καταλιθάζω (katalithazō)
katalithazō
to stone
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb katalithazō means to stone someone to death, specifically emphasizing the act of overwhelming a person with stones. It is a compound word combining kata ("down" or "against") and lithos ("stone"), creating a vivid image of forceful, lethal action. This term appears only once in the New Testament, in Luke 20:6.
In that passage, Jesus uses it to describe how the religious leaders might react to John the Baptist’s message. The word carries a sense of finality and violence, indicating not just throwing stones but doing so with enough intensity to kill. Translators typically render it as "stone" or "stone to death," capturing the brutal reality of this form of execution in the ancient world.
Though rare, its single occurrence highlights the danger faced by prophets who challenged established authority. The word serves as a stark reminder of the resistance truth often encounters from those in power.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word katalithazō describes a violent act of stoning, capturing the intense hostility faced by those who speak truth to power. In Luke 20:6, Jesus uses this term to highlight the fear the religious leaders felt about John the Baptist. They worried that if they admitted John’s authority came from God, the crowd would stone them for rejecting a prophet.
This single occurrence reminds us that following God’s message often invites resistance. It is not always easy to stand firm in faith when society pushes back. Yet, knowing that even Jesus acknowledged this danger helps us feel less alone in our struggles. We are part of a long line of believers who have faced opposition for their witness.
When you encounter pushback for your beliefs, remember that truth often meets with resistance. This does not mean you are doing something wrong. Instead, it can be a sign that you are standing for something significant. Trust in God’s presence and peace, even when the world seems hostile.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- will stone1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- καταλιθάσει1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 20:6
But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.”
This verse shows the religious leaders using the fear of being stoned to avoid admitting John the Baptist's divine authority.