κατείδωλος G2712
full of idols, wholly given to idolatry
This adjective describes a place saturated with idols or a person devoted to idol-worship. Acts 17:16 states that Paul's spirit was provoked within him when he saw that Athens was 'full of idols.' The accusative feminine singular agrees with 'the city.' This rare word (attested mainly in Christian literature) intensifies the simple 'idolatrous' by suggesting complete permeation. The cross-linguistic witnesses preserve the saturation idea. Athens' famous abundance of temples, statues, and shrines to various gods distressed Paul, provoking his Mars Hill sermon about the unknown God.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Luke notes that Athens was κατείδωλος—thoroughly saturated with idols, not just having some temples but filled with images of gods everywhere. This adjective captures what ancient sources confirm: Athens had more statues than people, temples to countless deities lining streets and filling public spaces. Paul's distressed reaction to this idol-saturation motivated his philosophical engagement and gospel proclamation in the Areopagus. 1×
AR["مَملوءَةً-بِالأَصنامِ"]·ben["মূর্তি-পূর্ণ"]·DE["κατείδωλον"]·EN["full-of-idols"]·FR["idolâtre"]·heb["מְלֵאַת-אֱלִילִים"]·HI["मूर्तियों-से-भरी"]·ID["penuh-berhala"]·IT["dato-agli-idoli"]·jav["kebak-brahala"]·KO["우상으로-가득한"]·RU["полный-идолов"]·ES["llena-de-ídolos"]·SW["imejaa-sanamu"]·TR["putlarla-dolu"]·urd["بتوں-سے-بھرے"]
Related Senses
H3548 1. priest, cultic officiant (750×)G5547 1. Christ, Messiah, Anointed One (540×)H5030 1. Prophet, divine spokesperson (317×)H5930a 1. burnt offering (sacrifice) (286×)H3881 1. Levites (priestly class) (283×)G4396 1. prophet, spokesperson of God (146×)H6944 1. sanctuary, holy place (129×)G0749 1. high priest, chief priest (123×)H6944 2. holiness, sacredness (abstract quality) (123×)G5330 1. Pharisee (99×)G4336 1. pray to God (86×)H6944 3. holy things, sacred offerings (plural) (86×)H3722a 1. make ritual atonement (Piel) (85×)H6912 1. bury (Qal active) (82×)H6419 1. pray (Hitpael) (80×)H6944 4. holiness (with possessive pronoun) (77×)H6942 1. sanctify, consecrate (Piel factitive) (76×)H2930a 1. Qal: be/become unclean (75×)H7819a 1. slaughter an animal (Qal active) (72×)H1486 1. lot (object cast for decisions) (71×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
κατείδωλος, ον, full of idols, given to idolatry, NT