καταλύωkatalýō
to loosen down (disintegrate), i.e. (by implication) to demolish (literally or figuratively); specially (compare G2646 (κατάλυμα)) to halt for the night
Greek (New Testament) · G2647
Meanings
1. to destroy, cast down: Matthew 24:2, Mark 13:2, Luke 21:6; τ. ναόν, Matthew 26:61, Matthew 27:40, Mark 14:58, Mark 15:29, Acts 6:14; οἰκίαν, 2 Corinthians 5:1; opposed to οἰκοδομεῖν, Galatians 2:18. Metaph., to overthrow, annul, abrogate: Acts 5:38, Acts 5:39; τ. ἔργον τ. θεοῦ, Romans 14:20; τ. νόμον, Matthew 5:17 (2 Maccabees 2:22).
2. to unloose, unyoke (e.g. horses), hence intransitive, of travellers (cf. κατάλυμα), to take up one's quarters, lodge (classical Greek, Genesis 19:2, and elsewhere): Luke 9:12, Luke 19:7.
Same root
- κατάkatá · G2596(prepositionally) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined)
- λύωlýō · G3089to "loosen" (literally or figuratively)
- κατάλυμαkatályma · G2646properly, a dissolution (breaking up of a journey), i.e. (by implication) a lodging-place
- ἀκατάλυτοςakatálytos · G179indissoluble, i.e. (figuratively) permanent
Where it appears
Appears 17 times in the Bible.
- Matthew 5:17 “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.
- Matthew 24:2 But he responded, “Do you see all these buildings? I tell you the truth, they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!”
- Matthew 26:61 who declared, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the Temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”
- Matthew 27:40 “Look at you now!” they yelled at him. “You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. Well then, if you are the Son of God, save yourself and come down from the cross!”
- Mark 13:2 Jesus replied, “Yes, look at these great buildings. But they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!”
- Mark 14:58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this Temple made with human hands, and in three days I will build another, made without human hands.’”
Source: G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), public domain.