κατᾰγων-ίζομαι G2610
to conquer, overcome, subdue; to prevail against in struggle
This verb means to prevail against, overcome in struggle, or conquer. In Hebrews 11:33, it describes the exploits of Old Testament saints: through faith they 'conquered (katēgōnisanto) kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises.' The verb appears in the context of battle or contest, denoting decisive victory over opposition. Faith enabled judges like Gideon and kings like David to overcome militarily superior enemies—not through their own strength but through reliance on God who fights for his people.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Hebrews employs katagōnizomai to celebrate faith's victorious power. The Spanish 'conquistaron' and French 'surmonter' (overcome) both convey triumphant conquest. The heroes of faith subdued kingdoms not by human might but by trusting God—Gideon with 300 men, David against Goliath, Joshua at Jericho. The verb demonstrates that faith is not passive resignation but active engagement that sees God's power overcome humanly impossible odds, conquering what natural strength could not defeat. 1×
AR["غَلَبُوا"]·ben["জয়-করল"]·DE["ueberwinden"]·EN["conquered"]·FR["surmonter"]·heb["כָּבְשׁוּ"]·HI["जीता"]·ID["menaklukkan"]·IT["katēgōnisanto"]·jav["nelukaken"]·KO["정복하였으니"]·PT["subjugaram"]·RU["победили"]·ES["conquistaron"]·SW["walishinda"]·TR["yendiler"]·urd["فتح-کیں"]
Related Senses
H4421 1. war, battle, armed conflict (319×)H0341 1. enemy, adversary, foe (284×)H3898a 1. Nifal: to fight, wage war (167×)H2026 1. kill, slay (active) (146×)H2451 1. wisdom, discernment (146×)H5483b 1. horse (the animal) (138×)H0006 1. to perish, be destroyed (105×)H7843 1. Hifil: destroy, annihilate (83×)H2491a 1. slain, fatally pierced (74×)H6862c 1. adversary, enemy, foe (69×)H8045 1. destroy, exterminate (69×)G0615 1. kill, put to death (60×)H6571b 1. horseman, cavalryman (52×)H8077a 1. desolation, waste (abstract state) (52×)G4678 1. of wisdom (51×)G4717 1. crucify, fasten to a cross (46×)H2763a 1. utterly destroy (Hifil active) (44×)G0622 1. perish, be destroyed (intransitive) (41×)H0006 2. to destroy, annihilate (Piel) (38×)H8074 1. be desolate, lie waste (36×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
κατᾰγων-ίζομαι, prevail against, τινας Refs 2nd c.BC+:—passive, καταγωνισθῆναι τὰ ὅλα Refs 2nd c.BC+ __2 contend against, τὴν ἀλήθειαν Refs 2nd c.BC+ __II win by a struggle, βασιλείας NT