καθαιρ-έω G2507
To take down (from a cross or height); tear down, demolish (structures); bring down, depose (from power).
A powerful verb meaning to pull something or someone down from an elevated position--whether physical, structural, or political. Its most poignant New Testament uses describe the taking down of Jesus' body from the cross (Mark 15:36, 46; Luke 23:53; Acts 13:29), where Spanish 'bajar/habiendo bajado' emphasizes the downward motion of reverent removal. The same verb demolishes barns in Jesus' parable of the rich fool (Luke 12:18) and tears down intellectual strongholds in Paul's spiritual warfare imagery (2 Cor 10:5). In Mary's Magnificat, it reaches its theological summit: God 'has brought down rulers from their thrones' (Luke 1:52)--Spanish 'derribo' conveying the force of divine reversal.
Senses
1. take down (physically, from cross or height) — To take down physically from an elevated position, especially removing a body from a cross. Used four times of Jesus' crucified body being taken down (Mark 15:36, 15:46; Luke 23:53; Acts 13:29). Spanish 'bajar/bajando/habiendo bajado' and French 'descendre' consistently mark the downward, reverential physical action. The repeated use in passion narratives gives this sense its gravity. 4×
AR["أَنزَلوهُ", "أَنْزَلَهُ", "لِيُنْزِلَهُ", "مُنَزِّلًا"]·ben["καθελὼν-নামিয়ে-এনে", "নামাতে", "নামিয়ে"]·DE["herabnehmen", "καθελόντες", "καθελὼν"]·EN["having-taken-down", "taking-down", "to-take-down"]·FR["descendre", "renverser"]·heb["הוֹרִיד", "הוֹרִידוֹ", "הוֹרִידוּ", "לְ-הוֹרִידוֹ"]·HI["उतारकर", "उतारने-को"]·ID["menurunkan"]·IT["abbattere"]·jav["ngandhapaken", "nurunaken", "sasampunipun-nurunaken"]·KO["내려서", "내리고", "내리려고", "내리서"]·PT["para-descer", "tendo-descido", "tendo-tirado"]·RU["сняв", "снять"]·ES["a-bajar", "bajando", "habiendo-bajado", "habiéndolo-bajado"]·SW["akabusu", "akimshusha", "kumshusha", "wakimteremsha"]·TR["indiren", "indirip", "indirmeye"]·urd["اتار-کر", "اُتار-کر", "اُتارنے"]
2. tear down / destroy (structures, strongholds, nations) — To tear down, demolish, or destroy structures, strongholds, or nations. The rich fool plans 'I will tear down my barns' (Luke 12:18); Paul speaks of 'destroying arguments' raised against knowledge of God (2 Cor 10:5); Acts 13:19 recalls God destroying seven nations. Spanish shifts from physical 'bajar' to destructive 'derribar/destruir,' and the range spans literal buildings to metaphorical fortifications of human reasoning. 4×
AR["أَنْ-تُهْدَمَ", "أَهلَكَ", "سَأَهْدِمُ", "هادِمينَ"]·ben["ধ্বংস-করছি", "ধ্বংস-করে", "নামিয়ে-আনা-হতে", "ভাঙ্গব"]·DE["herabnehmen", "καθαιρεῖσθαι", "καθελὼν", "καθελῶ"]·EN["I-will-tear-down", "destroying", "having-destroyed", "to-be-destroyed"]·FR["descendre", "renverser"]·heb["אֶהָרֹס", "הִפִּיל", "הוֹרְסִים", "לְהֵהָרֵס"]·HI["गिराई-जाए", "गिराकर", "गिराते-हुए", "ढाहूँगा"]·ID["aku-akan-merobohkan", "diturunkan", "menghancurkan"]·IT["abbattere"]·jav["dipun-turunaken", "kula-badhé-ngrobohaken", "ngremuk", "numpes"]·KO["멸망시키고", "파괴하며", "헐리기를", "헐리라"]·PT["destruindo", "ser-destruída", "tendo-derrubado"]·RU["низвергнуто", "низложив", "разрушающие", "снесу"]·ES["de-ser-destruida", "derribando", "derribaré"]·SW["akiangusha", "kuondolewa", "nitabomoa", "tukibomoa,"]·TR["indirilmek", "yıkacağım", "yıkan", "yıkarak"]·urd["گرا-کر", "گراؤں-گا", "گراتے-ہوئے", "گرایا-جائے"]
3. bring down / depose (from power) — To bring down or depose someone from a position of power and authority. In the Magnificat, Mary proclaims God 'has brought down rulers from their thrones' (Luke 1:52). Spanish 'derribo' captures the forceful unseating, while the same verb used for physical lowering and structural demolition now expresses the divine reversal of social hierarchies--the mighty humbled, the lowly exalted. 1×
AR["أَنْزَلَ"]·ben["নামিয়েছেন"]·DE["καθεῖλεν"]·EN["He-brought-down"]·FR["descendre"]·heb["הוֹרִיד"]·HI["उतारा"]·ID["Dia-telah-menurunkan"]·IT["abbattere"]·jav["Sampun-ndhunukaken"]·KO["내리셨다"]·PT["derrubou"]·RU["низверг"]·ES["derribó"]·SW["Amewashusha"]·TR["indirdi"]·urd["گرایا"]
Related Senses
H0935 1. come, arrive (Qal) (2413×)G1473 1. first person singular pronoun (2084×)H3318 1. Qal: go out, depart, come forth (891×)H7725 1. to return, come/go back (Qal) (874×)H5927 1. go up, ascend (Qal) (779×)H7971 1. to send, dispatch (Qal) (701×)G2064 1. come / arrive (physical movement toward) (588×)H5307 1. Qal: fall down physically (339×)H5375 1. Qal: to lift up, raise (330×)H5975 1. to stand, stand up (310×)H5674a 1. Qal: pass by, pass through (256×)H3381 1. Qal: to go down, descend (physical movement) (242×)G1831 1. go/come out physically (193×)H5337 1. deliver, rescue, save (Hifil) (188×)H7901 1. lie down, rest, sleep (183×)G1525 1. enter a place physically (179×)H7812 1. prostrate oneself, bow down, worship (173×)H3318 2. Hifil: bring out, lead out, take out (persons) (172×)H7725 2. to bring back, restore (Hifil) (151×)H5674a 2. Qal: cross over (134×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
καθαιρ-έω, Ionic dialect κατ-, Aeolic dialect κατάγρημι, which see: future -ήσωRefs 8th c.BC+: future Refs 1st c.AD+aorist 2 καθεῖλον, infinitive καθελεῖν: aorist 1 καθεῖλα LXX: Ionic dialect perfect participle passive καταραιρημένος Refs 5th c.BC+:—take down, καθείλομεν ἱστία Refs 8th c.BC+; κ. ἄχθος take it down, i.e. off one's shoulders, Refs 5th c.BC+; κ. τῶν ἐκ τῆς στοᾶς ὅπλων some of them,…