verb
kataluamō
Strong’sG2647
I break up, overthrow, unharness, find a lodging
stem katalu-17 times in the New Testamentin 7 of 27 books9 forms occur
What it means
A plain-English reading of the word, with the lexicons it draws on — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, and Liddell-Scott-Jones — right below it, in full.
AI Summary
καταλύω means, in one sense, to destroy or throw down — used literally of buildings such as a temple being torn down 12, and figuratively of overthrowing or annulling something such as a system, plan, law, or work: overthrowing a movement or plan, annulling the Law, or undoing "the work of God" 1. Strong's likewise describes it as loosening something down to disintegration, and by extension demolishing it literally or figuratively, including bringing something to nought or overthrowing it 2.
In its other sense, καταλύω means to unharness or unyoke (as of horses), and from this, used of travelers, to take up lodging or find a place to stay for the night 124. LSJ notes the same underlying picture of unyoking animals, extending to a person turning aside to stay as a guest somewhere 3.
Sources: 1 Abbott-Smith 2 Strong's 3 LSJ 4 Dodson. Condensed by anthropic/claude-sonnet-5 on 2026-09-23 — it may still misstate what these say; check them yourself if it matters to you.
The lexicons it was drawn from, in full:
Abbott-Smith — the 1922 lexicon entry, in full
κατα-λύω,
[in LXX for לוּן, שׁבת, etc.;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G2647 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidkat-al-oo'-o
to loosen down (disintegrate), i.e. (by implication) to demolish (literally or figuratively); specially (compare G2646) to halt for the night
King Jamesdestroy, dissolve, be guest, lodge, come to nought, overthrow, throw down.
James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — the classical dictionary this word appears in
future -λύσωRefs 8th c.BC+: 3rd.pers. plural pluperfect -λελύκεσανRefs 2nd c.AD+:—passive, future -λῠθήσομαιRefs 5th c.BC+: perfect -λέλῠμαιRefs 5th c.BC+:— put down, destroy, πολλάων πολίων κατέλυσε κάρηνα Refs 8th c.BC+; τείχη, [πτόλιν], Refs 5th c.BC+; γέφυραν break it up, Refs 2nd c.AD+
2 of political or other systems, dissolve, break up, put down, κ. ἀρχήν, βασιληΐην, ἰσοκρατίας, Refs 5th c.BC+: frequently in Attic dialect, κ. τὸν δῆμον Refs 5th c.BC+; τὰς πολιτείας Decrees cited in Refs 4th c.BC+:—passive, καταλελυμένης τῆς δημοκρατίας Legal cited in Refs 5th c.BC+: future middle as passive, καταλύσεται.. ἡ ἀρχή (Cobet καταλελύσεται) Refs 5th c.BC+
2.b with accusative person, put down, depose, κ. τύραννον Refs 5th c.BC+ — passive, τῶν ἄλλων καταλελυμένων στρατηγῶν having been dismissed, Refs 5th c.BC+
2.c dissolve, dismiss, disband a body, καταλύειν τὴν βουλήν, τὸν στόλον, Refs 5th c.BC+
2.d abolish or annul laws, customs, etc., δίκην NT+5th c.BC+; also κ. τὸν ἱππέα render him useless, Refs 5th c.BC+
2.e τὴν φυλακὴν κ. neglect the watch, Refs 5th c.BC+
2.f κ. τὴν τριηραρχίαν lay it down, Refs 5th c.BC+; τὴν ἄσκησιν, see below 3a.
3 bring to an end, τὸν βίον Refs 5th c.BC+; κ. τὸ πλεῖν, τὴν ἄροσιν, Refs 5th c.BC+; τοὺς λόγους περὶ τὰ μέγιστα κ. Refsmake an end, ὥρᾳ κ. die in good time, Refs 5th c.BC+; πύκτης ὢν κατέλυσε retired from the ring, Refs 1st c.AD+; καθάπερ ἐν τοῖς Χοροῖς ἐν τῷ καταλύειν in the ending, Refs 4th c.BC+perfect participle passive καταλελυμένος disused, obsolete, Refs 1st c.BC+
3.b κ. τὴν ὑπάρχουσαν εἰρήνην break the peace, Refs 4th c.BC+; but,
3.c more commonly, κ. τὸν πόλεμον end the war, make peace, Refs 5th c.BC+; δίκας settle disputes, Refs 5th c.BC+ —more frequently in middle, καταλύσασθαι τὰς ἔχθρας, componere inimicitias, Refs 5th c.BC+: absolutely, make peace, Refs 5th c.BC+; καταλύεσθαί τινι come to terms with one, Refs 5th c.BC+
4 passive, ἤδη καταλελυμένης τῆς ἡλικίας in the decay of life, Refs 4th c.BC+
II unloose, unyoke, καταλύσομεν ἵππους Refs 8th c.BC+; τὸ σῶμα τοῦ ἀδελφεοῦ κ. take it down from the wall where it was hung up, Refs 5th c.BC+:—passive, to be taken down from hanging, Refs 5th c.BC+
II.2 intransitive, take up one's quarters, lodge, παρ᾽ ἐμοὶ καταλύει he is my guest, Refs 5th c.BC+ turn off the road to a person's house, go and lodge with him, Refs 5th c.BC+ —middle, θανάτῳ καταλυσαίμαν may I take my rest in the grave, Refs 5th c.BC+
H. G. Liddell, R. Scott, H. S. Jones, A Greek-English Lexicon (9th ed., 1925–1940) — digitised by the Perseus Digital Library and corrected and expanded by Tyndale House, Cambridge, via STEPBible-Data's TFLSJ table, CC BY 4.0. Covers all of Greek literature, not just the Bible.
