"to put to death, deliver to death, Mt. 10:21; 26:59; Mk. 13:12; pass. to be exposed to imminent danger of death, Rom. 8:36; in NT met. to subdue, Rom. 8:13; pass. to be dead to, to be rid, parted from, as if by the intervention of death, Rom. 7:4"
Definition and meaning
to put to death, deliver to death, Mt. 10:21; 26:59; Mk. 13:12; pass. to be exposed to imminent danger of death, Rom. 8:36; in NT met. to subdue, Rom. 8:13; pass. to be dead to, to be rid, parted from, as if by the intervention of death, Rom. 7:4
In the original Greek the word is written: θανατόω
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 thanatoo (G2289) across the King James Bible.
And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;
When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:
Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.
And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none.
And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
Refiner gives you the full lexicon entry, AI-powered verse insight, historical commentary, cross-references, and voice study — all in one place.
Free to start · Disciple $4.99/mo · Shepherd $9.99/mo
Common questions
Strong's G2289 (thanatoo) is a Greek word that means: to put to death, deliver to death, Mt. 10:21; 26:59; Mk. 13:12; pass. to be exposed to imminent danger of death, Rom. 8:36; in NT met. to subdue, Rom. 8:13; pass. to be dead to, to be rid, parted from... It appears 11 times in the King James Bible.
The word thanatoo (G2289) appears 11 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2289 is thanatoo, a Greek word defined as: to put to death, deliver to death, Mt. 10:21; 26:59; Mk. 13:12; pass. to be exposed to imminent danger of death, Rom. 8:36; in NT met. to subdue, Rom.. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
thanatoo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.