Lexical Summary katapateó: To trample, to tread down, to spurn Original Word: καταπατέω 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 Originfrom 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: καταπατέωκαταπατέω, 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. 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. 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.” 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. 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 katepatḗthēLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 5:13 V-PNM/PGRK: 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 Luke 8:5 V-AIP-3S Luke 12:1 V-PNA Hebrews 10:29 V-APA-NMS Strong's Greek 2662 |