Lexical Summary katakrémnizó: To throw down, to cast down headlong Original Word: κατακρημνίζω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance cast down headlong. From kata and a derivative of kremnos; to precipitate down -- cast down headlong. see GREEK kata see GREEK kremnos NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom kata and krémnos Definition to throw over a precipice NASB Translation throw...down the cliff (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2630: κατακρημνίζωκατακρημνίζω: 1 aorist infinitive κατακρημνίσαι; to cast down a precipice; to throw down headlong: Luke 4:29. (2 Chronicles 25:12; 2 Macc. 14:48; 4 Macc. 4:25; Xenophon, Cyril 1, 4, 7; 8, 3, 41; Demosthenes 446, 11; Diodorus 4, 31; (Philo de agric. Noë § 15); Josephus, Antiquities 6, 6, 2; 9, 9, 1.) Topical Lexicon Overview Strong’s Greek 2630 appears a single time in the New Testament, describing the crowd’s intent to hurl Jesus off the precipice outside Nazareth (Luke 4:29). The verb carries a forceful sense of violent rejection, emphasizing the extremity of hostility directed toward the Lord at the outset of His public ministry. Biblical Setting (Luke 4:16-30) After reading Isaiah 61:1-2 in the Nazareth synagogue, Jesus declared, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21). His announcement of messianic fulfillment met initial amazement, quickly giving way to indignation when He cited examples of grace extended to outsiders (Luke 4:25-27). Enraged, the townspeople expelled Him from the synagogue, drove Him to “the brow of the hill on which their town was built, in order to throw Him over the cliff” (Luke 4:29). Their murderous intention marks an early preview of the ultimate rejection culminating at Calvary. Yet verse 30 records a sovereign deliverance: “But Jesus passed through the crowd and went on His way.” Historical and Cultural Background Nazareth, perched on rocky elevations of Lower Galilee, afforded steep escarpments suitable for the crowd’s deadly plan. Ancient Near-Eastern legal traditions occasionally prescribed cliff-casting for blasphemy or serious offenses, paralleling stoning by leveraging gravity rather than projectiles (compare Leviticus 24:16). The reaction at Nazareth thus reflects more than mob violence; it mirrors a quasi-judicial sentence of death for perceived blasphemy, demonstrating how severely His own people misconstrued His claim. Theological Themes 1. Prophetic Rejection: Jesus’ citation of Elijah and Elisha (Luke 4:25-27) underscores a pattern—prophets honored by God are often dishonored by their kinsmen. The attempted cliff-casting embodies that pattern (see Nehemiah 9:26; Acts 7:52). Connections with Other Scriptures • Genesis 37:18-20 – Joseph’s brothers conspire to kill and cast him into a pit; typologically anticipates Israel’s rejection of their deliverer. Christological Significance The Nazareth event affirms Jesus as the suffering Servant who faces violent opposition yet remains steadfast. His preservation foreshadows resurrection power: enemies intend destruction, but God overrules. The scene also unveils the paradox of His ministry—He comes with gracious words (Luke 4:22), yet evokes lethal fury; He is rejected in His hometown, yet destined to be Savior of the world. Pastoral and Ministry Applications • Faithful proclamation of truth may evoke intense resistance, even from familiar circles. Ministers should not equate hostility with failure but with conformity to Christ’s pattern. Summary Strong’s Greek 2630 highlights a dramatic attempt to silence the Messiah by hurling Him off a cliff. Though occurring only once, it vividly portrays the violent depth of unbelief, God’s sovereign preservation, and the unflinching advance of the gospel. Forms and Transliterations κατακρημνισαι κατακρημνίσαι κατεκρήμνιζον katakremnisai katakremnísai katakrēmnisai katakrēmnísaiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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