κατακλυσμός (kataklusmos)
kataklusmos
flood
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun kataklusmos refers to a catastrophic inundation or deluge. In the New Testament, it appears only four times, specifically describing the waters of Noah’s time in Matthew 24:38-39, Luke 17:27, and 2 Peter 2:5. The word conveys a sense of overwhelming force, capturing the sudden and total nature of the ancient flood event rather than a gentle rain.
Its etymology combines the intensive prefix kata- with klyzō, meaning to wash or pour over. This construction emphasizes the sheer volume of water covering the earth. The term is closely linked to the Hebrew mabul found in the Septuagint translation of Genesis 6:17, establishing a direct linguistic bridge between the Greek New Testament and the Hebrew account of creation’s judgment.
Translators typically render kataklusmos as "flood" or "deluge." Its usage serves as a historical anchor for Jesus’ teaching on the suddenness of the end times. By citing this specific word, the biblical authors highlight a past physical catastrophe to illustrate a future spiritual reality, ensuring the reader grasps the magnitude of divine intervention.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word kataklusmos describes a sudden, overwhelming flood that catches people completely off guard. In the New Testament, this term anchors Jesus’ teaching about His return by pointing to the days of Noah. People were living their normal lives—eating, drinking, and marrying—when the waters rose without warning. This imagery reminds us that spiritual readiness is not about predicting dates but about maintaining a steady heart.
For your faith life, this word offers a gentle wake-up call rather than a threat. It invites you to stay alert in your daily routines, knowing that God’s timing is precise and just. Whether you are busy with work or resting at home, the invitation remains the same: keep your spirit open to God’s presence. This perspective brings peace, as it shifts focus from anxiety about the future to faithfulness in the present moment.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- flood2×
- flood,1×
- [the] flood upon1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- κατακλυσμὸς2×
- κατακλυσμὸν1×
- κατακλυσμοῦ,1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 24:39
and they didn’t know until the flood came and took them all away, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
This verse uses the word to highlight the suddenness of judgment, showing that the flood arrived while people were unaware, just as Christ's return will be.
-
Luke 17:27
They ate, they drank, they married, and they were given in marriage until the day that Noah entered into the ship, and the flood came and destroyed them all.
Here the term emphasizes the total destruction that overtook those who ignored Noah’s warning, underscoring the seriousness of spiritual preparedness.
-
II Peter 2:5
and didn’t spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah with seven others, a preacher of righteousness, when he brought a flood on the world of the ungodly,
Peter uses this word to remind readers that God judges ungodliness but also preserves the righteous, linking past history to future hope.