κατα-λύω G2647
To tear down or demolish; to abolish or annul; to lodge or find quarters at the end of a journey
A Greek verb whose range stretches from physical demolition to peaceful hospitality. In its primary usage, katalyo means to throw down or dismantle a structure, as when Jesus foretold the destruction of the Temple (Matt 24:2, Mark 13:2). By extension it takes on the figurative force of abolishing or nullifying, as in the famous declaration 'I have not come to abolish the Law' (Matt 5:17). The surprising third sense, 'to lodge,' arises from the image of unyoking animals at day's end; Spanish hospedarse and German einkehren both capture this domestic meaning visible in Luke 19:7 when Zacchaeus receives Jesus as a guest.
Senses
1. tear down, demolish — The core physical sense: to pull down, dismantle, or demolish a standing structure. Jesus speaks of the Temple stones being thrown down so that not one remains upon another (Matt 24:2; Mark 13:2). The accusation at his trial repeats the charge (Matt 26:61, Mark 14:58). Spanish destruir and French detruire map cleanly onto this destructive action. In every instance the object is a building or monument whose integrity is violently undone. 11×
AR["أَنْ-أَهْدِمَ", "انهَدَمَ", "تَهْدِمْ", "سَأَهْدِمُ", "سَيَهْدِمُ", "هَادِمَ", "هَدَمتُهُ", "يُنقَضُ", "يُهدَمُ", "يُهْدَمَ"]·ben["ধ্বংস-কর", "ধ্বংস-করতে", "ধ্বংস-করব", "ধ্বংস-করবে", "ধ্বংসকারী", "ভঙ্গ-হয়,", "ভেঙে-ফেলা-হবে", "ভেঙেছিলাম,"]·DE["niederreissen", "reißt-nieder"]·EN["I-tore-down", "destroying", "is-destroyed", "tear-down", "to-destroy", "will-be-thrown-down", "will-destroy"]·FR["détruire"]·heb["אֶהֱרֹס", "הָרַסְתִּי", "הוֹרֵס", "יִהָרֵס", "יַהֲרֹס", "יֻתַּץ", "לַ-הֲרֹס", "תִּהְרֹס", "תֵּהָרֵס"]·HI["गिराया-जाए", "ढहाऊँगा", "ढहाया-जाएगा", "ढाना", "ढाने-वाला", "ढानेवाले", "ढाया-जाए", "ढाया-जाएगा", "नष्ट-करेगा", "नाश-कर", "मैने-तोद,"]·ID["akan-diruntuhkan", "akan-menghancurkan", "aku-robohkan", "dibongkar", "merobohkan", "yang-menghancurkan", "yang-merobohkan"]·IT["distruggere"]·jav["Ingkang-ngrusak", "badhé-kabongkar.", "badhé-karusak", "badhé-ngrusak", "dipun-runtuhaken", "kabrubuh,", "kula-sampun-mbroboh,", "ngrisak", "ngrusak", "panjenengan-sami-ngrusak"]·KO["파괴할-것-이다", "허물는-자여", "허물다", "허물리라", "허물어지면", "허물어지지-않을", "허물었노라,", "허물지", "헐릴-것이다", "헐어지리라"]·PT["destruas", "destruir", "destruirei", "destruí", "destrói", "for-desfeita", "que-destrói", "seja-derrubada", "será-derrubada"]·RU["Разрушающий", "будет-разрушен", "разрушай", "разрушающий", "разрушен-будет", "разрушил", "разрушит", "разрушить", "разрушу"]·ES["destruir", "destruirá", "destruiré", "destruyas", "destruí", "fuera-destruida", "que-destruye", "sea-derribada", "será-derribada"]·SW["anayebomoa", "atapaangamiza", "bomoe", "halitabomolewa", "ikibomolewa,", "itabomolewa", "kulibomoa", "litabomoshwa", "niliyoyabomoa", "nitauharibu", "ulibomoa"]·TR["o-", "yıkacak", "yıkacağım", "yıkan", "yıkma", "yıkmak", "yıktıklarımı", "yıkılacak"]·urd["توڑ-دیا-جائے", "خراب-کر", "ڈھا-دے-گا", "ڈھانا", "ڈھانے-والے", "ڈھایا-جائے-گا", "گراؤں-گا", "گرایا", "گرایا-جائے-گا"]
