2524. kathiémi

Lexical Summary

kathiémi: To let down, to lower

Original Word: καθίημι
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: kathiémi
Pronunciation: kath-ee'-ay-mee
Phonetic Spelling: (kath-ee'-ay-mee)
KJV: let down
NASB: letdown, lowered, down
Word Origin: [from G2596 (κατά - according)]

1. and hiemi "to send"
2. to lower

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

to let down, lower

From kata; and hiemi (to send); to lower -- let down.

see GREEK kata

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from kata and hiémi (to send)
Definition
to let down
NASB Translation
down (1), let...down (2), lowered (2), lowering* (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 2524: καθίημι

καθίημι: 1 aorist καθῆκα; (from Homer on); to send down, let down: εἰς, Luke 5:19; διά with the genitive of place, ibid. and Acts 9:25; present passive participle καθιεμενος let down, ἐπί τῆς γῆς, Acts 10:11; ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, Acts 11:5.

Topical Lexicon

Overview

Strong’s Greek 2524 captures the deliberate act of lowering or letting something down from a higher place to a lower one. Each New Testament appearance conveys purposeful descent in the service of God’s redemptive work—whether bringing a needy man before Christ, rescuing a new convert, or unveiling heaven-sent revelation.

Luke 5:19 – Lowering the Paralytic to Jesus

“...they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.” (Luke 5:19)

1. Proof of persistent faith: the verb highlights faith that overcomes structural and social barriers.
2. Foretaste of salvation: the man is physically and spiritually “let down” only to be raised up by forgiveness and healing.
3. Community involvement: four friends enact the verb; ministry is often a cooperative lowering of the needy to the feet of Christ.

Acts 9:25 – Lowering Saul for Protection

“But his disciples took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.” (Acts 9:25)

1. Early discipleship: the man who will later “press on toward the goal” starts his ministry by being quietly lowered.
2. God’s providence: the same city walls that once symbolized safety for persecutors become a channel of escape for the persecuted.
3. Transfer of dependence: Saul must rely on unnamed believers, underscoring the church’s mutual care.

Acts 10:11 and 11:5 – The Sheet from Heaven

“He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being lowered to earth by its four corners.” (Acts 10:11)

1. Universal scope: the sheet lowers all kinds of animals, picturing God’s plan to bring in Jew and Gentile alike.
2. Repetition for certainty: Peter recounts the same vision (Acts 11:5), showing God’s insistence that the church embrace His expansive mission.
3. Heavenly initiative: the passive lowering stresses that inclusion of the nations originates in heaven, not human strategy.

Theological Themes

• Divine descent meets human need: from forgiveness (Luke 5), through protection (Acts 9), to revelation (Acts 10–11).
• Humility precedes exaltation: the man on the bed, the apostle in the basket, and the apostle on a rooftop all experience a “lowering” that issues in higher calling.
• Corporate obedience: in every case others participate—friends, disciples, or heavenly agency—teaching that ministry is communal.

Historical and Cultural Notes

• Flat-roofed Palestinian homes made roof entry feasible; removal of tiles was disruptive yet repairable, symbolizing faith that risks property for people.
• First-century city walls commonly had window openings; a basket escape reflects practical knowledge of urban architecture.
• Large linen sheets were standard household items and could serve as sailcloth; God employs ordinary objects for extraordinary revelation.

Intertextual Connections

• Psalm 18:16 pictures God “reaching down” to rescue; 2524 scenes echo that saving descent.
• Isaiah 45:8 calls for heavens to “rain down righteousness,” prefiguring the lowered sheet of gospel inclusion.

Ministry Implications

1. Creative access: seek unconventional pathways to bring people to Christ.
2. Protective discipleship: safeguard vulnerable believers without demanding public heroics.
3. Missional openness: accept divine initiatives that challenge entrenched cultural boundaries.

Christological Perspective

The lowering motif anticipates the greater descent of the Son Himself, “being found in appearance as a man” (Philippians 2:8). Every occurrence of 2524 whispers of the Incarnation’s downward trajectory that secures humanity’s upward call in Christ Jesus.

Summary

Strong’s 2524 portrays decisive, faith-filled lowering that advances God’s saving purposes. Whether conveying a paralytic, an apostle, or a vision, the verb reminds the church that genuine elevation—of souls, of mission, of revelation—often begins with a willing descent.

Forms and Transliterations

κάθες καθηκαν καθήκαν καθῆκαν καθήκε καθιεμενην καθιεμένην καθιεμενον καθιέμενον κάθισιν kathekan kathêkan kathēkan kathē̂kan kathiemenen kathiemenēn kathieménen kathieménēn kathiemenon kathiémenon

Englishman's Concordance

Luke 5:19 V-AIA-3P
GRK: τῶν κεράμων καθῆκαν αὐτὸν σὺν
NAS: up on the roof and let him down through
KJV: and let him down through the tiling
INT: the tiles they let down him with

Acts 9:25 V-AIA-3P
GRK: τοῦ τείχους καθῆκαν αὐτὸν χαλάσαντες
NAS: him by night and let him down through
KJV: by night, and let [him] down by
INT: the wall let down him having lowered [him]

Acts 10:11 V-PPM/P-ANS
GRK: τέσσαρσιν ἀρχαῖς καθιέμενον ἐπὶ τῆς
NAS: coming down, lowered by four
KJV: corners, and let down to the earth:
INT: by four corners let down upon the

Acts 11:5 V-PPM/P-AFS
GRK: τέσσαρσιν ἀρχαῖς καθιεμένην ἐκ τοῦ
NAS: a great sheet lowered by four corners
KJV: a great sheet, let down from heaven
INT: by four corners let down out of

Strong's Greek 2524
4 Occurrences

καθῆκαν — 2 Occ.
καθιεμένην — 1 Occ.
καθιέμενον — 1 Occ.