Lexical Summary
kataleipó: To leave behind, to forsake, to abandon
Original Word: καταλείπω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: kataleipó
Pronunciation: kat-al-i'-po
Phonetic Spelling: (kat-al-i'-po)
KJV: forsake, leave, reserve
NASB: left, leave, leaving, forsaking, kept, leaves behind, leaving behind
Word Origin: [from G2596 (κατά - according) and G3007 (λείπω - lacking)]
1. to leave down, i.e. behind
2. (by implication) to abandon, have remaining
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
forsake, leave, reserve.
From kata and leipo; to leave down, i.e. Behind; by implication, to abandon, have remaining -- forsake, leave, reserve.
see GREEK kata
see GREEK leipo
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
kata and
leipóDefinitionto leave, leave behind
NASB Translationforsaking (1), kept (1), leave (4), leaves behind (1), leaving (3), leaving behind (1), left (8), left behind (1), left...behind (1), neglect (1), pulled free (1), remains (1).
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 2641: καταλείπωκαταλείπω; future
καταλείψω; 1 aorist
κατελειψα (in later authors; cf.
Lob. ad Phryn., p. 713ff; (
Veitch, under the word
λείπω;
WH's Appendix, p. 169f)); 2 aorist
κατέλιπον; passive, present
καταλείπομαι; perfect participle
καταλελειμμένος (
WH καταλελιμμενος, see (their Appendix, p. 154b, and) under the word Iota); 1 aorist
κατελείφθην; (see
κατά, III. 5); the
Sept. for
הותִיר,
הִשְׁאִיר,
עָזַב; (from
Homer down);
to leave behind; with the accusative of place or person;
a. equivalent to to depart from, leave, a person or thing: Matthew 4:13; Matthew 16:4; Matthew 21:17; Hebrews 11:27; metaphorically, εὐθεῖαν ὁδόν, to forsake true religion, 2 Peter 2:15. passive to be left: John 8:9; equivalent to to remain, followed by ἐν with the dative of place, 1 Thessalonians 3:1.
b. equivalent to to bid (one) to remain: τινα in a place, Acts 18:19; Titus 1:5 (R G; others ἀπολείπω).
c. to forsake, leave to oneself a person or thing, by ceasing to care for it, to abandon, leave in the lurch: καταλείψει ... τόν πατέρα καί τήν μητέρα, Matthew 19:5; Mark 10:7; Ephesians 5:31, from Genesis 2:24; passive to be abandoned, forsaken: εἰς ᾅδου (or ᾅδην (which see 2)), Acts 2:31 Rec. (see ἐγκαταλείπω, 1); with the accusative of the thing, Mark 14:52; Luke (); ; τόν λόγον, to neglect the office of instruction, Acts 6:2. d. to cause to be left over, to reserve, to leave remaining: ἐμαυτῷ, Romans 11:4 (1 Kings 19:18); καταλείπεται, there still remains, ἐπαγγελία, a promise (to be made good by the event), Hebrews 4:1 (μάχη, Xenophon, Cyril 2, 3, 11; σωτηρίας ἐλπίς, Josephus, b. j. 4, 5, 4); τινα with an infinitive (to leave any business to be done by one alone), Luke 10:40.
e. like our leave behind, it is used of one who on being called away cannot take another with him: Acts 24:27; Acts 25:14; specifically, of the dying (to leave behind), Mark 12:19 ( L marginal reading T Tr WH); Luke 20:31 (Deuteronomy 28:54; Proverbs 20:7; and often in Greek writings from Homer Iliad 24, 726; Odyssey 21, 33 on). f. like our leave equivalent to leave alone, disregard: of those who sail past a place without stopping, Acts 21:3. (Compare: ἐγκαταλείπω.)
Topical Lexicon
Summary of Concept Strong’s 2641 pictures an act of leaving that can be positive (entrusting, prioritizing) or negative (neglecting, forsaking). Its range stretches from domestic transitions (“leave father and mother”) to grave warnings about apostasy (“left the straight way”), and from strategic ministry decisions (“be left in Athens”) to God’s gracious preservation of a remnant (“I have left for Myself seven thousand men”). Across the New Testament the verb consistently highlights decisive separation that serves a higher purpose—whether righteous or unrighteous.
Key Thematic Clusters
1. Family and Covenant Foundations
• Matthew 19:5; Mark 10:7; Ephesians 5:31 – quoting Genesis 2:24, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife.” The verb underscores covenant priority. Marriage involves a purposeful severance from parental dependence to establish a new, God-ordained unity. Pastoral application: premarital counseling must stress that healthy marriages require a deliberate realignment of loyalties.
• Mark 12:19, 12:21; Luke 20:31 – the Sadducees’ hypothetical scenario (“dies and leaves a wife but no children”) uses the term in standard inheritance language, showing that Scripture speaks to practical legal matters flowing out of the marriage covenant.
2. Discipleship and Sacrifice
• Luke 5:28 – Levi “left everything, got up, and followed Him.” Radical discipleship demands relinquishing personal security for the surpassing worth of Christ.
• Mark 14:52 – the fleeing young man “left the linen cloth” in fear, a contrast that warns against half-hearted allegiance.
• Hebrews 11:27 – Moses “left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger,” illustrating faith-motivated detachment from worldly power.
