κατά G2596
according to, in conformity with; each, every; throughout; at, in; by; toward; alone; concerning; down; beyond; against
The most semantically diverse preposition in the New Testament, originally meaning 'down' but expanding to cover conformity, distribution, location, and opposition. With 480 occurrences, κατά governs both genitive (downward motion, opposition) and accusative (standard, distribution, location) cases. Its primary sense expresses conformity—'according to the law,' 'according to the flesh'—establishing the norm or standard by which something is measured. But it also distributes (daily, house by house), locates (in the city, at the place), expresses means (by ancestry), indicates direction (toward Cyrene), and even marks hostility (against). The semantic stretch from spatial 'down' to abstract 'according to' reflects typical Greek prepositional development from concrete to metaphorical domains.
9. down, down from — The original spatial sense with the genitive: downward motion from higher to lower—'down,' 'down from'—four occurrences. Pigs rush 'down the cliff' (kata tou kremnou, Matt 8:32, Mark 5:13, Luke 8:33), and Paul discusses covering one's head 'down from the head' (kata kephales, 1 Cor 11:4). This preserves kata's etymological meaning from vertical descent, the semantic core from which metaphorical senses developed. 4×
AR["عَلى","مِنَ"]·ben["-দিয়ে","উপরে","নীচে"]·DE["gemaess-","gemäß"]·EN["down","down-from"]·FR["selon-"]·heb["אֶל","מִן-","עַל-"]·HI["-पर","नीचे"]·ID["dari","di-atas","menuruni"]·IT["secondo","secondo-"]·jav["kanthi","mangandhap","mudhun","saking"]·KO["-아래로","-에","-으로","따라"]·PT["pelo","pelo-","sobre"]·RU["на-","с","с-"]·ES["por","por-","sobre"]·SW["chini-ya","chini-ya-","juu-ya"]·TR["-den","-den-aşağı","aşağı-"]·urd["-سے","سے","مطابق","نیچے"]
▼ 10 more senses below
Senses
1. according to, in conformity with — The dominant New Testament sense appearing 332 times: marking conformity to a standard, norm, or basis for judgment. This 'according to' usage with the accusative expresses that actions, judgments, or states correspond to some measure—kata ton nomon (according to the law), kata sarka (according to the flesh). Cross-linguistic parallels appear in countless translations rendering this normative sense. Paul constantly uses it for theological standards: kata pneuma (according to the Spirit), kata charin (according to grace). The sense establishes the measuring stick by which reality is assessed. 332×
AR["الَّذِي","بِ-حَسَبِ","بِحَسَبِ","حَسَبَ"]·ben["κατὰ-অনুসারে","অনুযায়ী","অনুসারে"]·DE["gemaess-","gemäß"]·EN["According-to","according-to","according-to-"]·FR["selon-"]·heb["כְּ-","כְּפִי","לְ-פִי","לְפִי"]·HI["-के-अनुसअर","-के-अनुसार","अनुसार","के-अनुसार","खाते-हैं"]·ID["itu","menurut","seperti","sesuai-dengan"]·IT["secondo"]·jav["makaten","miturut","nanging"]·KO["-에-따라","~에-따라","따라","따라서","따른","에-따라"]·PT["conforme","segundo"]·RU["по","по-","так"]·ES["según"]·SW["kama","katika","kulingana-na","kwa","kwa-jinsi","kwa-kadiri-ya","lakini"]·TR["-e-göre","göre"]·urd["-کے-ساتھ","اِسی-طرح","مطابق","موافق","کے-مطابق"]
