"also spelled κατέσθω, to eat up, devour, Mt. 13:4; to consume, Rev. 11:5, to expend, squander, Lk. 15:30; met. to make a prey of, plunder, Mt. 23:13; Mk. 12:40; Lk. 20:47; 2 Cor. 11:20; to annoy, injure, Gal. 5:15"
Definition and meaning
also spelled κατέσθω, to eat up, devour, Mt. 13:4; to consume, Rev. 11:5, to expend, squander, Lk. 15:30; met. to make a prey of, plunder, Mt. 23:13; Mk. 12:40; Lk. 20:47; 2 Cor. 11:20; to annoy, injure, Gal. 5:15
In the original Greek the word is written: κατεσθίω
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 katesthio (G2719) across the King James Bible.
And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.
Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.
A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.
But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
Which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.
And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.
For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.
But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
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Common questions
Strong's G2719 (katesthio) is a Greek word that means: also spelled κατέσθω, to eat up, devour, Mt. 13:4; to consume, Rev. 11:5, to expend, squander, Lk. 15:30; met. to make a prey of, plunder, Mt. 23:13; Mk. 12:40; Lk. 20:47; 2 Cor. 11:20; to annoy, inju... It appears 15 times in the King James Bible.
The word katesthio (G2719) appears 15 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2719 is katesthio, a Greek word defined as: also spelled κατέσθω, to eat up, devour, Mt. 13:4; to consume, Rev. 11:5, to expend, squander, Lk. 15:30; met. to make a prey of, plunder, Mt. 23:13; . James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
katesthio is a Greek word found in the New Testament.