Lexical Summary katalambanó: To seize, to grasp, to comprehend, to overtake Original Word: καταλαμβάνω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance apprehend, attain, overtake. From kata and lambano; to take eagerly, i.e. Seize, possess, etc. (literally or figuratively) -- apprehend, attain, come upon, comprehend, find, obtain, perceive, (over-)take. see GREEK kata see GREEK lambano HELPS Word-studies 2638 katalambánō (from 2596 /katá, "down, according to," which intensifies 2983 /lambánō, "aggressively take") – properly, take hold of exactly, with decisive initiative (eager self-interest); to grasp something in a forceful (firm) manner; (figuratively) to apprehend (comprehend), "making it one's own." NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom kata and lambanó Definition to lay hold of, seize NASB Translation attained (1), caught (2), comprehend (2), found (1), laid hold (2), lay hold (1), overtake (2), seizes (1), understand (1), understood (1), win (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2638: καταλαμβάνωκαταλαμβάνω: 2 aorist κατέλαβον; perfect infinitive κατειληφέναι; passive, perfect 3 person singular κατείληπται (John 8:4 as given in L T Tr WH text), perfect participle κατειλημμένος; 1 aorist κατειληφθην (John 8:4 Rst bez elz G) (on the augment cf. Winer's Grammar, § 12, 6), and κατελήφθην (Philippians 3:12 R G), and κατελήμφθην (ibid. L T Tr WH; on the mu μ' see under the word Mu); middle, present καταλαμβάνομαι; 2 aorist κατελαβόμην; cf. Kühner, i., p. 856; (Veitch, under the word λαμβάνω); the Sept. for הִשִּׂיג, לָכַד, also for מָצָא, etc.; (from Homer down); to lay hold of; i. e.: 1. to lay hold of so as to make one's own, to obtain, attain to: with the accusative of the thing; the prize of victory, 1 Corinthians 9:24; Philippians 3:12f; τήν δικαιοσύνην, Romans 9:30; equivalent to to make one's own, to take into oneself, appropriate: ἡ σκοτία αὐτό (i. e. τό φῶς) οὐ κατέλαβεν, John 1:5. 2. to seize upon, take possession of (Latinoccupare); a. of evils overtaking one (so in Greek writings from Homer down): τινα σκοτία, John 12:35; (so physically, John 6:17 Tdf.); of the last day overtaking the wicked with destruction, 1 Thessalonians 5:4; of a demon about to torment one, Mark 9:18. b. in a good sense, of Christ by his holy power and influence laying hold of the human mind and will, in order to prompt and govern it, Philippians 3:12. 3. to detect, catch: τινα ἐν τίνι, in passive John 8:3 (WH ἐπί τίνι); with a participle indicating the crime, John 8:4. 4. to lay hold of with the mind; to understand, perceive, learn, comprehend (Plato, Phaedr., p. 250d.; Axioch., p. 370a.; Polybius 8, 4, 6; Philo, vita contempl. § 10; Dionysius Halicarnassus, Antiquities 5, 46); middle (Dionysius Halicarnassus, Antiquities 2, 66; (cf. Winer's Grammar, 253 (238))), followed by ὅτι, Acts 4:13; Acts 10:34; followed by the accusative with an infinitive, Acts 25:25; followed by indirect discourse, Ephesians 3:18. Strong’s Greek 2638 carries the vivid picture of laying hold of something or someone—sometimes by force, sometimes by perception, always with decisive effect. Across its fifteen New Testament occurrences it moves along three main axes: (1) physical seizure, (2) mental or spiritual apprehension, and (3) moral or eschatological overtaking. Physical Seizure and Legal Apprehension In the Synoptic record the verb describes the violent grip of hostile powers. The demon in Mark 9:18 “seizes” a boy, hurling him into convulsions. Likewise, the woman in adultery is twice said to be “caught” (John 8:3-4), a usage that accents the public, undeniable nature of her guilt as well as the ruthless motives of the accusers. Luke employs the word in Acts 25:25 when Festus tells Agrippa, “I found he had done nothing worthy of death,” revealing the administrative, evidentiary sense of the term in Roman judicial procedure. Mental Perception and Spiritual Insight A shift from external action to inward realization appears in Acts 4:13: the Sanhedrin “recognized” Peter and John as untrained men yet bold witnesses. Peter again uses the verb in Acts 10:34, “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism,” marking the moment Gentile inclusion became undeniable fact to an apostle steeped in Jewish particularism. Paul prays for believers “to comprehend with all the saints the length and width and height and depth” of Christ’s love (Ephesians 3:18). The request implies that such comprehension is neither casual nor automatic; it requires Holy Spirit–empowered grasping. Similarly, Paul confesses in Philippians 3:12-13 that he has not yet “taken hold” of the resurrection likeness promised in Christ, but he presses on because Christ has first “taken hold” of him. Moral and Eschatological Overtaking The verb also warns of powers that overtake the unwary. Jesus urges, “Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you” (John 12:35). Paul echoes the warning: “But you, brothers, are not in the darkness so that this day should overtake you like a thief” (1 Thessalonians 5:4). In both passages katalambanō portrays darkness and the Day of the Lord as forces advancing relentlessly unless believers remain vigilant in the light. Pauline Theology of Pursuit and Possession Paul uses athletic imagery in 1 Corinthians 9:24: “Run in such a way as to take the prize.” The same idea surfaces in Romans 9:30 where the Gentiles “attained” righteousness by faith—laying hold of what Israel, seeking by works, failed to grasp. For Paul, katalambanō summarizes the gospel paradox: salvation is God’s gracious seizure of sinners, yet believers must exert every effort to seize the goal set before them. Light versus Darkness: Johannine Emphasis John frames the cosmic conflict in his prologue: “The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5). Here katalambanō affirms the ultimate impotence of evil; darkness neither comprehends nor overpowers the incarnate Word. The same tension reappears in John 12:35 where darkness threatens to overtake the undecided. Together the two verses guarantee Christ’s victory while warning of personal loss for those who linger in unbelief. Ministry Implications 1. Evangelism: Because darkness seeks to overtake, the church must proclaim Christ while there is still “light.” Historical Usage and Translation Early Greek-speaking believers heard in katalambanō echoes of everyday life—arresting officers, athletes seizing the prize, merchants grasping opportunity. Latin translators chose forms of comprehendere and apprehendere, from which English inherits “comprehend” and “apprehend.” The range of English renderings—seize, overtake, comprehend, attain—signals the rich versatility of the original term. Strong’s 2638 therefore invites readers to marvel at a gospel that seizes the sinner, enlightens the mind, and empowers the saint to grasp eternal life before the darkness can claim its prey. Englishman's Concordance Mark 9:18 V-ASA-3SGRK: ἐὰν αὐτὸν καταλάβῃ ῥήσσει αὐτόν NAS: and whenever it seizes him, it slams KJV: wheresoever he taketh him, INT: if him it seizes it throws down him John 1:5 V-AIA-3S John 8:3 V-RPM/P-AFS John 8:4 V-RIM/P-3S John 12:35 V-ASA-3S Acts 4:13 V-APM-NMP Acts 10:34 V-PIM-1S Acts 25:25 V-AIM-1S Romans 9:30 V-AIA-3S 1 Corinthians 9:24 V-ASA-2P Ephesians 3:18 V-ANM Philippians 3:12 V-ASA-1S Philippians 3:12 V-AIP-1S Philippians 3:13 V-RNA 1 Thessalonians 5:4 V-ASA-3S Strong's Greek 2638 |
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