2662. katapateó
Lexical Summary
katapateó: To trample, to tread down, to spurn

Original Word: καταπατέω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: katapateó
Pronunciation: kat-ap-at-eh'-o
Phonetic Spelling: (kat-ap-at-eh'-o)
KJV: trample, tread (down, underfoot)
NASB: trampled under foot, stepping, trample under
Word Origin: [from G2596 (κατά - according) and G3961 (πατέω - trampled under)]

1. to trample down
2. (figuratively) to reject with disdain

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
trample, tread underfoot.

From kata and pateo; to trample down; figuratively, to reject with disdain -- trample, tread (down, underfoot).

see GREEK kata

see GREEK pateo

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from kata and pateó
Definition
to tread down
NASB Translation
stepping (1), trample...under (1), trampled under foot (3).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 2662: καταπατέω

καταπατέω, καταπάτω; future καταπατήσω (Matthew 7:6 L T Tr WH); 1 aorist κατεπάτησα; passive, present καταπατοῦμαι; 1 aorist κατεπατήθην; "to tread down (see κατά, III. 1), trample under foot": τί and τινα, Matthew 5:13; Matthew 7:6; Luke 8:5; Luke 12:1 (Herodotus and following; the Sept.); metaphorically, like the Latinconculco, to trample on equivalent to to treat with rudeness and insult, 2 Macc. 8:2, etc.; cf. Grimm on 1 Maccabees, p. 61 (where its use to denote desecration is illustrated); to spurn, treat with insulting neglect: τόν υἱόν, τοῦ Θεοῦ, Hebrews 10:29; ὁρκια, Homer, Iliad 4, 157; τούς νόμους, Plato, legg. 4,714 a.; τά γράμματα, Gorgias, p. 484 a.; τούς λόγους, Epictetus 1, 8, 10; τά ῤήματα μου, Job 6:3 Aq.

Topical Lexicon
Semantic Range and Figurative Nuances

Strong’s Greek 2662 pictures the act of crushing something beneath one’s feet. In Scripture the verb functions both literally—people crowding and stepping on one another—and metaphorically—devaluing, profaning, or rendering powerless that which ought to be honored. The image communicates contempt, humiliation, and decisive rejection.

Occurrences in the New Testament

1. Matthew 5:13 sets the tone for discipleship: “It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.” If salt (a covenant symbol of purity and preservation) loses its savor, it is treated with utter disregard.
2. Matthew 7:6 warns against misplaced stewardship of holy truth: “Do not give dogs what is holy; do not throw your pearls before swine. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.” The verb underscores the swine’s inability to discern value.
3. Luke 8:5 portrays seed “trampled on” along the path. Hard-packed soil and hard-packed hearts alike leave no room for the word to penetrate.
4. Luke 12:1 records the physical press of the crowds: “so that they were trampling one another.” The scene illustrates how zeal without understanding can endanger life and obscure spiritual hearing.
5. Hebrews 10:29 delivers the strongest usage: “How much more severely do you think one deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot…” Deliberate apostasy treats the sacrificial blood as common dirt, inviting fearful judgment.

Historical and Cultural Background

In the first-century Mediterranean world streets were hardened by countless footsteps; refuse and even defeated enemies might literally be “trampled.” The action signified conquest and disgrace. Roman triumph parades displayed captives and sometimes pressed them beneath the soldiers’ march. Listeners immediately grasped the insult implied when a sacred object or person was described as lying underfoot.

Theological Emphases

1. Profaning the Holy. Hebrews 10:29 ties trampling to treating Christ’s blood as “unholy.” The verb exposes the gravity of despising grace after tasting it.
2. Discipleship Authenticity. Matthew 5:13 warns that disciples who lose their distinctiveness invite contempt from the world they were meant to bless.
3. Discernment in Evangelism. Matthew 7:6 balances missionary zeal with prudence; indiscriminate presentation of holy things can result in mockery and danger.
4. Spiritual Receptivity. Luke 8:5 shows that persistent hardness of heart makes the gospel vulnerable to other destructive forces (birds representing the devil).
5. Human Frenzy versus Divine Order. Luke 12:1 contrasts the crowd’s chaotic trampling with Jesus’ calm call to beware of hypocrisy.

