κατισχύω G2729
to prevail against, overpower, be strong enough; to have superior strength or force
This verb means to prevail against, overpower, or prove stronger than opposition. Matthew 16:18 contains Jesus' famous promise: 'the gates of Hades will not prevail against' the church. Luke 21:36 urges watchfulness and prayer 'that you may be strong enough to escape all these things' and stand before the Son of Man. Luke 23:23 describes the crowd's insistence: 'their voices prevailed' in demanding Jesus' crucifixion. Classical usage includes overpowering, prevailing, being superior in number, coming to full strength, and strengthening others. The New Testament uses span divine promise (church's indestructibility), spiritual preparation (strength to endure), and mob persistence (voices prevailing).
Senses
1. sense 1 — The sense is having superior strength or force, prevailing in conflict or contest. Matthew 16:18 promises that even the powers of death ('gates of Hades') won't overcome or overpower Christ's church—the church will prove stronger. Luke 21:36 concerns believers having strength to escape tribulation and stand approved—being strong enough for what's coming. Luke 23:23's 'their voices prevailed' describes the crowd overwhelming Pilate's resistance—their insistence proved stronger than his reluctance. The Spanish and German glosses use 'prevalecer' and forms of 'prevail/be strong.' Whether divine promise, human need for strength, or mob force winning out, the word marks the victory of superior power in contest or opposition. 3×
AR["تَغْلِبُ", "تَقدِروا", "غَلَبَتْ"]·ben["জয়-করবে", "জয়ী-হচ্ছিল", "সক্ষম-হও"]·DE["κατίσχυον", "κατισχύσητε", "κατισχύσουσιν"]·EN["were-prevailing", "will-prevail-against", "you-may-be-strong-enough"]·FR["prévaloir"]·heb["גָּבְרוּ", "יִתְגַּבְּרוּ", "תּוּכְלוּ"]·HI["जेएतेनगे", "प्रबल-हुईं", "सको"]·ID["akan-berkuasa-atas", "kamu-dikuatkan", "menang"]·IT["katischuon", "katischusete", "katischusousin"]·jav["badhé-ngungguli", "menang", "panjenengan-sedaya-saged"]·KO["이겨냈다", "이기기를", "이기지-못할-것이다"]·PT["prevalecerão-contra", "tenhais-força"]·RU["одолеют", "преодолевали", "укрепились"]·ES["prevalecerán-contra", "prevalecían", "tengáis-fuerza"]·SW["mweze", "shinda", "wakaeneza"]·TR["galip-gelecektir", "galip-geliyordu", "güç-kazanın"]·urd["طاقت-پاؤ", "غالب-آئیں", "غالب-آئیں-گے"]
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
κατισχύω, future -ύσω NT:— overpower, prevail over, τινα LXX+4th c.BC+; [τῆς ἐκκλησίας] NT+2nd c.AD+; γενναίας φύσεως Refs:—passive, to be worsted, ὑπ᾽ ἔρωτος Refs 1st c.BC+ __2 absolutely, have the upper hand, prevail, LXX; κ. τῷ πλήθει to be superior in.., NT+2nd c.BC+ __2.b to be prevalent, ὁρμαὶ καὶ ζῆλοι παρά τισι κ. Refs 4th c.BC+ __II come to one's full strength, δέμας in body, Refs 5th c.BC+ __III transitive, strengthen, encourage, with accusative, LXX; τὰς χεῖράς τινωνLXX+1st c.BC+