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κατάσχεσις

katáschesis

G2697 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Holding, possession, or occupation; refers primarily to the condition or act of holding or occupying something. In extended contexts, it denotes possession, ownership, or the state of having lawful control over land, property, or other objects. Contextually, the term may also imply control, restraint, or the actual act of securing or maintaining possession.

Semantic Range

holding, act of possessing, occupation, retention, possession, maintenance of control

Root / Etymology

Derived from κατά (kata, 'down, against, according to') and ἔχω (echō, 'to have, to hold'). The noun is formed from the verb κατέχω (katechō, 'to hold fast, restrain, possess'), with the abstract noun suffix -σις, denoting the state or result of an action.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Koine Greek, especially in legal, administrative, and property contexts, κατάσχεσις typically indicates the act of acquiring or maintaining possession, especially of land or property. Outside biblical literature, it is used in legal documents to mean 'occupation' or 'possession.' It appears rarely in the New Testament and LXX, but when it does, it generally bears the sense of established or maintained possession rather than mere temporary holding. English translations often render it as 'possession,' but this can understate the sense of active holding, occupation, or the ongoing act of possession, rather than simple ownership. Related terms include κτῆσις (owning, possession through acquisition) and πρόσκτησις (acquisition), which emphasize how possession was attained, while κατάσχεσις centers on the fact or state of holding or occupying.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from κατέχω; a holding down, i.e. occupancy:--possession.

Root Family

κατάσχεσις (katáschesis) — holding, possession, occupation, retention, maintenance of control

Root κατέχω to hold, to possess, to restrain

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2697-02 κατάσχεσιν kataschesin N ACC F SG possession possession possession 1
G2697-01 κατασχέσει kataschesei N DAT F SG possession in possession possession 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2697-02 Acts 7:5 κατάσχεσιν kataschesin N ACC F SG possession possession possession
G2697-01 Acts 7:45 κατασχέσει kataschesei N DAT F SG possession in possession possession
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