Lexicon
καθαιρέω
kathaireō
G2507
G:V Greek

to take down

9
Occurrences
4
Books
Greek
Language

kathaireo denotes bringing something down, whether removing a body, dismantling what stands, or lowering status and claims.

The attested use most often concerns taking a person down from the wood; it also describes dismantling barns or the destruction of nations, and figuratively bringing down arguments, rulers, and majesty.

Senses in use

  1. Removing a person from the wood · dominant

    In Acts 13:29, Luke 23:53, and Mark 15:46, the aorist active participle occurs in clauses that move a person from the wood to burial preparations and a tomb. In Mark 15:36, the aorist active infinitive appears in the question whether Elijah will come to take him down.

  2. Dismantling or destroying what stands · occasional

    In Luke 12:18, the future active indicative introduces the speaker's stated plan to tear down barns before building larger ones. In Acts 13:19, the aorist active participle occurs in the clause that the APB renders "After destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan."

  3. Figuratively bringing down claims or rank · occasional

    In 2 Corinthians 10:4, the present active participle is used in the clause the APB renders "as we tear down arguments." Luke 1:52 places the aorist active indicative with rulers brought down from thrones, while Acts 19:27 uses the present passive infinitive for Artemis's majesty being brought down.

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB variously presents the action as "take him down," "tear down," "destroying," and "brought down." Because its English is a whole-verse translation, those renderings confirm the clauses' movement or reduction without establishing separate meanings solely from English wording.

Passages featuring this word

Across Scripture