Translated as
Every occurrence, sorted by the English it was actually given — the evidence for what the word means, not a gloss of it.
Berean Standard Bible (BSB), dedicated to the public domain — berean.bible.
Biblang forms
What the New Testament actually uses, first — the whole system this verb is built from is one click further down.
| Form and the Greek behind it | What it is | Usually | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| kataluamiκαταλύσω | will happen · Ifuture active indicative 1st person singular | destroy | 1× |
| kataluatiκαταλύσει | will happen · he/she/itfuture active indicative 3rd person singular | destroy | 1× |
| kataluitiκαταλυθήσεται | will happen · he/she/itfuture passive indicative 3rd person singular | thrown down | 3× |
| kataluamaκατέλυσα | happened · Iaorist active indicative 1st person singular | destroyed | 1× |
| katalualeiaκαταλύσωσιν | happened · theyaorist active subjunctive 3rd person plural | lodging | 1× |
| kataluiteiaκαταλυθῇ | happened · he/she/itaorist passive subjunctive 3rd person singular | destroyed | 2× |
| kataluasōrκατάλυε | happening now · youpresent active imperative 2nd person singular | destroy | 1× |
| kataluaraκαταλῦσαι | happened · the “to …” formaorist active infinitive | abolish | 5× |
| kataluarōntorκαταλύων | happening now · direct addresspresent active participle vocative singular masculine | destroy | 2× |
Every form the New Testament uses, in paradigm order. What the system can build beyond them — the whole of this verb, whether the text happens to use it or not — is in the tables below.
Every form the system can build — all 172, by mood, including the ones the New Testament never uses
Statements — indicative mood, 6 occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | kataluamō | kataluame | kataluami1×καταλύσω | kataluama1×κατέλυσα | kataluamē | kataluamelē |
| you 2nd person singular | kataluasō | kataluase | kataluasi | kataluasa | kataluasē | kataluaselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kataluatō | kataluate | kataluati1×καταλύσει | kataluata | kataluatē | kataluatelē |
| we 1st person plural | kataluanō | kataluane | kataluani | kataluana | kataluanē | kataluanelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | kataluavō | kataluave | kataluavi | kataluava | kataluavē | kataluavelē |
| they 3rd person plural | katalualō | kataluale | kataluali | kataluala | katalualē | katalualelē |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | kataluomō | kataluome | kataluomē | kataluomelē |
| you 2nd person singular | kataluosō | kataluose | kataluosē | kataluoselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kataluotō | kataluote | kataluotē | kataluotelē |
| we 1st person plural | kataluonō | kataluone | kataluonē | kataluonelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | kataluovō | kataluove | kataluovē | kataluovelē |
| they 3rd person plural | kataluolō | kataluole | kataluolē | kataluolelē |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | will happen future | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | kataluimi | kataluima |
| you 2nd person singular | kataluisi | kataluisa |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kataluiti3×καταλυθήσεται | kataluita |
| we 1st person plural | kataluini | kataluina |
| ye 2nd person plural | kataluivi | kataluiva |
| they 3rd person plural | kataluili | kataluila |
May, might — subjunctive mood, 3 occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | kataluameiō | kataluameia | kataluameiē |
| you 2nd person singular | kataluaseiō | kataluaseia | kataluaseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kataluateiō | kataluateia | kataluateiē |
| we 1st person plural | kataluaneiō | kataluaneia | kataluaneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | kataluaveiō | kataluaveia | kataluaveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | katalualeiō | katalualeia1×καταλύσωσιν | katalualeiē |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | kataluomeiō | kataluomeiē |
| you 2nd person singular | kataluoseiō | kataluoseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kataluoteiō | kataluoteiē |
| we 1st person plural | kataluoneiō | kataluoneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | kataluoveiō | kataluoveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | kataluoleiō | kataluoleiē |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | kataluimeia |
| you 2nd person singular | kataluiseia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kataluiteia2×καταλυθῇ |
| we 1st person plural | kataluineia |
| ye 2nd person plural | kataluiveia |
| they 3rd person plural | kataluileia |
Commands — imperative mood, 1 occurrence
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | kataluasōr1×κατάλυε | kataluasar | kataluasēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kataluatōr | kataluatar | kataluatēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | kataluavōr | kataluavar | kataluavēr |
| they 3rd person plural | katalualōr | katalualar | katalualēr |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | kataluosōr | kataluosēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kataluotōr | kataluotēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | kataluovōr | kataluovēr |
| they 3rd person plural | kataluolōr | kataluolēr |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | kataluisar |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kataluitar |