2. each, every (distributive) — Distributive usage indicating individual allocation or repeated occurrence—'each,' 'every'—appearing 42 times with the accusative. Phrases like kath' hemeran (daily, literally 'according to each day'), kath' hena (one by one), and kat' oikon (house by house) show this sense spreading action or state across multiple instances. Jesus taught 'daily' in the temple (Matt 26:55), believers gathered 'in each house' (Acts 2:46), and disciples questioned 'each one' whether he was the betrayer (Mark 14:19). The sense parcels out what in English would be expressed by distributive quantifiers. 42×
AR["فِي-كُلِّ","كُلَّ"]·ben["-অনুসারে","-প্রতি","-প্রতিটি","অনুসারে","প্রতি","প্রতি-","প্রতিদিন","বিরুদ্ধে"]·DE["gemaess-","gemäß"]·EN["-","according-to","daily","every","every-","in-every"]·FR["selon-"]·heb["בְּ-","בְּ-כָל","בְּ-כָל-","בְּכָל","בְּכָל-","יוֹם-יוֹם","כָּל","כָּל-","מִדֵּי","עִיר"]·HI["-जो-कहलाता-था","प्रति","प्रति-दिन","प्रतिदिन","प्रत्येक","में","हर","हर-दिन"]·ID["Setiap","Setiap-","di-setiap","setiap","setiap-"]·IT["secondo","secondo-"]·jav["Saben","ing-saben","saben","saben-"]·KO["-마다","~마다","그-를","날마다","마다","매","매-","에-따라"]·PT["cada","em-cada","o-"]·RU["всякий","ежедневная","каждую-","каждый","каждый-","по-"]·ES["cada","cada-","por-"]·SW["katika-kila-","kila","kila-","kila-mwaka","kwa-kila-"]·TR["-de","-e-göre","-her","her","her-","her-gün"]·urd["-","روز","روزانہ","ہر","ہر-","ہر-روز"]
Matt 26:55, Mark 14:19, Mark 14:49, Luke 2:41, Luke 9:23, Luke 11:3, Luke 16:19, Luke 19:47, Luke 22:53, Luke 23:17, John 8:9, John 21:25 (+30 more)
3. throughout, along, through — Spatial extension through a region—'throughout,' 'along,' 'through'—appearing 24 times with the accusative. This describes movement or presence distributed across territory: kata ten Ioudaian (throughout Judea), kata ten choran (through the region). Luke notes Jesus' fame spread 'throughout all the surrounding region' (Luke 4:14), and there will be 'earthquakes in various places' (kata topous, Mark 13:8). The sense maintains the original spatial force of the preposition while extending it from point to area. 24×
AR["عَلَى","عِنْدَ","في","في-كُلِّ","فِي","فِي-كُلِّ"]·ben["-জুড়ে","জুড়ে","দিয়ে","ধরে","বিভিন্ন","মধ্যে","সারা"]·DE["gemäß"]·EN["along","in-various","off","throughout"]·FR["selon-"]·heb["בְּ-","בְּ-כָל","בְּ-כָל-","לְאֹרֶךְ"]·HI["-के-साथ-साथ","-में","अनुसार","पर","में","स्थानों-में"]·ID["dari-rumah-ke","dekat","di","di-seluruh","di-sepanjang","ke-seluruh"]·IT["secondo","secondo-"]·jav["ing","ing-sadawaning","miturut","wonten-ing","wonten-ing-sedaya"]·KO["-마다","-에-걸쳐","-에-따라","곳곳에","에","에-걸쳐"]·PT["ao-largo-de","ao-longo-da","pelas","pelo","perto-de","por","sobre"]·RU["вдоль-","напротив-","по","по-"]·ES["a-lo-largo-de","en","frente-a","por"]·SW["kando-ya-","karibu-na-","katika","katika-","kwenye-","nyumba-kwa-nyumba","ya-"]·TR["-boyunca","-de","boyunca"]·urd["-میں","-میں-سارے","-کے-ساتھ","-کے-پاس","طرف","موافق","میں","پورے-"]
Matt 24:7, Mark 13:8, Luke 4:14, Luke 13:22, Luke 15:14, Luke 21:11, Luke 23:5, Acts 8:1, Acts 8:3, Acts 8:36, Acts 9:31, Acts 9:42 (+12 more)
4. at, in, among (locative) — Static location at a specific place—'at,' 'in,' 'among'—23 times with the accusative, without implying motion through space. Joseph is warned 'in a dream' (kat' onar, Matt 1:20), or events happen 'at the place' (kata ton topon). This locative sense overlaps with distributive and spatial senses but emphasizes fixed position rather than distribution or movement. It's the answer to 'where?' rather than 'how distributed?' or 'through what region?' 23×
