κατείδωλος (kateidōlos)
kateidōlos
idolatrous
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective kateidōlos describes a place that is densely packed with idols, literally meaning "full of idols." It carries an intensive force, suggesting not just the presence of images but a state of being overwhelmed by them. This word appears only once in the New Testament, in Acts 17:16.
The source text notes its composition from an intensive prefix and the root for "idol," emphasizing the sheer volume of pagan worship objects surrounding the apostle Paul. When he saw Athens "full of idols," the term captured the city’s pervasive religious culture rather than just a few scattered statues. Translators often render this as "full of idols" or "grossly idolatrous" to convey the visual and spiritual saturation of the environment.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word kateidōlos paints a vivid picture of a world saturated with false gods. In Acts 17:16, we see Paul standing in Athens, surrounded by statues that dominated every corner of the city. This was not just a few scattered images but a culture completely defined by idolatry. The intensity of the word shows how overwhelming such an environment can feel to someone committed to the one true God.
For us today, this word reminds us that spiritual clarity requires vigilance. We live in a time where many things compete for our ultimate loyalty—money, status, or even good things turned into absolute priorities. Seeing the world 'full of idols' helps us recognize these distractions not as harmless background noise, but as serious spiritual challenges. It invites us to examine what truly holds our hearts.
Paul’s reaction was not one of despair, but of holy grief and a call to witness. His spirit was provoked within him, leading him to engage the city with the truth of the Gospel. This shows that recognizing idolatry is the first step toward finding freedom in Christ. We are called to live with clear eyes, seeing the world as it is, yet holding fast to the hope found only in Jesus.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- utterly idolatrous1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- κατείδωλον1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 17:16
Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw the city full of idols.
This verse uses kateidōlos to describe Athens' overwhelming religious atmosphere, showing Paul's deep spiritual distress at the pervasive nature of pagan worship.