2. abolish, overthrow, annul — A figurative extension into the legal and institutional realm: to abolish, annul, or overthrow laws, prophecies, or divinely ordered plans. Jesus clarifies he came not to abolish (katalysai) but to fulfill the Law and the Prophets (Matt 5:17). Gamaliel warns the Sanhedrin that a work from God cannot be overthrown (Acts 5:38-39). German niederreissen ('tear down') and Spanish abolir both preserve the metaphor of dismantling something established. 4×
AR["أَنْ-تُبْطِلُوهَا", "سَيَنْحَلُّ", "لِأَنْقُضَ"]·ben["বাতিল-করতে", "বাতিল-হবে", "বিলোপ-করতে", "বিলোপ-করতে,"]·DE["reißt-nieder"]·EN["it-will-be-overthrown", "to-abolish", "to-overthrow"]·FR["détruire"]·heb["יֵהָרֵס", "לְבַטֵּל", "לְהָרֹס"]·HI["तोड़ने", "पाए-जाओ"]·ID["akan-dihancurkan;", "menghancurkan", "untuk-menghapuskan"]·IT["distruggere"]·jav["badhé-kasirnakaken;", "mbatalaken", "nyirnakaken"]·KO["파괴하는-것-이", "폐하러"]·PT["destruir"]·RU["нарушить", "разрушится", "разрушить"]·ES["a-abolir", "abolir", "destruir", "será-destruida"]·SW["itaanguka", "kubatilisha", "kuwaangamiza"]·TR["yıkmak", "yıkılacak"]·urd["ختم-کرنے", "مٹ-جائے-گا", "مٹانا"]
3. lodge, find quarters — An entirely distinct sense rooted in the imagery of unyoking pack animals at journey's end: to stop, lodge, or find quarters as a guest. When the Twelve urge Jesus to dismiss the crowd so they may lodge in surrounding villages (Luke 9:12), and when onlookers murmur that Jesus has gone to lodge with Zacchaeus (Luke 19:7), the word carries warmth and hospitality. Spanish hospedarse and alojarse reflect this domestic register, a world apart from the verb's destructive senses. 2×
AR["لِيَنزِلَ", "يَنْزِلوا"]·ben["অতিথি-হতে", "থাকতে-পারে"]·DE["reißt-nieder"]·EN["they-may-lodge", "to-lodge"]·FR["détruire"]·heb["יָלִינוּ", "לָלוּן"]·HI["टिकें", "ठहरने"]·ID["menumpang", "mereka-menginap"]·IT["distruggere"]·jav["nginep", "supados-nyipeng."]·KO["묵으려고", "쉬게-하시고"]·PT["hospedar-se", "se-hospedem"]·RU["нашли-ночлег", "остановиться"]·ES["a-hospedarse", "se-alojen"]·SW["kukaa", "walale"]·TR["kalsalar,", "konaklamasına"]·urd["ٹھہرنے", "ٹھہریں"]
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
κατα-λύω, future -λύσωRefs 8th c.BC+: 3rd.pers. plural pluperfect -λελύκεσανRefs 2nd c.AD+:—passive, future -λῠθήσομαιRefs 5th c.BC+: perfect -λέλῠμαιRefs 5th c.BC+:— put down, destroy, πολλάων πολίων κατέλυσε κάρηνα Refs 8th c.BC+; τείχη, [πτόλιν], Refs 5th c.BC+; γέφυραν break it up, Refs 2nd c.AD+ __2 of political or other systems, dissolve, break up, put down, κ. ἀρχήν, βασιληΐην, ἰσοκρατίας,…