Pastoral and Ministry Implications

• Guarding the Ordinances: The church must keep the Lord’s Table, baptism, and the preached word from casual treatment that would metaphorically place them “underfoot.”
• Perseverance and Warning: Hebrews 10:29 provides a sober motivation for ongoing faithfulness; to retreat is not merely to backslide but to insult the Triune God.
• Evangelistic Strategy: Believers should discern soil conditions (Luke 8) and audience readiness (Matthew 7) while still sowing widely, praying for hearts to be softened.
• Maintaining Distinct Witness: Like salt, the church must retain savor through holiness and doctrinal fidelity lest society grow comfortable dismissing its message.
• Crowd Dynamics and Safety: Luke 12:1 reminds leaders to be mindful of physical and spiritual welfare when large gatherings form around gospel events.

Related Biblical Motifs

Genesis 3:15 anticipates the Seed who will crush the serpent—a righteous trampling contrasted with the wicked trampling of Christ in Hebrews 10.
Psalm 91:13 and Luke 10:19 celebrate believers’ authority to “tread” on serpents and scorpions, showing that trampling can signify victory when directed against evil.
Isaiah 63:3 pictures divine judgment: “I have trodden the winepress alone.” Unrepentant humanity is trampled by God’s wrath, paralleling Hebrews 10:29’s warning.

Summary

Strong’s Greek 2662 paints a vivid picture of feet crushing what is beneath them, whether crowds, seed, salt, pearls, or—most tragically—the Son of God Himself. Scripture employs the term to highlight the stark difference between honoring holiness and despising it. Disciples are called to remain savory, sow truth wisely, protect what is sacred, and never treat the covenant blood as common. In so doing, they avoid the fate of being trampled and instead stand firm to “tread” victoriously upon the enemy through the triumph secured by Jesus Christ.

Forms and Transliterations
καταπατειν καταπατείν καταπατεῖν καταπατεισθαι καταπατείσθαι καταπατεῖσθαι καταπατηθήσεσθε καταπατηθήσεται καταπάτημα καταπατήματος καταπατήσαι καταπατήσαντες καταπατησας καταπατήσας καταπατήσει καταπατήσεις καταπατήσετε καταπατήση καταπάτησιν καταπατησουσιν καταπατήσουσιν καταπατήσω καταπατήσωσιν καταπατούμενον καταπατούντα καταπατούντάς καταπατούντες καταπατούντων καταπατούσαι καταπατών καταπεπατημένης καταπεπατημένον κατεπάτεις κατεπατείτε κατεπατηθη κατεπατήθη κατεπατήθησαν κατεπάτησα κατεπάτησαν κατεπάτησάν κατεπάτησε κατεπάτησέ katapatein katapateîn katapateisthai katapateîsthai katapatesas katapatēsas katapatḗsas katapatesousin katapatēsousin katapatḗsousin katepatethe katepatēthē katepatḗthe katepatḗthē
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 5:13 V-PNM/P
GRK: βληθὲν ἔξω καταπατεῖσθαι ὑπὸ τῶν
NAS: to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
KJV: and to be trodden under foot of
INT: having been cast out to be trampled upon by

Matthew 7:6 V-FIA-3P
GRK: μή ποτε καταπατήσουσιν αὐτοὺς ἐν
NAS: or they will trample them under their feet,
KJV: swine, lest they trample them under
INT: not lest they should trample upon them with

Luke 8:5 V-AIP-3S
GRK: ὁδόν καὶ κατεπατήθη καὶ τὰ
NAS: the road, and it was trampled under foot and the birds
KJV: and it was trodden down, and
INT: road and it was trampled upon and the

Luke 12:1 V-PNA
GRK: ὄχλου ὥστε καταπατεῖν ἀλλήλους ἤρξατο
NAS: had gathered together that they were stepping on one another,
KJV: insomuch that they trode one upon another,
INT: crowd so as to trample upon one another he began

Hebrews 10:29 V-APA-NMS
GRK: τοῦ θεοῦ καταπατήσας καὶ τὸ
NAS: he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son
KJV: who hath trodden under foot the Son
INT: of God having trampled upon and the

Strong's Greek 2662
5 Occurrences


καταπατήσας — 1 Occ.
καταπατήσουσιν — 1 Occ.
καταπατεῖν — 1 Occ.
καταπατεῖσθαι — 1 Occ.
κατεπατήθη — 1 Occ.

2661
Top of Page
Top of Page