κατισχύω (katischuō)
katischuō
to prevail
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb katischuō means to be stronger than someone else and to overcome them. It describes a situation where one force overpowers another, leaving the weaker side unable to resist. In the New Testament, this word appears only three times, each highlighting a decisive victory of strength over resistance.
Its meaning comes from combining two parts: kata, which can imply downward pressure or intensity, and ischuō, meaning to have power or strength. This combination creates a vivid image of being "over-powered" or having the upper hand completely. The word is used in Matthew 16:18 when Jesus says the gates of Hades will not prevail against his church, suggesting that death and evil cannot overcome the community he builds.
It also appears in Luke 23:23, where the crowd prevails over Pilate, forcing him to sentence Jesus to crucifixion despite his hesitation. Here, the word shows how public pressure can overpower legal judgment. In Luke 21:36, believers are urged to pray so they might escape these things and stand before the Son of Man, implying that spiritual vigilance helps them prevail against the trials of the end times.
Translators usually render katischuō as "prevail" or "overcome," capturing its sense of superior strength. The word emphasizes not just winning, but doing so through greater power or force. Its rare usage in Scripture makes each appearance significant, marking moments where one reality definitively overcomes another.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word katischuō paints a clear picture of one force overpowering another through sheer strength. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus declares that the gates of Hades will not prevail against his church. This is a promise that death and evil lack the power to destroy the community he builds. No matter how strong opposition seems, it cannot overcome the foundation of Christ.
Yet we also see this word used in Luke 23:23, where the crowd’s voices prevailed over Pilate’s judgment. This reminds us that human pressure can sometimes seem stronger than justice or truth. It shows how easily external forces can push aside what is right when people give in to urgency rather than reason.
In Luke 21:36, believers are urged to pray so they might escape these trials and stand before the Son of Man. This suggests that spiritual vigilance helps us prevail against the difficulties of the end times. We do not rely on our own strength but on God’s power to keep us steady when everything else is shaking.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- you may have strength1×
- will prevail against1×
- were prevailing1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- κατίσχυον1×
- κατισχύσουσιν1×
- κατισχύσητε1×
Key Verses
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Matthew 16:18
I also tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.
This occurrence matters because it establishes the church's ultimate security, showing that evil forces are fundamentally weaker than Christ's building project.
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Luke 23:23
But they were urgent with loud voices, asking that he might be crucified. Their voices and the voices of the chief priests prevailed.
This verse is significant as it illustrates how mob mentality and loud voices can overpower legal authority and individual conscience in a moment of crisis.
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Luke 21:36
Therefore be watchful all the time, praying that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Here the word implies that prayer is the means by which believers maintain their standing and escape the coming judgments that overwhelm others.