Lexical Summary katallassó: Reconcile, restore to favor Original Word: καταλλάσσω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance reconcile. From kata and allasso; to change mutually, i.e. (figuratively) to compound a difference -- reconcile. see GREEK kata see GREEK allasso HELPS Word-studies 2644 katallássō (from 2596 /katá, "down to an exact point," intensifying 236 /allássō, "to change") – properly, decisively change, as when two parties reconcile when coming ("changing") to the same position. 2644 /katallássō ("decisively changed, reconciled") is applied to marriage partners (1 Cor 7:11), but usually in the redemptive sense of a sinner reconciling to the Lord. [2644 (katallássō) was originally used for the exchange of coins; "properly, to change, exchange (especially of money); hence, of persons, to change from enmity to friendship, to reconcile" (A-S).] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom kata and allassó Definition to reconcile NASB Translation reconciled (5), reconciling (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2644: καταλλάσσωκαταλλάσσω; 1 aorist participle καταλλαξας; 2 aorist passive κατηλλάγην; properly, to change, exchange, as coins for others of equal value; hence, to reconcile (those who are at variance): τινας, as τούς Θηβαιους καί τούς Πλαταιεας, Herodotus 6, 108; κατηλλαξαν σφεας οἱ Παριοι, 5, 29; Aristotle, oecon. 2, 15, 9 (p. 1348b, 9) κατήλλαξεν αὐτούς πρός ἀλλήλους; passive τίνι, to return into favor with, be reconciled to, one, Euripides, Iph. Aul. 1157; Plato, rep. 8, p. 566 e.; πρός ἀλλήλους, Thucydides 4, 59; but the passive is used also where only one ceases to be angry with another and receives him into favor; thus καταλλαγεις, received by Cyrus into favor, Xenophon, an. 1, 6, 1; καταλλάττεται πρός αὐτήν, regained her favor, Josephus, Antiquities 5, 2, 8; and, on the other hand, God is said καταλλαγῆναι τίνι, with whom he ceases to be offended, to whom he grants his favor anew, whose sins he pardons, 2 Macc. 1:5 2Macc. 7:33 2Macc. 8:29; Josephus, Antiquities 6, 7, 4 cf. 7, 8, 4 (so ἐπικαταλλάττεσθαι τίνι, Clement of Rome, 1 Cor. 48, 1 [ET]). In the N. T. God is said καταλλάσσειν ἑαυτῷ τινα, to receive one into his favor (A. V. reconcile one to himself), 2 Corinthians 5:18f (where in the added participles two arguments are adduced which prove that God has done this: first, that he does not impute to men their trespasses; second, that he has deposited the doctrine of reconciliation in the souls of the preachers of the gospel); καταλλαγῆναι τῷ Θεῷ, to be restored to the favor of God, to recover God's favor, Romans 5:10 (but see ἐχθρός, 2); καταλλάγητε τῷ Θεῷ, allow yourselves to be reconciled to God; do not oppose your return into his favor, but lay hold of that favor now offered you, 2 Corinthians 5:20. of a woman: καταλλαγήτω τῷ ἀνδρί, let her return into harmony with (A. V. be reconciled to) her husband, 1 Corinthians 7:11. Cf. Fritzsche on Romans, vol. i., p. 276ff (who shows (in opposition to Tittmann, N. T. Synonyms, 1:102, et al.) that καταλλάσσω and διαλλάσσω are used promiscuously; the prepositions merely intensify (in slightly different modes) the meaning of the simple verb, and there is no evidence that one compound is stronger than the other; διαλλάσσω and its derivatives are more common in Attic, καταλλάσσω and its derivatives in later writers. Compare: ἀποκαταλλάσσω. Topical Lexicon Topic Overview – καταλλάσσω (Strong’s Greek 2644) The verb denotes bringing estranged parties into harmony. In Scripture its principal focus is the restoration of sinners to God through the atoning work of Jesus Christ, with a secondary application to human relationships. New Testament Usage 1. Divine-Human Reconciliation 2. The Ministry and Message Entrusted to Believers 3. Interpersonal Application Historical Background First-century Greco-Roman culture spoke of reconciliation primarily in political or personal disputes. Paul adopts the common term yet fills it with covenantal depth: enemies of God become His children. Unlike pagan cults, no ritual initiated by humans secures peace; the cross stands as God’s unilateral act. Theological Significance • Substitutionary Atonement: Reconciliation presupposes alienation due to sin (Romans 5:10; Colossians 1:21-22). The death of Christ satisfies divine justice, removing the barrier. Practical and Ministerial Implications • Evangelism: The church carries a diplomatic mandate; faithful gospel witness is framed as an urgent plea from the King to rebels. Related Terms and Concepts • καταλλαγή (reconciliation, the noun form) – the state achieved by the verb. Summary Strong’s 2644 highlights the heart of the gospel: God brings His enemies into intimate fellowship through Christ’s sacrificial death and victorious life. This finished work becomes the church’s living message, shaping evangelism, ethics, and relationships until the whole creation shares in the fullness of divine-human peace. Forms and Transliterations καταλλαγεντες καταλλαγέντες καταλλαγητε καταλλάγητε καταλλαγητω καταλλαγήτω καταλλαξαντος καταλλάξαντος καταλλασσων καταλλάσσων κατελογίσθης κατηλλαγημεν κατηλλάγημεν κατήλλαξε katallagentes katallagéntes katallagete katallagēte katallágete katallágēte katallageto katallagētō katallagḗto katallagḗtō katallasson katallassōn katallásson katallássōn katallaxantos katalláxantos katellagemen katellágemen katēllagēmen katēllágēmenLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Romans 5:10 V-AIP-1PGRK: ἐχθροὶ ὄντες κατηλλάγημεν τῷ θεῷ NAS: while we were enemies we were reconciled to God KJV: enemies, we were reconciled to God INT: enemies being we were reconciled to God Romans 5:10 V-APP-NMP 1 Corinthians 7:11 V-AMP-3S 2 Corinthians 5:18 V-APA-GMS 2 Corinthians 5:19 V-PPA-NMS 2 Corinthians 5:20 V-AMP-2P Strong's Greek 2644 |
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