κατατομή (G2699) — Greek Lexicon

κατατομή

katatomḗ

G2699 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A cutting, especially a physical incision or mutilation; in the context of Greco-Roman writing and the New Testament, used to denote a physical cutting or laceration of the body, often with an ironic or disparaging nuance when describing ritual mutilation. In Philippians 3:2, employed polemically with reference to physical circumcision, suggesting a negative or dismissive sense ('mutilation' instead of 'circumcision').

Semantic Range

cutting, incision, mutilation, ritual cutting, pejoratively for circumcision (in polemic use)

Root / Etymology

From the preposition κατά ('down, against') and the noun τομή ('a cut, incision'), suggesting the act of cutting down or incising. Related to the verb τέμνω ('to cut').

Historical & Contextual Notes

The term κατατομή is rare and primarily found in later and polemical contexts. In classical Greek, the noun τομή denotes a simple 'cut' or 'incision,' but the compound form με κατά intensifies the sense, implying a forceful or even destructive action. In Philippians 3:2, Paul contrasts κατατομή with the more typical περιτομή (circumcision), using κατατομή to caricature or denigrate adversaries who insisted on physical circumcision as a religious requirement—rendering the act as mere 'mutilation.' The term thus carries pejorative force in this context, highlighting a clear rhetorical distinction between ethnic/religious boundary markers. In translation history, 'concision' (KJV) preserves the negative nuance, but the precise force is stronger: a disparaging term for ritual cutting, not just precise or concise action. The Septuagint and contemporary non-biblical Greek literature rarely use this exact term, but related words appear in contexts of ritual self-laceration or body marking (e.g., in Greek discussions of foreign cult practices).

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from a compound of κατά and (to cut); a cutting down (off), i.e. mutilation (ironically):--concision. Compare ἀποκόπτω.

Root Family

κατατομή (katatomē) — cutting, incision, mutilation, ritual cutting

Root τομ- to cut, to incise, to make an incision

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G2699-01`	κατατομήν	katatomen	`N ACC F SG`	concision	mutilation	mutilation	1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G2699-01`	Philippians 3:2	κατατομήν	katatomen	`N ACC F SG`	concision	mutilation	mutilation

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