κατάγω (katagō)
katagō
to bring down
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 9 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb katagō literally means to bring down or lead down to a lower place. In the New Testament, it appears nine times, primarily in Acts and Luke, describing physical movement from one level to another. It often involves bringing people down from a higher position, such as when Paul is escorted from the barracks to the council chamber (Acts 22:30) or when believers send him to Rome with provisions (Acts 27:3).
It also carries a nautical sense, meaning to bring a ship down from deep water onto land. This usage appears in Luke’s account of fishing, where boats are drawn up on the shore (Luke 5:11), and in Acts, where ships arrive at specific ports like Sidon or Caesarea (Acts 21:3; 27:3). The word emphasizes the action of descending or landing rather than just traveling.
Its root combines kata ("down") with agō ("to lead"). This simple structure highlights directionality. Translators usually render it "bring down," "land," or "take down," depending on whether people or ships are involved. The consistent thread is movement from a higher to a lower point, whether physically or geographically.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word katagō describes the simple, physical act of bringing something or someone from a higher place to a lower one. In the New Testament, this verb appears nine times, mostly in Luke and Acts. It captures moments like fishermen pulling their boats onto the shore after a long night, or guards escorting Paul down from a barracks to face a council. These are not abstract ideas but real, grounded actions that mark transitions in daily life.
For your faith, this word reminds us that God often meets us in the ordinary movements of our days. When we feel stuck or elevated by pride, remembering that Christ was brought down from heaven to earth can ground our hearts. It is a call to humility and service, seeing value in the descent rather than just the ascent.
Even in difficult times, this word points to a purposeful movement. Just as Paul was brought down to face his accusers for the sake of the Gospel, our own journeys may involve lowering ourselves to serve others or to listen. It is a gentle invitation to trust that every step down can be part of God’s larger plan for your life.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 9 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- you may bring down1×
- we landed1×
- to bring down;1×
- he may bring down1×
- having put in1×
- having brought down1×
- having brought1×
- brought down1×
- I brought down1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- κατήγαγον2×
- κατήχθημεν1×
- καταχθέντες1×
- καταγάγῃς1×
- καταγάγῃ1×
- καταγαγὼν1×
- καταγαγόντες1×
- καταγαγεῖν·1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 5:11
When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything, and followed him.
This verse shows the word used for fishermen pulling their boats ashore, highlighting a moment of total commitment to Jesus after a night of work.
-
Acts 22:30
But on the next day, desiring to know the truth about why he was accused by the Jews, he freed him from the bonds and commanded the chief priests and all the council to come together, and brought Paul down and set him before them.
Here the verb describes Paul being escorted down from his cell to the Jewish council, marking a critical turning point in his defense of the faith.
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Romans 10:6
But the righteousness which is of faith says this, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down);
Paul uses this word metaphorically to describe the impossibility of bringing Christ down from heaven, emphasizing that salvation comes through faith, not human effort.