• Luke 15:4 – the shepherd “does not leave the ninety-nine in the open field” to seek the lost, modeling the Shepherd’s costly pursuit and calling under-shepherds to the same pastoral heart.
3. Ministry Strategy and Delegation
• Acts 6:2 – “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve tables.” Apostolic leadership refuses to abandon its primary calling yet ensures practical needs are met through Spirit-filled servants.
• Acts 18:19; 21:3; 25:14 – Paul “left” co-workers or was “left” in custody; each instance reveals Spirit-led flexibility. Mission teams may divide for wider reach, and sometimes unjust confinement becomes the arena for gospel witness (compare Philippians 1:12-14).
4. Perseverance and the Remnant
• Hebrews 4:1 – “While the promise of entering His rest still stands,” the promise is literally “left” for believers; divine rest remains available. Believers must fear unbelief, not God’s faithfulness.
• Romans 11:4 – “I have left for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” God’s sovereign preservation guarantees the church will never be utterly forsaken—even amid widespread apostasy.
5. Moral Warning and Apostasy
• 2 Peter 2:15 – false teachers “have left the straight way,” abandoning orthodoxy for greed.
• Luke 10:40 – Martha complains that Mary “has left me to serve alone,” illustrating how misplaced priorities can creep even into sincere service.
• Acts 24:27 – Felix “left Paul in prison” to curry favor, a sober reminder that political expediency often overrides justice.
Theological Observations
• Leaving as Ordained Priority: The Genesis-marriage citations teach that leaving is not always negative. Obedient separation can fulfill divine design.
• Leaving as Faith’s Expression: Moses, Levi, and the shepherd exhibit faith-driven abandon, revealing the costliness and reward of trust.
• Leaving as Failure: Felix, Balaam’s imitators, and the frightened young man show how self-preservation or greed can lead to sinful desertion.
• Divine Non-Abandonment: Even when humans forsake, the Lord safeguards His promises (Romans 11:4) and still extends rest (Hebrews 4:1).
Practical Ministry Applications
• Marriage counseling must help couples honor the biblical leaving-and-cleaving principle, fostering healthy boundaries with extended family.
• Disciple-making should call believers to decisive steps that demonstrate Christ’s supremacy over possessions, comfort, and reputation.
• Church leaders must avoid neglecting primary responsibilities; delegating service tasks protects the ministry of the word and prayer.
• Intercessors can pray Hebrews 4:1 over congregations—that no one miss the “left-standing” promise of rest.
• Apologists should warn against the 2 Peter 2:15 syndrome, guarding doctrine and motives so that no shepherd “leaves the straight way.”
Conclusion
Whenever Strong’s 2641 appears, it demands that readers ask: What is being left, why, and with what heart posture? Scripture commends leaving that exalts God’s purposes and condemns leaving that abandons them. The faithful believer learns to forsake what must be forsaken—and never to forsake the Lord or His word.
Forms and Transliterations
καταλειπει καταλείπει καταλείπετε καταλειπόμενα καταλειπομενης καταλειπομένης καταλειπομένων καταλειποντες καταλείποντες καταλείπουσι καταλείπωσιν καταλειφθεις καταλειφθείς καταλειφθείσαι καταλειφθείσαν καταλειφθείσιν καταλειφθέν καταλειφθέντα καταλειφθέντας καταλειφθέντες καταλειφθέντι καταλειφθέντος καταλειφθέντων καταλειφθή καταλειφθηναι καταλειφθήναι καταλειφθῆναι καταλειφθήσεσθε καταλειφθήσεται καταλειφθήση καταλειφθήσονται καταλειφθήτε καταλειφθώσι καταλειφθώσί καταλειφθώσιν καταλειψαντας καταλείψαντας καταλείψαντος καταλειψει καταλείψει καταλείψεις καταλείψετε καταλείψης κατάλειψιν καταλείψουσι καταλείψουσί καταλείψουσιν καταλείψω καταλελειμένας καταλελειμμένα καταλελειμμένη καταλελειμμένην καταλελειμμένοι καταλελειμμένοις καταλελειμμένον καταλελειμμένος καταλελειμμένους καταλελειμμένων καταλέλειπται καταλελιμμενος καταλελιμμένος καταλελοίπατε καταλελοιπότες καταλήψη κατάληψιν καταλιπείν καταλιπέτω καταλιπη καταλίπη καταλίπῃ καταλίπητε καταλιπόμενος καταλιπόντας καταλιποντες καταλιπόντες καταλιπων καταλιπών καταλιπὼν κατελειπεν κατέλειπεν κατελειφθη κατελείφθη κατελείφθημεν κατελείφθην κατελείφθησαν κατελήφθη κατελιπε κατέλιπε κατέλιπέ κατέλιπεν κατελίπες κατέλιπες κατελίπομεν κατελιπον κατέλιπον κατέλιπόν κατήλεσας κατήλεσεν ου kataleipei kataleípei kataleiphthenai kataleiphthênai kataleiphthēnai kataleiphthē̂nai kataleipomenes kataleipomenēs kataleipoménes kataleipoménēs kataleipontes kataleípontes kataleipsantas kataleípsantas kataleipsei kataleípsei kataleleimmenos kataleleimménos katalipe katalipē katalípei katalípēi katalipon katalipōn katalipṑn katalipontes katalipóntes kateleiphthe kateleiphthē kateleíphthe kateleíphthē katelipe katélipe katelipen katélipen katelipon katéliponLinks
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