AR["الـ","بِالتَّمَيُّزِ","بِحَسَبِ","حَسَبَ","في-","فِي","فِي-كُلِّ"]·ben["-অনুসারে","-তে","-প্রতি","-মধ্যে","অনুযায়ী","প্রতি","বিষয়ে","মধ্যে"]·DE["gemaess-","gemäß"]·EN["At-","among","at","in","in-","of"]·FR["selon-"]·heb["בְּ","בְּ-","הַ-","כְּ-פִי","לְפִי","שֶׁל-"]·HI["-पर","-में","के","के-अनुसअर","केअनुसार","में","सब-बातों-में"]·ID["Pada","dalam","dalam-","dari","di","pada","pada-","tentang","yang-"]·IT["secondo","secondo-"]·jav["Nalika","Wonten-ing","ing","ingkang-","miturut","wonten-ing"]·KO["-에-대해","-에-따라","-에서","~마다","~안에서","모든-면에서","에-","에-걸쳐","에서"]·PT["Por","de","em","na","no","pela","por","segundo","segundo-a"]·RU["На-","По-","в-","во","во-","по-","у-"]·ES["Por-","Según","de","en","en-","en-los-principios","entre","según","según-"]·SW["Katika-","Wakati-wa","hapo-","kati-ya","katika","katika-","kulingana-na-","kwa","wa-","wale-wa-"]·TR["-boyunca","-de","-deki","-deki-","-e-gore","-e-göre","-çevresinde","-üzerine","başlangıçta-"]·urd["-","-میں","-کے","-کے-مطابق","سے","میں","پر","ہر"]
Matt 1:20, Matt 2:12, Matt 2:13, Matt 2:19, Matt 2:22, Matt 27:15, Matt 27:19, Mark 15:6, Acts 12:1, Acts 13:1, Acts 15:23, Acts 17:22 (+11 more)
5. by (instrumental means or manner) — Instrumental or manner usage expressing means, mode, or attendant circumstance—'by,' 'through,' 'with'—19 occurrences with the accusative. Kata sarka can mean 'by/through the flesh' rather than 'according to fleshly standards.' Mark notes the new teaching comes 'with authority' (kat' exousian, Mark 1:27), and Jesus takes disciples aside 'privately' (kat' idian can be manner, Mark 6:31-32). The sense marks how or by what means something occurs, though boundaries with standard ('according to') blur. 19×
AR["بِ","بِـ","عَلى","عَلَى","في"]·ben["-অনুসারে","-তে","-সঙ্গে","একান্তে","থেকে-থেকে","ধরে","নিজে","মধ্যে"]·DE["gemaess-","gemäß"]·EN["at","by","by-","from","in-","on","through","with"]·FR["selon-"]·heb["בְּ","בְּ-","כְּשֶׁלְ-","לְ","לְ-","מִ-"]·HI["-के-अनुसार","अलग","अलग-में","और","करके","कराहा","में","से-होकर","हर"]·ID["Dengan","Kebetulan","dari-kota","dari-setiap","di","di-seluruh","ke","pada","pada-","secara","secara-","secara-pribadi"]·IT["secondo","secondo-"]·jav["kanthi","piyambakan","piyambakipun","saben","saindhenging","saking","saking-saben","wonten-ing"]·KO["-에게","따라","에-걸쳐","에-따라","에서","을-통해"]·PT["Com-","a-sós","de-cada","em","em-","pelas","por","à-parte"]·RU["По","наедине","особо-","отдельно","по","сама-","у"]·ES["Por","a","cerca","con-","de-cada","en","en-","por"]·SW["Kwa-bahati","faragha","faraghani","katika","kote","kwa","kwa-","peke-yake-","yenyewe"]·TR["-","-de","-e","-ile","boyunca"]·urd["-کی-طرف","الگ","ساتھ","سے","سے-ہو-کر","علیحدگی-میں","میں","پر","کو","کے-ذریعے","ہر"]
6. toward, before, facing — Directional sense indicating movement or orientation toward something—'toward,' 'before,' 'facing'—13 times with the accusative. This includes kata prosopon (facing, in the presence of), kata Kyrenen (toward Cyrene, Acts 8:26). Simeon prophesies the child is 'prepared before the face of all peoples' (kata prosopon panton, Luke 2:31). The sense preserves the spatial origin of kata but extends from vertical 'down' to horizontal 'toward' or 'in the direction of.' 13×
