"to dissolve; to destroy, demolish, overthrow, throw down, Mt. 24:2; 26:61; met. to nullify, abrogate, Mt. 5:17; Acts 5:38, 39; absol. to unloose harness, etc., to halt, to stop for the night, lodge, Lk. 9:12"
Definition and meaning
to dissolve; to destroy, demolish, overthrow, throw down, Mt. 24:2; 26:61; met. to nullify, abrogate, Mt. 5:17; Acts 5:38, 39; absol. to unloose harness, etc., to halt, to stop for the night, lodge, Lk. 9:12
In the original Greek the word is written: καταλύω
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of katalyo (G2647) across the King James Bible.
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.
And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.
And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days,
And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place.
And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.
As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
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Common questions
Strong's G2647 (katalyo) is a Greek word that means: to dissolve; to destroy, demolish, overthrow, throw down, Mt. 24:2; 26:61; met. to nullify, abrogate, Mt. 5:17; Acts 5:38, 39; absol. to unloose harness, etc., to halt, to stop for the night, lodge, L... It appears 16 times in the King James Bible.
The word katalyo (G2647) appears 16 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2647 is katalyo, a Greek word defined as: to dissolve; to destroy, demolish, overthrow, throw down, Mt. 24:2; 26:61; met. to nullify, abrogate, Mt. 5:17; Acts 5:38, 39; absol. to unloose harne. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
katalyo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.