Lexical Summary katargeó: To abolish, to nullify, to render ineffective, to bring to an end Original Word: καταργέω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance abolish, cease, cumber, do awayFrom kata and argeo; to be (render) entirely idle (useless), literally or figuratively -- abolish, cease, cumber, deliver, destroy, do away, become (make) of no (none, without) effect, fail, loose, bring (come) to nought, put away (down), vanish away, make void. see GREEK kata see GREEK argeo HELPS Word-studies 2673 katargéō (from 2596 /katá, "down to a point," intensifying 691 /argéō, "inactive, idle") – properly, idle down, rendering something inert ("completely inoperative"); i.e. being of no effect (totally without force, completely brought down); done away with, cause to cease and therefore abolish; make invalid, abrogate (bring to nought); "to make idle or inactive" (so also in Euripides, Phoen., 753, Abbott-Smith). ["2673 (katargéō) means 'to make completely inoperative' or 'to put out of use,' according to TDNT (1.453)" (J. Rodman Williams, Renewal Theology "God, the World & Redemption," 389).] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom kata and argeó Definition to render inoperative, abolish NASB Translation abolished (4), abolishing (1), bring to an end (1), did away (1), do away (1), done away (4), fades away (1), fading (1), fading away (1), nullified (1), nullify (4), passing away (1), released (2), removed (1), render powerless (1), severed (1), use (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2673: καταργέωκαταργέω, κατάργω; future καταργήσω; 1 aorist κατήργησα; perfect κατήργηκα; passive, present καταργοῦμαι; perfect κατήργημαι; 1 aorist κατηργήθην; 1 future καταργηθήσομαι; causative of the verb ἀργέω, equivalent to ἀργόν (i. e. ἀεργον (on the accent cf. Chandler § 444)) ποιῶ; frequent with Paul, who uses it 25 times (elsewhere in N. T. only twice (Luke, Heb.), in the Sept. 4 times (2 Esdr., see below)); 1. to render idle, unemployed, inactive, inoperative: τήν γῆν, to deprive of its strength, make barren (A. V. cumber), Luke 13:7; to cause a person or a thing to have no further efficiency; to deprive of force, influence, power (A. V. bring to nought, make of none effect): τί, Romans 3:3; 1 Corinthians 1:28; τινα, 1 Corinthians 2:6 (but in passive); diabolic powers, 1 Corinthians 15:24 (Justin Martyr, Apology 2, 6); Antichrist, 2 Thessalonians 2:8; τόν θάνατον, 2 Timothy 1:10 (Epistle of Barnabas 5, 6 [ET]); τόν διάβολον, Hebrews 2:14; passive 1 Corinthians 15:26; to make void, τήν ἐπαγγελίαν, Galatians 3:17; passive Romans 4:14. 2. to cause to cease, put an end to, do away with, annul, abolish: τί, 1 Corinthians 6:13; 1 Corinthians 13:11; τόν νόμον, Romans 3:31; Ephesians 2:15; τόν καιρόν τοῦ ἀνόμου, Epistle of Barnabas 15, 5 [ET]; passive πόλεμος καταργεῖται ἐπουρανίων καί ἐπιγείων, Ignatius ad Eph. 13, 2 [ET]; ἵνα καταργηθῇ τό σῶμα τῆς ἁμαρτίας, that the body of sin might be done away, i. e. not the material of the body, but the body so far forth as it is an instrument of sin; accordingly, that the body may cease to be an instrument of sin, Romans 6:6. Passive to cease, pass away, be done away: of things, Galatians 5:11; 1 Corinthians 13:8, 10; 2 Corinthians 3:7, 11, 13f; of persons, followed by ἀπό τίνος, to be severed from, separated from, discharged from, loosed from, anyone; to terminate all contact with one (a pregnant construction, cf. Winers Grammar, 621 (577); Buttmann, 322 (277)): ἀπό τοῦ Χριστοῦ, Galatians 5:4 (on the aorist cf. Winer's Grammar, § 40, 5 b.); ἀπό τοῦ νόμου, Romans 7: (2 (Relz omits τοῦ νόμου)),6. The word is rarely met with in secular authors, as Euripides, Phoen. 753 κατάργειν χερα, to make idle, i. e. to leave the hand unemployed; Polybius quoted in Suidas (s. v. κατηργηκεναι) τούς καιρούς, in the sense of to let slip, leave unused; in the Sept. four times for Chaldean בַּטֵּל, to make to cease, i. e. restrain, check, hinder, 2 Esdr. 4:21, 23 2Esdr. 5:5 2Esdr. 6:8. Topical Lexicon Root Idea and Spectrum of Meaning The verb carries the sense of causing something to lose its operative power: to render idle, inoperative, useless, or to bring to nothing. In the New Testament it is applied to abstract realities (death, sin’s rule, the Law’s condemnation, worldly wisdom) and to concrete enemies (hostile powers, the “man of lawlessness”). Every occurrence unfolds one aspect of God’s sovereign ability to neutralize anything that opposes His redemptive purpose. Christ’s Redemptive Work: Death Abolished The clearest declaration is 2 Timothy 1:10: “our Savior Christ Jesus…has abolished death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” By His incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection, Jesus stripped death of its ability to hold His people. Hebrews 2:14 adds that He shared in flesh and blood “so that by His death He might destroy the one who holds the power of death—that is, the devil.” The verb underscores a decisive, once-for-all