κατ-άγνῡμι G2608
To break, shatter, snap; used of breaking bones or a bruised reed, implying forceful fracture.
Denotes a forceful breaking or shattering, whether of bones, reeds, or other rigid objects. Its New Testament usage spans tender mercy and brutal execution. In Matthew 12:20, quoting Isaiah, Jesus is the servant who will not break a bruised reed — a portrait of gentleness toward the fragile. In John 19:31-33, Roman soldiers break the legs of the crucified to hasten death, but find Jesus already dead. Spanish quebrar ('to break, shatter') and German zerbrechen ('to break apart') both capture the violence of fracture inherent in the word.
Senses
1. sense 1 — To break or shatter something rigid, especially bones or a reed, implying forceful fracture. Spanish quebrar ('to shatter') and German zerbrechen ('to break apart') both convey destructive force. In Matt 12:20, the Isaianic quotation promises the Messiah will not break a bruised reed, using the word to highlight the gentleness of one who could break but chooses not to. In John 19:31-33, it describes the Roman practice of crurifragium — breaking the legs of crucified men — applied to the two criminals but not to Jesus, fulfilling the Passover lamb typology that no bone shall be broken. 4×
AR["تُكْسَرَ", "كَسَرُوا", "يَكسِرُ", "يَكْسِرُوا"]·ben["ভাঙবে", "ভেঙ্গে-দিলেন", "ভেঙ্গে-দেওয়া-হয়"]·DE["zerbrechen", "zerbricht"]·EN["broke", "he-will-break", "might-be-broken", "they-broke"]·FR["briser"]·heb["יִשְׁבֹּר", "שָׁבְרוּ", "תִּשָׁבַרְנָה"]·HI["तोड़ा", "तोड़ी-जाएँ", "तोदेगअ"]·ID["akan-mematahkan", "dipatahkan", "mematahkan"]·IT["kateagosin", "kateaxan", "kateaxei"]·jav["badhé-nyuwil,", "kapugel", "mugel"]·KO["껴기지", "껴었다", "껴지도록"]·PT["fossem-quebradas", "quebraram"]·RU["были-перебиты", "перебили", "переломит"]·ES["fueran-quebradas", "quebraron", "quebrará"]·SW["vunja", "vunja,", "wakavunja", "zivunjwe"]·TR["kırdılar", "kırmayacak", "kırılsın"]·urd["توڑ دیئے جائیں", "توڑیں", "توڑے-گا"]
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
κατ-άγνῡμι, infinitive -ύναι [ῠ] Refs 5th c.BC+; καταγνύω Refs 5th c.BC+; late present κατάσσω, κατεάσσω (which see): future κατάξω Refs 5th c.BC+: aorist κατέαξα Refs 8th c.BC+; Ionic dialect κατῆξα Refs 5th c.BC+; 3rd.pers. singular subjunctive κατάξει Refs 5th c.BC+; participle κατάξας (Dobree for κατεάξας) Refs 5th c.BC+; Epic dialect optative καυάξαις ={καϝϝάξαις} for κατ-ϝάξαις, Refs 8th…