καταστρέφω (katastrephō)
katastrephō
to overturn
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb katastrephō means to overturn or throw down with force. It describes a violent reversal where something is turned over completely, often resulting in destruction. In the New Testament, it appears only twice, both times in the Synoptic Gospels describing Jesus’ actions in the Temple courts (Matthew 21:12; Mark 11:15).
Its strength comes from its parts: kata ("down") and strephō ("to turn"). This is not a gentle adjustment but a decisive act of displacement. The sources note it was used in the Septuagint for similar acts of divine judgment, such as turning cities upside down. Translators render it "overturned," capturing the physical chaos Jesus created by driving out merchants.
While rare in Scripture, its usage highlights Jesus' authority to disrupt corrupt systems. The word implies a total change of state, leaving the previous order in ruins so something new can take its place.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word katastrephō describes a forceful overturning, capturing the moment Jesus disrupted the commercial activity in the Temple. This was not a gentle correction but a decisive act that removed obstacles to true worship. By overturning the tables, Jesus cleared the space for prayer and reverence, showing that God’s house is meant for connection with Him, not business transactions.
For your faith, this reminds us that God cares deeply about the purity of our hearts and our gatherings. When distractions or selfish motives crowd out worship, He may move in ways that disrupt our comfort to restore focus on what matters most. This act invites you to examine where clutter might be hindering your relationship with Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- He overturned2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- κατέστρεψεν2×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 21:12
Jesus entered into the temple of God and drove out all of those who sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the money changers’ tables and the seats of those who sold the doves.
This verse highlights Jesus’ authority to physically disrupt corrupt systems, using the word to show His decisive action against exploitation in worship.
-
Mark 11:15
They came to Jerusalem, and Jesus entered into the temple and began to throw out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and overthrew the money changers’ tables and the seats of those who sold the doves.
Here the term emphasizes the suddenness of Jesus’ intervention, overturning the tables to reclaim the Temple as a house of prayer rather than a marketplace.