κατωτέρω (katōterō)
katōterō
lower
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The comparative adverb katōterō means "lower" or "downward," serving as a more intense form of the simple word for "below." It appears only once in the New Testament, in Matthew 2:16, where it describes the age range of children targeted by Herod. The text specifies that he killed boys who were two years old and younger, using this comparative term to emphasize that the victims were not just below a certain height or status, but specifically those at the lower end of the age spectrum.
This single usage highlights its function as a descriptor of degree rather than mere direction. While the base word katō indicates position beneath something, katōterō pushes that idea further, often implying a relative lowering or a specific threshold. In this context, it helps define the precise boundary of Herod’s cruel decree, marking those who were younger than two years old as the ones included in the tragedy.
The rarity of this word in Scripture makes its appearance in Matthew significant. It is not used for general spatial descriptions but for a specific, tragic historical detail. By choosing this comparative form, the Gospel writer clarifies that the massacre extended to infants and toddlers, those who were "lower" in age than the two-year mark. This linguistic precision ensures that readers understand the full scope of the violence described.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word katōterō appears just once in the New Testament, tucked into a heartbreaking moment in Matthew 2:16. It describes children who were "lower" or younger than two years old. This small grammatical choice helps us grasp the full weight of Herod’s fear and cruelty. He did not spare even the youngest infants, extending his violence to those at the very bottom of the age spectrum.
For believers today, this rare word reminds us that God sees every life, no matter how small or vulnerable it may seem in the eyes of the world. The tragedy of Bethlehem is real, but it is not the final word. Scripture shows us a God who cares for the least and the lowest, offering hope where human power brings only darkness.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- under1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- κατωτέρω1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 2:16
Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent out and killed all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding countryside, from two years old and under, according to the exact time which he had learned from the wise men.
This verse uses katōterō to specify that Herod’s massacre included infants younger than two, emphasizing the extreme vulnerability of the victims.