AR["-","أَمَامَ","إِلَى","عَلَى","عَلَيْـ","عِنْدَ","فِي","قُدَّامَ","نَحوَ","نَحْوَ","وَجْهًا"]·ben["-কাছে","-প্রায়","অনুসারে","অনুসারে-","কাছে","দিকে","প্রতি","মধ্যে","সামনে"]·DE["gemaess-","gemäß"]·EN["about","against","at","before","by","face-to","to","toward"]·FR["selon-"]·heb["אֶל","בְּ-","בְּאֶמְצַע","לְ-","לְכִוּוּן","לְעֵינֵי","לִפְנֵי","עַל","פָּנִים־אֶל־פָּנִים"]·HI["-की-ओर","और","करीब","कीओर","के","के-पास","के-समुख","के-सामने","पर","पास"]·ID["Pada","Sekitar","dekat","di-depan","di-hadapan","ke","ke-arah","muka-ke-","terhadap"]·IT["secondo","secondo-"]·jav["Ing","cedhak","celak","ing","ing-ngajeng","ing-ngarsanipun","ngidul,","wonten-ing","wonten-ing-ngarsanipun"]·KO["-로","-에","-에-따라","구레네-를-따라","그-가","대하여","따라서","에-걸쳐","에-따라"]·PT["Pela","ao-longo-de","até","cerca-de","diante-","diante-de","em","face-a","para","perante"]·RU["Около","к","к-","лицом-к-","на-","около-","перед-","пред","пред-","при-"]·ES["Hacia-","a-","ante","ante-","cara-a","contra","delante","hacia","junto-a"]·SW["Karibu-na","dhidi-ya-","karibu-na","karibu-na-","kuelekea-","kwa-","kwake","mbele-ya","upande-wa-"]·TR["-","-de","-e","-e-doğru","-çevresinde","karşı-karşıya","karşısında","serbest-bırakmaya","yakınındaki"]·urd["-پر","-کی-طرف","-کے","آمنے-سامنے","سامنے","طرف","قریب","پاس","کے-سامنے","کے-قریب","کے-نزدیک"]
Luke 2:31, Luke 10:33, Acts 2:10, Acts 3:13, Acts 8:26, Acts 16:7, Acts 16:25, Acts 25:16, Acts 27:12, Acts 27:12, Acts 27:27, Acts 27:29 (+1 more)
7. alone, by oneself, privately — Expressions of privacy, solitude, or separation—'alone,' 'by oneself,' 'privately'—10 occurrences in the fixed phrase kat' idian and variants. Jesus frequently withdraws with disciples 'privately' (kat' idian, Matt 14:13, 23; 17:1, 19). The phrase literally means 'according to one's own' but idiomatically expresses being apart from the crowd. This specialized usage has become a semi-frozen expression for private conversation or teaching. 10×
AR["على","على-انفِرادٍ","عَلى","عَلَى","وَجهًا-لِـ"]·ben["-তে","অনুসারে","আলাদা-","একান্তে","মুখের-কাছে"]·DE["gemaess-","gemäß"]·EN["according-to","by","by-","in","to"]·FR["selon-"]·heb["בְּ-","לְ-","לְבַד","לְבַדְּוֹ"]·HI["-में","-मेइन","अकेले-में","के-अनुसर","के-तो","के-समुख"]·ID["secara","secara-","secara-pribadi","sendirian"]·IT["secondo"]·jav["ing","piyambak","piyambak-piyambakan","piyambakan"]·KO["-에","-에-따라","~에-따라"]·PT["a-sós,","em","em-","à-"]·RU["в-","наедине","особо","отдельно","отдельно-"]·ES["a-solas","en","en-","según-"]·SW["katika-","kwa-faragha","peke-yake","peke-yao","uso-kwa-uso"]·TR["-","-de","-e","-e-göre","özellikle"]·urd["اکیلے","سامنے","علیحدگی-سے","علیحدگی-میں","میں"]
8. concerning, about, with respect to — Marking the topic or reference point of discourse—'concerning,' 'about,' 'with respect to'—six times with the accusative. Paul writes of Epaphras reporting 'concerning your love' (Eph 1:15) and ta kata me (the things concerning me, Eph 6:21). Felix had knowledge 'concerning the Way' (kata ten hodon, Acts 24:22). The sense directs attention to the subject matter under discussion, overlapping with English 'about' or 'regarding.' 6×
