"pr. to dig down under, undermine; by impl. to overthrow; demolish, raze, Rom. 11:3; τὰ κατεσκαμμένα, ruins, Acts 15:16*"
Definition and meaning
pr. to dig down under, undermine; by impl. to overthrow; demolish, raze, Rom. 11:3; τὰ κατεσκαμμένα, ruins, Acts 15:16*
In the original Greek the word is written: κατασκάπτω
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 kataskapto (G2679) across the King James Bible.
After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
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Common questions
Strong's G2679 (kataskapto) is a Greek word that means: pr. to dig down under, undermine; by impl. to overthrow; demolish, raze, Rom. 11:3; τὰ κατεσκαμμένα, ruins, Acts 15:16* It appears 2 times in the King James Bible.
The word kataskapto (G2679) appears 2 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2679 is kataskapto, a Greek word defined as: pr. to dig down under, undermine; by impl. to overthrow; demolish, raze, Rom. 11:3; τὰ κατεσκαμμένα, ruins, Acts 15:16*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
kataskapto is a Greek word found in the New Testament.