neutralizing of death’s dominion; physical death remains, but its sting and finality are canceled for believers. Old and New Covenants: The Law’s Condemnation Neutralized Galatians 3:17 insists that the Mosaic Law “does not revoke a covenant previously established by God, so as to nullify the promise.” Romans 7:6 declares, “But now, having died to what bound us, we have been released from the Law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:15 states that Christ reconciled Jew and Gentile by “abolishing in His flesh the Law of commandments and decrees.” The verb never portrays God’s moral standards as discarded; rather, the Law’s condemning power is rendered inoperative for those in Christ, freeing them to walk by the Spirit. Powers, Authorities, and Human Wisdom Brought to Nothing At the cross God nullified the pretensions of worldly importance. 1 Corinthians 1:28: “the lowly and despised things of the world…to nullify the things that are.” 1 Corinthians 2:6 confirms that “the rulers of this age…are coming to nothing.” Ultimately, every competing authority will be dismantled: “Then the end will come, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father after He has abolished all rule, authority, and power” (1 Corinthians 15:24). The Present Age and the Believer’s Walk Romans 6:6 applies the verb to personal sanctification: “Our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.” Spiritual fruit flourishes when sin’s authority is deactivated. Luke 13:7 uses the word for a fruitless fig tree “using up the soil”; disciples are exhorted not merely to take space but to bear lasting fruit through Spirit-empowered obedience. The Coming Consummation Two future scenes stand out: The verb assures believers that evil’s defeat is both already secured and yet to be fully displayed. Ministry and Mission Implications • Proclaim the gospel as God’s instrument for abolishing death and bringing life. Historical Perspective Early Christian writers pointed to these texts to defend the inclusion of Gentiles without circumcision and to encourage martyrs with the certainty that death’s tyranny had been broken. Throughout church history the verb has undergirded confidence in mission, reform movements, and personal holiness, reminding believers that God is actively dismantling every obstacle to His kingdom. Key References for Study Romans 3:3; 3:31; 4:14; 6:6; 7:2; 7:6 1 Corinthians 1:28; 2:6; 6:13; 13:8-11; 15:24-26 Galatians 3:17; 5:4-11 Philippians 3: *implicit in concept* Colossians 2: *implicit in concept* Together these passages reveal one grand theme: in Christ, God is rendering powerless every force opposed to His glory and our salvation, assuring the triumph of His eternal purpose. Forms and Transliterations καταργει καταργεί καταργεῖ καταργειται καταργείται καταργεῖται καταργηθη καταργηθή καταργηθῇ καταργηθήναι καταργηθησεται καταργηθήσεται καταργηθησονται καταργηθήσονται καταργησαι καταργήσαι καταργῆσαι καταργησαντος καταργήσαντος καταργησας καταργήσας καταργησει καταργήσει καταργηση καταργήση καταργήσῃ καταργουμεν καταργούμεν καταργοῦμεν καταργουμενην καταργουμένην καταργουμενον καταργούμενον καταργουμενου καταργουμένου καταργουμενων καταργουμένων κατηργηθημεν κατηργήθημεν κατηργηθητε κατηργήθητε κατηργηκα κατήργηκα κατήργησαν κατηργηται κατήργηται κατηργυρωμένοι katargei katargeî katargeitai katargeîtai katargesai katargêsai katargēsai katargē̂sai katargesantos katargēsantos katargḗsantos katargesas katargēsas katargḗsas katargese katargēsē katargesei katargēsei katargḗsei katargḗsēi katargethe katargēthē katargethêi katargēthē̂i katargethesetai katargethḗsetai katargēthēsetai katargēthḗsetai katargethesontai katargethḗsontai katargēthēsontai katargēthḗsontai katargoumen katargoûmen katargoumenen katargoumenēn katargouménen katargouménēn katargoumenon katargoumenōn katargouménon katargouménōn katargoúmenon katargoumenou katargouménou katergeka katērgēka katḗrgeka katḗrgēka katergetai katērgētai katḗrgetai katḗrgētai katergethemen katergḗthemen katērgēthēmen katērgḗthēmen katergethete katergḗthete katērgēthēte katērgḗthēteLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Luke 13:7 V-PIA-3SGRK: τὴν γῆν καταργεῖ NAS: Why does it even use up the ground?' KJV: down; why cumbereth it the ground? INT: the ground should it use up Romans 3:3 V-FIA-3S Romans 3:31 V-PIA-1P Romans 4:14 V-RIM/P-3S Romans 6:6 V-ASP-3S Romans 7:2 V-RIM/P-3S Romans 7:6 V-AIP-1P 1 Corinthians 1:28 V-ASA-3S 1 Corinthians 2:6 V-PPM/P-GMP 1 Corinthians 6:13 V-FIA-3S 1 Corinthians 13:8 V-FIP-3P 1 Corinthians 13:8 V-FIP-3S 1 Corinthians 13:10 V-FIP-3S 1 Corinthians 13:11 V-RIA-1S 1 Corinthians 15:24 V-ASA-3S 1 Corinthians 15:26 V-PIM/P-3S 2 Corinthians 3:7 V-PPM/P-AFS 2 Corinthians 3:11 V-PPM/P-NNS 2 Corinthians 3:13 V-PPM/P-GNS 2 Corinthians 3:14 V-PIM/P-3S Galatians 3:17 V-ANA Galatians 5:4 V-AIP-2P Galatians 5:11 V-RIM/P-3S Ephesians 2:15 V-APA-NMS 2 Thessalonians 2:8 V-FIA-3S Strong's Greek 2673 |
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