AR["بِحَسَبِ","بِخُصُوصِ","عِندَـ","ما-بي","ما-بِ"]·ben["-অনুসারে","-সম্পর্কিত","অনুযায়ী","অনুসারে","বিরুদ্ধে"]·DE["gemaess-","gemäß"]·EN["according-to","against","concerning"]·FR["selon-"]·heb["אֶת-הָ-","כְּפִי-","נֶגֶד","שֶׁל-"]·HI["के-अनुसअर","के-अनुसर","के-विशय","केअनुसार"]·ID["hal-hal-tentang","mengenai","tentang","tentang-"]·IT["secondo","secondo-"]·jav["bab","babagan","ngèngingi","tumrap"]·KO["-에-관하여","-에-관한","-에-대한","대하여","에-관하여"]·PT["a-respeito","acerca-de","concernentes-a","quanto-a"]·RU["-","дело-","касающееся-","о-","обо-","по-"]·ES["respecto-a","según"]·SW["kuhusu","kuhusu-","yanayonihusu"]·TR["-deki-","-e-göre","-e-ilişkin","-leri-"]·urd["-کے-مطابق","بارے","کے-مطابق"]
10. beyond, exceedingly, surpassing — Expressions of exceeding measure or surpassing degree—'beyond,' 'exceedingly,' 'surpassing'—four times in phrases like kath' hyperbolen (beyond measure). Paul describes tribulation 'beyond measure' (kath' hyperbolen, 2 Cor 1:8), glory 'beyond all comparison' (2 Cor 4:17), and how he persecuted the church 'violently' (kath' hyperbolen, Gal 1:13). The sense extends conformity ('according to') to excessive conformity (beyond normal bounds). 4×
AR["بِإفراطٍ","فَوقَ","فَوْقَ","فَيْضًا"]·ben["অতিরিক্তভাবে-","অত্যধিক-","অত্যন্ত-","অনুসারে"]·DE["gemaess-"]·EN["according-to","beyond","beyond-"]·FR["selon-"]·heb["בְּ-יֶתֶר","לְ-יֶתֶר","מִ-"]·HI["अत्यंत","अत्यंत-अत्यन्त","बदि","में"]·ID["melampaui","sangat","secara"]·IT["secondo","secondo-"]·jav["saking","sanget"]·KO["-에-따라","~에-따라","과도하게","에-따라"]·PT["em-","extremamente","muito","sobre"]·RU["через-","чрезмерно","чрезмерно-"]·ES["según","según-","sobremanera"]·SW["kupita-","kupita-kiasi"]·TR["-göre","aşırı","aşırılığa-","ötesinde-"]·urd["بہت","بہت-ہی","حد-سے","حد-سے-"]
11. against, in opposition to — With the genitive, expressing hostile opposition—'against'—three occurrences. A fierce wind blows 'against' the ship (Acts 27:14), and Jude warns of ungodly people speaking 'harsh things against' the Lord (kata kyriou, Jude 15, twice). This adversarial sense develops naturally from downward motion (pressing down upon) to opposition or hostility, though it's relatively rare in the NT compared to other 'against' prepositions (anti, epi). 3×
amh["በ-"]·AR["ضد","على","عَلَى"]·ben["-বিরুদ্ধে","বিরুদ্ধে"]·ces["nad","proti"]·dan["imod-"]·DE["gegen","gemäß"]·ell["κατ'","κατά"]·EN["against-","from"]·FR["contre","selon-"]·guj["-ના","-વિરુદ્ધ"]·hat["kont"]·hau["game-da-shi","kan"]·heb["נֶגֶד","נגד","על"]·HI["के-विरुद्ध","केविरुद्ध"]·hun["ellen","ellene"]·ID["dari-","melawan","terhadap"]·IT["contro","secondo-"]·jav["nglawan","saking"]·JA["-に対して"]·KO["-에-대하여","-에-대해","대하여"]·mar["विरुद्ध-"]·mya["-ကို"]·nld["over","tegen"]·nor["mot","over"]·pnb["خلاف"]·pol["przeciw"]·PT["contra"]·ron["împotriva"]·RU["над-","по-","против-"]·ES["contra"]·SW["dhidi","dhidi-ya","dhidi-ya-"]·swe["mot"]·tam["-எதிராக"]·tel["-కు-వ్యతిరేకముగా","-పై"]·tgl["laban-sa"]·TH["ต่อ","ต่อต้าน"]·TR["-dan","-e-karşı"]·ukr["над","проти"]·urd["-کے-خلاف","کے-خلاف"]·VI["nghịch-lại","trên"]·yor["sí"]·yue["向","攻擊"]·ZH["向","抵挡"]
BDB / Lexicon Reference
κατά [κᾰτᾰ], poetry καταί accusative to Refs 2nd c.AD+: preposition with genitive or accusative:— downwards. __A WITH GEN., __A.I denoting motion from above, down from, βῆ δὲ κατ᾽ Οὐλύμποιο καρήνων, κατ᾽ Ἰδαίων ὀρέων, βαλέειν κ. πέτρης, Refs 8th c.BC+; καθ᾽ ἵππων ἀΐξαντεRefs 5th c.BC+ — for κατ᾽ ἄκρης see.{ἄκρα}: Μοῖσα κ. στόματος Χέε νέκταρ Refs 3rd c.BC+ __A.II denoting downward motion,…