καταπίνω G2666
To swallow up, devour, overwhelm; to engulf completely, used literally of consumption and figuratively of destruction or grief.
Katapinō means to gulp or swallow down entirely, carrying both a vivid physical image and powerful metaphorical force. Jesus uses it with biting irony in Matt 23:24—straining out a gnat while swallowing a camel. Paul employs it triumphantly: death is 'swallowed up' in victory (1 Cor 15:54), and mortality is swallowed by life (2 Cor 5:4). It can also describe overwhelming sorrow (2 Cor 2:7). Hebrews 11:29 recalls the Red Sea swallowing the Egyptians. Spanish devorar and German verschlingen capture the violent totality of the engulfing.
Senses
1. swallow up, devour, overwhelm — To swallow up, devour, or engulf completely—whether literally consuming or figuratively overwhelming and destroying. The word carries the force of total absorption. Jesus uses it humorously for swallowing a camel (Matt 23:24). Paul transforms it into a victory cry: death swallowed up (1 Cor 15:54) and mortality swallowed by life (2 Cor 5:4). It can also mean to be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow (2 Cor 2:7), where the danger is that grief will consume a repentant person. Hebrews 11:29 recalls the sea devouring the pursuing Egyptians. Spanish fueron tragados and German verschlingen convey the violent completeness of the action. 7×
AR["ابتَلَعَت", "ابتُلِعَ", "ابْتُلِعُوا", "البالِعينَ", "يَبتَلِعُ", "يُبتَلَعَ"]·ben["গিলে-খেতে", "গিলে-ফেলল", "গিলে-ফেলে", "গ্রাস-করা-হল", "গ্রাস-হয়", "ডুবে-গেল"]·DE["verschlingen", "καταπίνοντες"]·EN["might-be-swallowed-up", "swallowed", "swallowing", "to-devour", "was-swallowed-up", "were-swallowed"]·FR["engloutir"]·heb["בָּלְעָה", "בּוֹלְעִים", "יִבָּלַע", "לִבְלֹעַ", "נִבְלְעוּ", "נִבְלַע", "שֶׁיִבָּלַע"]·HI["निगल-गई", "निगल-गए।", "निगल-जाए", "निगल-ली-गई", "निगलते-हो", "निगलने-के-लिए"]·ID["Ditelan", "ditelan", "ditelan.", "menelan", "untuk-ditelan"]·IT["inghiottire", "katapiein", "katapinontes", "katepien", "katepothēsan"]·jav["Katelen", "dipun-telen", "kang-dipunmangsa,", "kauntu", "kelelep", "ngulu", "nguntal"]·KO["삼켜졌다", "삼켜졌으니", "삼켜지게", "삼켜지지-않도록", "삼켰으니", "삼키는-자들아", "삼키려-함이니"]·PT["Foi-tragada", "engoliu", "foram-engolidos", "seja-absorvido", "seja-devorado"]·RU["Поглощена", "поглотила", "поглотить,", "поглощено-было", "поглощены-были", "поглощён-был", "проглатывающие"]·ES["Fue-tragada", "devorar", "fueron-tragados", "que-tragáis", "sea-absorbido", "sea-consumido", "tragó"]·SW["Limemezwa", "Ole", "amezwe", "ikaumeza", "kimezwe", "kummeza", "walimezwa"]·TR["o-", "yutanlar", "yutmaya", "yuttu", "yutuldular", "yutulmasın", "yutulsun"]·urd["نگل-لیا", "نگل-لیا-جائے", "نگلتے-ہوئے", "نگلنے-کو،", "نگلی-گئی", "ڈوب-جائے", "ڈوب-گئے"]
Related Senses
H7200 1. Qal: to see, perceive (1257×)G4771 2. you (singular address) (1077×)H8085 1. Qal: hear, perceive aurally (921×)H0859a 1. you (2nd person masculine singular pronoun) (743×)H0398 1. eat (consume food) (697×)H4191 1. die (Qal: natural/general death) (645×)G3708 1. see, perceive visually (419×)G0191 1. hear, perceive sound (360×)H???? 3. (352×)G3708 2. behold, look (exclamatory) (256×)H7272 1. foot (body part) (236×)H8354 1. drink, consume liquid (209×)H3205 1. Qal active: bear/give birth (female subject) (204×)H3205 2. Qal active: beget/father (male subject) (198×)H2421 1. Qal: live, be alive (177×)H8085 2. Qal: listen, heed, pay attention (172×)H2416a 1. alive, living (state/attribute) (146×)H2416e 1. life, lifespan, lifetime (145×)G2198 1. be alive, have life (133×)H8193 1. lip, lips (body part) (123×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
καταπίνω [ῑ], future -πίομαι Refs 6th c.BC+, later -πιοῖμαι Refs 1st c.AD+: aorist Refs 8th c.BC+ R.: perfect -πέπωκα Refs 6th c.BC+:—gulp, swallow down, both of liquids and solids Refs 8th c.BC+; λίθους Refs 5th c.BC+; of the sea, LXX+6th c.BC+:—passive, τὸ -ποθὲν ὕδωρ (i.e. by the earth) Refs 5th c.BC+; of rivers that disappear underground, Refs 4th c.BC+; of cities swallowed by an earthquake,…