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κατεσθίω

katesthíō

G2719 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To eat up completely, to consume or devour (often with an implication of thoroughness or destruction); in extended or figurative contexts, to destroy, to swallow up, or to consume metaphorically (as in the case of overwhelming sorrow or voracious criticism). Primary sense is the act of eating thoroughly or consuming in a way that leaves nothing remaining.

Semantic Range

to eat up, to consume completely, to devour (literal); to destroy, to swallow up (figurative, including of fire, armies, slander, sorrow, etc.), to waste

Root / Etymology

From the prepositional prefix κατά (down, completely) and the verb ἐσθίω (to eat). The compound intensifies the action, thus conveying the idea of total or thorough consumption.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, κατεσθίω regularly signified eating up, devouring, or consuming food entirely, whether by animals or humans, often with an implication of voracity or destruction (Homer, Herodotus). In the Septuagint and New Testament, the term is frequently used for both literal eating (as by animals or fire) and for figurative destruction—such as armies or fire consuming cities or individuals (LXX Exodus 15:7; Mark 12:40). The verb is also applied to more abstract objects (e.g., consuming property, time, or reputation), and used metaphorically for emotional or social destruction (e.g., being 'devoured' by envy or slander). English translations often render it as "devour," but this may obscure its application to contexts of complete destruction or overwhelming consumption beyond mere eating. In religious or apocalyptic literature, κατεσθίω may carry connotations of divine judgment or consuming fire. Related terms include ἐσθίω (to eat) and ἀναλίσκω (to use up, consume), which overlap but lack the intensive sense.

Translation Consistency

primary "devour" 13 occurrences

'Devour' best matches the primary sense “eat up completely” and naturally covers the common figurative uses (destroy, swallow up, consume). It is the most frequent rendering in the source occurrences and is vivid yet natural English, making it suitable as a single consistent base verb for all forms of G2719.

Alternatives (2 occurrences):
"consume completely for" (1x) "ate up" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from κατά and ἐσθίω (including its alternate); to eat down, i.e. devour (literally or figuratively):--devour.

Root Family

κατεσθίω (katesthio) — to eat, to consume, to devour completely

Root ἐσθι- to eat, to consume

Word Forms

9 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2719-04 κατέφαγεν katephagen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG devoured he/she/it consumed completely he/she/it devoured 4
G2719-07 κατεσθίετε katesthiete V PRS ACT IND 2P PL devour you are devouring you are devouring 2
G2719-01 κατάφαγε kataphage V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG eat it Devour completely Devour completely 2
G2719-06 κατεσθίει katesthiei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG devours he/she/it is devouring completely he/she/it is devouring completely 2
G2719-09 κατεσθίουσιν katesthiousin V PRS ACT IND 3P PL devour they are devouring they are devouring 1
G2719-05 κατέφαγον katephagon V AOR ACT IND 1P SG ate it up I was devouring I ate up 1
G2719-02 καταφάγεταί kataphagetai V FUT MID IND 3P SG will consume will consume completely for itself will consume completely for itself 1
G2719-03 καταφαγών kataphagon V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG having-devoured having completely devoured having completely devoured 1
G2719-08 κατεσθίοντες katesthiontes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL devour devouring devouring 1

Occurrences in Scripture

15 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2719-04 Matthew 13:4 κατέφαγεν katephagen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG devoured he/she/it consumed completely he/she/it devoured
G2719-07 Matthew 23:14 κατεσθίετε katesthiete V PRS ACT IND 2P PL you devour you are devouring you are devouring
G2719-04 Mark 4:4 κατέφαγεν katephagen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG devoured he/she/it consumed completely they devoured
G2719-08 Mark 12:40 κατεσθίοντες katesthiontes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL devour devouring devouring
G2719-04 Luke 8:5 κατέφαγεν katephagen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG devoured he/she/it consumed completely devoured it
G2719-03 Luke 15:30 καταφαγών kataphagon V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG having-devoured having completely devoured having completely devoured
G2719-09 Luke 20:47 κατεσθίουσιν katesthiousin V PRS ACT IND 3P PL devour they are devouring they are devouring
G2719-02 John 2:17 καταφάγεταί kataphagetai V FUT MID IND 3P SG will consume will consume completely for itself will consume completely for itself
G2719-06 2 Corinthians 11:20 κατεσθίει katesthiei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG devours he/she/it is devouring completely he/she/it is devouring completely
G2719-07 Galatians 5:15 κατεσθίετε katesthiete V PRS ACT IND 2P PL devour you are devouring you are devouring
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