestrammena	`V PRF PASS PTCP ACC N PL`	ruins	having been overturned	ruins	1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G2690-02`	Matthew 21:12	κατέστρεψεν	katestrepsen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	overturned	he overturned	he overturned
`G2690-02`	Mark 11:15	κατέστρεψεν	katestrepsen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	he overturned	he overturned	he overturned
`G2690-01`	Acts 15:16	κατεστραμμένα	katestrammena	`V PRF PASS PTCP ACC N PL`	ruins	having been overturned	ruins

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