καταλείπω (kataleipō)
kataleipō
to leave behind
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 24 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb kataleipō means to leave behind or depart from something, often with a sense of finality. In the New Testament it appears in contexts ranging from physical departure to emotional abandonment. For instance, Jesus describes a man leaving his father and mother (Mark 10:7), while Peter notes that Paul left Trophimus sick at Miletus (2 Timothy 4:20). The word captures both the act of going away and the state of what remains.
Its meaning shifts depending on context, covering literal leaving, forsaking, or reserving. In Acts 21:3, sailors sail past a place without stopping, illustrating simple passage. Conversely, in Matthew 26:56, all the disciples flee, abandoning Jesus. This dual nature—leaving something behind versus forsaking someone—is key to understanding its weight in Scripture.
The prefix kata intensifies the root leipō (to leave), suggesting a thorough or decisive action. Translators often render it as "leave," "forsake," or "abandon" based on whether the object is a place, a person, or a duty. This flexibility allows the word to convey both neutral departure and painful desertion.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word kataleipō captures the complex reality of leaving something behind, whether it is a place, a person, or a duty. In Scripture, this act is rarely neutral. It often marks a decisive moment where one path ends and another begins. When Jesus speaks of leaving father and mother to join with a wife, He highlights how this departure creates a new primary bond. This physical separation is not just about distance; it is about reordering our deepest loyalties.
Yet the word also carries the weight of abandonment. In Matthew 26, the disciples flee, leaving Jesus alone in His hour of greatest need. This stark contrast reminds us that what we leave behind has consequences for those who remain. We are called to be mindful of how our departures affect others, ensuring that our transitions do not become acts of desertion but steps of faithful obedience.
Ultimately, kataleipō invites us to consider what we hold onto and what we release. God’s promise is that He never leaves us nor forsakes us, even when human relationships fail or circumstances force us apart. This assurance allows us to navigate change with peace, trusting that our true home is secured in Christ.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 24 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- having left6×
- will leave3×
- left3×
- while is left remaining1×
- to be left behind1×
- leaving1×
- leaves1×
- he may leave behind1×
- he left1×
- having neglected1×
- having left behind1×
- has left1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- καταλιπὼν6×
- κατέλιπεν4×
- καταλείψει3×
- κατέλιπον2×
- κατελείφθη1×
- καταλίπῃ1×
- καταλιπόντες1×
- καταλείψαντας1×
- καταλείποντες1×
- καταλείπει1×
- καταλελειμμένος1×
- καταλειφθῆναι1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 19:5
and said, ‘For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh’?
This verse establishes the foundational principle that leaving parents is necessary to form a new, inseparable union with a spouse.
-
Luke 5:28
He left everything, and rose up and followed him.
Here the word emphasizes total abandonment of previous livelihood and identity in response to Jesus' call.
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Romans 11:4
But how does God answer him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”
Paul uses this concept to show that God preserves a remnant for Himself, highlighting divine faithfulness amidst human failure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does kataleipō mean in the New Testament?
How is this word different from simply walking away?
Does this word always have a negative meaning?
Why do some verses translate it as 'forsake'?
Every Occurrence (24 verses across 10 books)
Matthew 4 verses
Leaving Nazareth, he came and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,
Matthew 16:4An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and there will be no sign given to it, except the sign of the…
Matthew 19:5and said, ‘For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife; and the two shall…
Matthew 21:17He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and camped there.