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κατάβασις (katabasis)

katabasis

descent

G2600 · Greek · New Testament · 1 verses

Quick Reference

Language
Koine Greek
Testament
New Testament
Occurrences
1 verses
Root
—

Word Overview

The noun katabasis simply means a descent or the act of going down. It is formed from the prefix kata, indicating downward motion, and the root for weight or burden, suggesting a movement into a lower place. In the New Testament, this word appears only once, in Luke 5:19.

That single occurrence describes the specific spot on the roof where the friends of the paralytic made their way down to reach Jesus. The term highlights the physical effort required to navigate that steep drop. It serves as a concrete marker for the location of the miracle, grounding the spiritual event in a tangible, geographical reality.

Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).

What This Word Means for Your Faith

The word katabasis describes a physical descent, capturing the act of moving downward into a lower place. In Luke 5:19, it marks the spot where friends lowered a paralytic through the roof to reach Jesus. This term grounds spiritual encounters in tangible reality, reminding us that faith often involves real effort and determination. The physical journey downward mirrors the humility required to seek divine help.

While this specific noun appears only once in the New Testament, its root concepts appear elsewhere. Luke 19:37 mentions the descent of the Mount of Olives, showing how movement through landscape shapes biblical narrative. These geographical details anchor our faith in history, not just abstract ideas. They remind us that God meets people in real places, during ordinary moments of struggle and perseverance.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.

  • descent1×

Forms in the text

The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.

  • καταβάσει1×

Key Verses

  • Luke 19:37
    As he was now getting near, at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works which they had seen,

    This verse uses the related concept of descent to describe the Mount of Olives, grounding Jesus' triumphal entry in a specific geographical location.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does katabasis mean?

Katabasis is a Greek noun meaning 'descent' or the act of going down. It combines the prefix kata (down) with a root suggesting weight or burden, implying movement into a lower place. In the New Testament, it appears only once, in Luke 5:19.

Where does katabasis appear in the Bible?

This word occurs exactly once in the New Testament, in Luke 5:19. It describes the spot on the roof where friends lowered a paralytic to reach Jesus. While the noun is rare, the concept of descent appears in other passages, such as Luke 19:37.

How is katabasis different from other words for 'down'?

Unlike general terms for downward motion, katabasis specifically emphasizes the act or place of descent. It often carries a sense of weight or effort, as seen in the roof example. Other words like kato simply mean 'below' without the nuance of the action itself.

Every Occurrence (1 verses across 1 books)

Luke 1 verse
Luke 19:37

As he was now getting near, at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to…