καταστέλλω (katastellō)
katastellō
to quiet
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb katastellō carries the sense of calming or quieting a disturbance. Its components suggest a downward motion: "kata" meaning down and "stellō" relating to arranging or putting in order. Together, they paint a picture of lowering something that has been raised up, whether it is an object or an agitated spirit.
In the New Testament, this word appears only twice, both times in Acts 19:35-36. The city clerk uses it to urge the crowd to keep calm and restrain their anger during a riot in Ephesus. Here, it does not mean total silence, but rather the active restraint of passion and noise.
While its usage is rare, the word offers a vivid image of de-escalation. It describes the act of bringing a heated situation back to a manageable level by lowering the volume of conflict. Translators often render it as "keep quiet" or "be calm," capturing the immediate need for order in a volatile moment.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word katastellō paints a vivid picture of de-escalation. It suggests actively lowering the volume of conflict rather than simply demanding silence. In Acts, the town clerk uses this term to calm a riotous crowd, urging them to restrain their anger and return to order. This image reminds us that peace is often an active choice, not just the absence of noise.
When we face tension in our own lives, this word invites us to lower the heat of our reactions. It encourages us to pause before speaking or acting impulsively. By choosing to quiet our passions, we create space for reason and understanding to take hold. This practice helps us navigate difficult moments with grace.
Ultimately, katastellō points to a deeper stability. It is about bringing a chaotic situation back to a manageable level through self-control. We can learn from this example to seek calm in the midst of storm. May we find strength in choosing peace over panic, trusting that order brings clarity.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- quietened1×
- having calmed1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- κατεσταλμένους1×
- καταστείλας1×
Key Verses
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Acts 19:35
When the town clerk had quieted the multitude, he said, “You men of Ephesus, what man is there who doesn’t know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great goddess Artemis, and of the image which fell down from Zeus?
The clerk uses the word to describe his active effort to settle the agitated crowd before speaking.
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Acts 19:36
Seeing then that these things can’t be denied, you ought to be quiet and to do nothing rash.
He commands the people to remain quiet and avoid rash actions, highlighting the link between calmness and wise conduct.