κατά (kata)
kata
according to
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 436 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The preposition kata is a versatile connector in New Testament Greek, primarily meaning "down" or "along." Its specific sense depends entirely on the grammatical case that follows it. When paired with the genitive case, it often retains a physical sense of downward motion, as seen when pigs run down into the sea (Mark 5:13) or when Paul describes believers bowing their heads in worship (1 Corinthians 11:4). It can also indicate extent, such as Jesus preaching throughout Galilee (Luke 4:44).
With the accusative case, kata shifts to describe motion through a space or direction toward a goal. This is visible when Paul travels through various regions (Acts 8:1) or when the Good Samaritan goes down a certain road (Luke 10:32). It also forms common adverbial phrases like "at home" (Acts 2:46) or "according to" one's own judgment (Romans 14:22).
A notable nuance appears when kata takes the genitive of a person, usually implying hostility. In this construction, it means "against," as in those who speak against Jesus (Luke 23:14) or fight against one another (Matthew 10:35). This usage highlights the word's capacity to express opposition, contrasting with its more neutral spatial meanings.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word kata often bridges the gap between God’s promises and our daily reality. When it means “according to,” it signals that divine actions align perfectly with established principles or human conditions. This offers a quiet assurance: God does not act arbitrarily. His responses are consistent, reliable, and grounded in truth.
Consider Matthew 9:29, where Jesus heals based on the disciples’ faith. Here, kata shows that spiritual outcomes match our posture toward Him. It is not about earning grace, but about aligning our hearts with the reality of who He is. This alignment brings peace, knowing that our prayers are heard within a framework of perfect justice and love.
Even when kata indicates opposition, as in Matthew 12:30, it clarifies the stakes. We are either aligned with Christ or against Him. There is no neutral ground. This clarity helps us examine our own lives, ensuring we stand firmly with Jesus rather than drifting into indifference. It invites us to live intentionally, anchored in His truth.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 436 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- according to208×
- against56×
- in41×
- by18×
- every14×
- on12×
- throughout8×
- to6×
- concerning6×
- Every6×
- toward5×
- According to5×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- κατὰ332×
- κατ᾽82×
- καθ᾽60×
- Κατὰ3×
- κατά1×
- καθ1×
- Κατ᾽1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 9:29
Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.”
This verse uses kata to show that the healing outcome corresponded directly to the level of faith present.
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Matthew 16:27
For the Son of Man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will give to everyone according to his deeds.
Here, judgment is described as happening according to each person's deeds, highlighting divine fairness.
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Matthew 12:30
“He who is not with me is against me, and he who doesn’t gather with me, scatters.
The phrase ‘against me’ uses kata with the genitive to express active opposition rather than mere spatial direction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does kata mean in the New Testament?
How is kata different from other prepositions?
Where does kata appear most often?
Every Occurrence (436 verses across 25 books)
Matthew 33 verses
But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son…
Matthew 2:12Being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to their own country another way.
Matthew 2:13Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise and take the…
Matthew 2:16Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent out and killed all the male…
Matthew 2:19But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying,
Matthew 2:22But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in the place of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go there.…
Matthew 5:11“Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Matthew 5:23“If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you,
Matthew 8:32He said to them, “Go!” They came out and went into the herd of pigs; and behold, the whole herd of pigs rushed down the…
Matthew 9:29Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.”
Matthew 10:35For I came to set a man at odds against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against…
Matthew 12:14But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how they might destroy him.
Matthew 12:25Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every…
Matthew 12:30“He who is not with me is against me, and he who doesn’t gather with me, scatters.
Matthew 12:32Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it…
Matthew 14:13Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place apart. When the multitudes heard it,…
Matthew 14:23After he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into the mountain by himself to pray. When evening had come, he was…
Matthew 16:27For the Son of Man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will give to everyone according to…
Matthew 17:1After six days, Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them up into a high mountain by…
Matthew 17:19Then the disciples came to Jesus privately, and said, “Why weren’t we able to cast it out?”
Matthew 19:3Pharisees came to him, testing him and saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?”
Matthew 20:11When they received it, they murmured against the master of the household,
Matthew 20:17As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them,
Matthew 23:3All things therefore whatever they tell you to observe, observe and do, but don’t do their works; for they say, and…
Matthew 24:3As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be?…
Matthew 24:7For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be famines, plagues, and earthquakes…
Matthew 25:15To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his own ability. Then he went on his…
Matthew 26:55In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out as against a robber with swords and clubs to seize me? I…
Matthew 26:59Now the chief priests, the elders, and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus, that they might put him…
Matthew 26:63But Jesus stayed silent. The high priest answered him, “I adjure you by the living God that you tell us whether you are…
Matthew 27:1Now when morning had come, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to…
Matthew 27:15Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release to the multitude one prisoner whom they desired.
Matthew 27:19While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man,…