κατάλοιπος G2645
remaining, left over, the rest or remnant
This adjective describes what is left after others are taken away, often with theological freight as 'the remnant.' Acts 15:17 quotes Amos 9:12, referring to 'the remnant of mankind' who will seek the Lord after the restoration of David's fallen tent. The plural adjective functions substantively—'the remaining ones.' Classical usage shows this for survivors of battle, what's left of resources, or the remaining option. The Spanish 'restantes' and French 'le reste' capture the arithmetic of subtraction. James's citation reinterprets Israel's remnant theology to include Gentiles in the restored people of God.
Senses
1. sense 1 — James applies Amos's prophecy about 'the remnant of men' to the Gentile mission, arguing that their inclusion fulfills rather than violates Scripture. The adjective κατάλοιποι suggests those left after judgment or separation—here, the nations beyond Israel who nevertheless seek God. This remnant theology expands to encompass all humanity who call on the Lord's name. 1×
AR["باقونَ"]·ben["অবশিষ্ট"]·DE["κατάλοιποι"]·EN["remnant"]·FR["le-reste"]·heb["שֶׁל-"]·HI["बचे-हुए"]·ID["sisa"]·IT["resto"]·jav["kang-kantun"]·KO["남은-자들이"]·PT["restantes"]·RU["остальные"]·ES["restantes"]·SW["waliobaki"]·TR["geriye-kalanları"]·urd["باقی"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
κατάλοιπος, ον, left remaining, τὸ κ. ἀπεργάζεσθαι Refs 5th c.BC+; ἐκ τοῦ κ. Refs 4th c.BC+, etc.; τὰ κ. τῆς διεξόδου Refs 5th c.BC+; τοῦτο.. κατάλοιπόν [ἐστι] with infinitive, Refs 3rd c.BC+; ἡ κ. the other of two, Refs 2nd c.AD+