| ye 2nd person plural | kataluivar |
| they 3rd person plural | kataluilar |
Wishes — optative mood, no occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | kataluamoiō | kataluamoia |
| you 2nd person singular | kataluasoiō | kataluasoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kataluatoiō | kataluatoia |
| we 1st person plural | kataluanoiō | kataluanoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | kataluavoiō | kataluavoia |
| they 3rd person plural | katalualoiō | katalualoia |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | kataluomoiō |
| you 2nd person singular | kataluosoiō |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kataluotoiō |
| we 1st person plural | kataluonoiō |
| ye 2nd person plural | kataluovoiō |
| they 3rd person plural | kataluoloiō |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | kataluimoia |
| you 2nd person singular | kataluisoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kataluitoia |
| we 1st person plural | kataluinoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | kataluivoia |
| they 3rd person plural | kataluiloia |
The “to …” form — infinitive, 5 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | kataluarō | kataluari | kataluara5×καταλῦσαι | kataluarē |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | kataluorō | kataluorē | ||
| acted on passive voice | kataluiri | kataluira |
Used as an adjective — participle, 2 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | kataluarōntos2× | kataluarintos | kataluarantos | kataluarēntos |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | kataluorōntos | kataluorēntos | ||
| acted on passive voice | kataluirintos | kataluirantos |
Each is given in the form it takes as a subject. From there a participle carries the ordinary noun endings, in every case, number and gender — so these four columns are the whole of what the verb contributes.
How every form is built — the slots that make them
katalu is this word in every one of its forms. The slots after it make all the rest.
same in every form varies — every value shown
Where it appears
Every verse the word appears in, filed under the form it takes there.
17 occurrences, every one of them listed
kataluami“destroy”will happen · Ifuture active indicative 1st person singular1×
Mark 14:58… Nis akouana autou legarōntou hoti Mis kataluami ton naon houton ton cheiropoiēton kai …“We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this man-made temple, and in three …
kataluati“destroy”will happen · he/she/itfuture active indicative 3rd person singular1×
Acts 6:14… legarōntou hoti Iēsus tos Nazōraios houtos kataluati ton topon houton kai allaxati teim …… say that Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs …
kataluiti“thrown down”will happen · he/she/itfuture passive indicative 3rd person singular3×
Matthew 24:2… hōde lithos epi lithon hos ouk kataluiti.… on another; every one will be thrown down.”
Luke 21:6… afiēkiti lithos epi litho hos ouk kataluiti.… on another; every one will be thrown down.”
Acts 5:38… boulas houtas ē tem ergem houtem, kataluiti,… is of human origin, it will fail.
kataluama“destroyed”happened · Iaorist active indicative 1st person singular1×
Galatians 2:18“destroyed”ei gar heim kataluama houteim palin oikodomamō, parabaton miauton sunistanamō.If I rebuild what I have already torn down, I prove myself to be …
katalualeia“lodging”happened · theyaorist active subjunctive 3rd person plural1×
Luke 9:12… eis tain kuklō kōmain kai agroin katalualeia kai heuriskaleia episitismon, hoti hōde en …… the surrounding villages and countryside for lodging and provisions. For we are in …
kataluiteia“destroyed”happened · he/she/itaorist passive subjunctive 3rd person singular2×
Mark 13:2… lithos epi lithon hos ouk mē kataluiteia.… on another; every one will be thrown down.”
2 Corinthians 5:1“destroyed”… tas epigeias nu oikias teu skēneu kataluiteia, oikodoman ek theou echanō oikian acheiropoiētan …… that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven …
kataluasōr“destroy”happening now · youpresent active imperative 2nd person singular1×
Romans 14:20mē heneken brōmeu kataluasōr tem ergem tou theou. panteim men …Do not destroy the work of God for the …
kataluara“abolish”happened · the “to …” formaorist active infinitive5×
Matthew 5:17Mē nomizaveia hoti erchama kataluara ton nomon ē toin profētoin; ouk …… think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I …
Matthew 5:17… nomon ē toin profētoin; ouk erchama kataluara alla plērara;… Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them.
Matthew 26:61legala; Houtos fēate; Dunomō kataluara ton naon tou theou kai dia …… man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild …
Luke 19:7… legarōntois hoti Para hamartōlo andro eiserchata kataluara.… grumble, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinful man!”
Acts 5:39“overthrow”… de ek theou atō, ouk dunevi kataluara autoin; mēpote kai theomachois heuriskiveia. peithila …But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God.”
kataluarōntor“destroy”happening now · direct addresspresent active participle vocative singular masculine2×
Matthew 27:40kai legarōntois; Tos kataluarōntor ton naon kai en treis hēmerai …… saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in …
Mark 15:29… kefalain autoiu kai legarōntois; Oua tos kataluarōntor ton naon kai oikodomarōntor en treis …… Aha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in …