"to pierce through; to pierce with compunction and pain of heart, Acts 2:37*"
Definition and meaning
to pierce through; to pierce with compunction and pain of heart, Acts 2:37*
In the original Greek the word is written: κατανύσσομαι
Historical context
The Roman Empire provided infrastructure no previous civilization had built — roads, sea routes, a common language in Greek, and relative peace across the Mediterranean. Jewish synagogues existed in every major city, giving Paul a starting point everywhere he traveled. The early church had no buildings, no political power, no social standing — and spread faster than any movement in ancient history.
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 katanyssomai (G2660) across the King James Bible.
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
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Common questions
Strong's G2660 (katanyssomai) is a Greek word that means: to pierce through; to pierce with compunction and pain of heart, Acts 2:37* It appears 1 times in the King James Bible.
The word katanyssomai (G2660) appears 1 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2660 is katanyssomai, a Greek word defined as: to pierce through; to pierce with compunction and pain of heart, Acts 2:37*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
katanyssomai is a Greek word found in the New Testament.