2506. kathairesis

Lexicon

kathairesis: Demolition, destruction, pulling down

Original Word: καθαίρεσις
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: kathairesis
Pronunciation: kath-ah'-ee-res-is
Phonetic Spelling: (kath-ah'-ee-res-is)
Definition: Demolition, destruction, pulling down
Meaning: taking down, razing, destroying.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

destruction, pulling down.

From kathaireo; demolition; figuratively, extinction -- destruction, pulling down.

see GREEK kathaireo

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 2506 kathaíresis (from 2507 /kathairéō) – demolition, i.e. taking down (apart) to destroy, raze. See 2507 (kathaireō).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from kathaireó
Definition
a pulling down
NASB Translation
destroying (1), destruction (1), tearing down (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 2506: καθαίρεσις

καθαίρεσις, καθαιρεσεως, ἡ (καθαιρέω, which see), a pulling down, destruction, demolition: ὀχυρωμάτων (A. V. of strongholds), 2 Corinthians 10:4 (τῶν τειχῶν, Xenophon, Hell. 2, 2, 15; 5, 1, 35; Polybius 23, 7, 6; Diodorus excerpt. leg. 13; destructio murorum, Suetonius, Galba 12); εἰς οἰκοδομήν καί οὐκ εἰς καθαίρεσιν ὑμῶν, for building up (increasing) not for casting down (the extinction of) the godly, upright, blessed life you lead in fellowship with Christ (see οἰκοδομή, 1): 2 Corinthians 10:8; 2 Corinthians 13:10. (From Thucydides down.)

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek verb καθαιρέω (kathaireō), meaning "to take down," "to demolish," or "to destroy."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for καθαίρεσις, similar concepts can be found in Hebrew words related to destruction or overthrowing, such as:
• 2040 הָרַס (haras) • to tear down, break, or destroy.
• 5422 נָתַץ (nathats) • to pull down, break down, or demolish.

These Hebrew terms reflect similar actions of destruction or dismantling, often used in the context of physical structures or metaphorically for spiritual or moral decay.

Usage: The term καθαίρεσις is used in the New Testament to describe the act of demolishing or tearing down, often in a spiritual or metaphorical context. It appears in discussions about spiritual warfare and the dismantling of arguments or strongholds that oppose the knowledge of God.

Context: • The term καθαίρεσις is found in the New Testament in contexts that emphasize the spiritual battle against false ideologies and arguments that stand against the truth of God. In 2 Corinthians 10:4, the Apostle Paul uses this term to describe the divine power believers have to demolish strongholds: "The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds." (BSB)
• This passage highlights the spiritual nature of the Christian's battle, where the focus is not on physical structures but on mental and spiritual fortresses that hinder the knowledge of God. The use of καθαίρεσις underscores the active and intentional effort required to dismantle these barriers through divine empowerment.
• The concept of καθαίρεσις can also be understood in the broader biblical narrative as part of God's redemptive work, where He dismantles the powers of sin and darkness to establish His kingdom of light and truth.

Forms and Transliterations

καθαιρέσει καθαιρεσιν καθαίρεσιν kathairesin kathaíresin

Englishman's Concordance

2 Corinthians 10:4 N-AFS
GRK: θεῷ πρὸς καθαίρεσιν ὀχυρωμάτων
NAS: powerful for the destruction of fortresses.
KJV: to the pulling down of strong holds;)
INT: divine to overthrow of strongholds

2 Corinthians 10:8 N-AFS
GRK: οὐκ εἰς καθαίρεσιν ὑμῶν οὐκ
NAS: for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be put to shame,
KJV: for your destruction, I should not
INT: not for tearing down you not

2 Corinthians 13:10 N-AFS
GRK: οὐκ εἰς καθαίρεσιν
NAS: me for building up and not for tearing down.
KJV: not to destruction.
INT: not for tearing down

Strong's Greek 2506
3 Occurrences

καθαίρεσιν — 3 Occ.