καθάπτω G2510
to fasten upon, attach to; to seize upon or cling to
This verb means to fasten or attach something to something else, often with the sense of clinging or seizing. In Acts 28:3, a viper 'fastened on' (kathēpsen) Paul's hand when he was gathering sticks for a fire on Malta. The word conveys the snake's sudden attachment or seizure of Paul's hand, leading the islanders to expect him to swell up or drop dead. Paul's immunity to the viper's bite becomes a sign that confirms his apostolic authority and God's protection.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Luke's choice of kathaptō emphasizes the viper's aggressive attachment to Paul's hand after being roused by the heat. The Spanish 'se-prendió' (it-fastened-itself) captures the reflexive force. The islanders' reaction—expecting divine judgment for a supposed criminal—and then their reversal when Paul suffers no harm demonstrates how God turns even hostile attacks into testimonies. The viper 'fastened on' but could not harm the one protected by divine commission. 1×
AR["التَصَقَت"]·ben["বিঁধিল"]·DE["καθῆψεν"]·EN["fastened-on"]·FR["καθῆψεν"]·heb["נִצְמְדָה"]·HI["चिपट-गई"]·ID["menggigit"]·IT["sedersi"]·jav["nyokot"]·KO["물었다"]·PT["prendeu-se"]·RU["повисла"]·ES["se-prendió"]·SW["aliushika"]·TR["onun"]·urd["لپٹ-گیا"]
Related Senses
G0846 1. third-person pronoun reference (5552×)H???? 1. (4670×)H6213a 1. do, perform, act (2383×)G4160 1. do, act, perform (473×)H5221 1. Hifil: to strike in battle, smite enemies (362×)H0899b 1. garment, article of clothing (216×)H6213a 2. make, construct, fabricate (148×)H3772 1. cut a covenant / make a pact (97×)H5060 1. touch physically (Qal) (96×)H3615 1. complete a task (Piel) (85×)H3772 2. cut off / destroy (Hifil causative) (81×)H3920 1. capture, seize (Qal) (76×)H???? 12. (76×)H3772 3. be cut off / be eliminated (Niphal) (74×)H6213a 3. be done, be made (Niphal) (73×)G4160 2. make, construct, create (62×)H3847 1. Qal: put on, wear (60×)H8210 1. pour out (liquid/libation) (59×)G2440 1. garment or clothing (general) (54×)H4191 4. kill / put to death (Hifil causative) (50×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
καθάπτω, Ionic dialect κατ-, fasten or fix on, put upon, καθῆψεν ὤμοις.. ἀμφίβληστρον Refs 5th c.BC+; ἄγκυραν καθάψας having made it fast, Refs 4th c.BC+:—middle, κισσὸν ἐπὶ κρατὶ καθάπτεσθαι Refs 3rd c.BC+:— passive, βρόχῳ καθημμένος Refs 5th c.BC+ __2 equip by fastening or hanging on, in middle, σκευῇ σῶμ᾽ ἐμὸν καθάψομαι Refs 5th c.BC+ —passive, νεβρίνῃ καθημμένος δορᾷ with a fawn-skin slung…