BIBLE GREEK WORD STUDY
κατά (kata) — Meaning & Usage in the Bible
κατά is a versatile Greek preposition whose meaning shifts with the case it governs.
Meaning of the word
κατά (Strong's G2596) is a Greek preposition. The supplied lexicon entry defines it as expressing direction 'down' in place or time, and notes that its relations vary according to the case with which it is joined — genitive, dative, or accusative.
Because no extended gloss, KJV usage list, or further etymological data is provided in the source material, any fuller breakdown of how each case shifts the sense (e.g., opposition, accordance, distributive) cannot be derived from this entry alone.
Usage in Scripture
The supplied example verses show κατά and its elided form καθ’ appearing in a range of constructions: 'against thee' (Matthew 5:23), 'at home' / 'day by day' (Acts 2:46), 'day by day' (Acts 2:47), 'according to truth' (Romans 2:2). Romans 2:5 contains κατά modifying 'hardness,' a usage consistent with the 'according to' sense. Matthew 5:11 and Acts 2:9 also contain the preposition in their Greek text though the surrounding English phrasing differs.
Readers should note that the meaning in any given verse must be read from its immediate context, since the preposition's force depends on the case it governs and on the words it links.
The word in detail
- G2596 κατά is a Greek preposition (G2596). The provided definition states it is used prepositionally 'down' in place or time, with relations that vary according to the case (genitive, dative, or accusative) with which it is joined.
Example verses
- Matthew 5:23 Here κατά introduces the phrase rendered 'against thee,' showing the preposition in a directional or oppositional sense.
- Acts 2:46 The form καθ’ appears in the phrase rendered 'day by day' and again with 'at home,' illustrating how the preposition's sense is set by what follows.
- Romans 2:2 κατά appears in the construction rendered 'according to truth,' aligning with the 'according to' sense of the preposition.
- Romans 2:5 κατά modifies 'hardness,' in a phrase rendered 'after thy hardness,' consistent with an 'according to' reading of the relation.
Common questions
What part of speech is κατά (G2596)?
It is a preposition, used with various cases (genitive, dative, or accusative).
Does κατά always mean 'down'?
The supplied entry states it is used prepositionally 'down' in place or time, and that its relations vary with the case it governs; the precise sense in any verse depends on context.