Original Word: κατέρχομαι
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: katerchomai
Pronunciation: kat-er'-khom-ahee
Phonetic Spelling: (kat-er'-khom-ahee)
Definition: I come down from sky to earth, or from high land to lower land (or to the coast), or from the high seas to the shore.
Meaning: To come down, to go down, to descend.

Word Origin: From the preposition κατά (kata, meaning "down") and the verb ἔρχομαι (erchomai, meaning "to come" or "to go").

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The concept of descending or coming down is also present in the Hebrew Scriptures, with corresponding terms such as יָרַד (yarad, Strong's Hebrew 3381), which means "to go down" or "to descend." This Hebrew term is used in various contexts, including the descent of the Lord on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:20) and the physical movement of individuals or groups from one place to another.

Usage: The verb κατέρχομαι is used in the New Testament to describe the action of descending or coming down from a higher place to a lower one. It is often used in both literal and metaphorical contexts.

Context: The Greek verb κατέρχομαι appears in several passages within the New Testament, illustrating both physical and spiritual descents. It is used to describe Jesus' descent from heaven, as well as the physical act of coming down from a mountain or a higher place.

• Literal Descent: In Acts 8:5, Philip "went down" to a city in Samaria, indicating a geographical movement from a higher to a lower elevation. Similarly, in Acts 18:22, Paul "went down" to Antioch after visiting Jerusalem, again suggesting a physical descent.

• Spiritual Descent: The term is also used in a spiritual context, as seen in John 3:13, where it is stated, "No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven—the Son of Man." This passage highlights the divine origin and mission of Jesus Christ, emphasizing His unique authority and heavenly descent.

• Metaphorical Descent: In some instances, κατέρχομαι is used metaphorically to describe the coming of the Holy Spirit or divine intervention. For example, in Acts 10:44, the Holy Spirit "came down" upon all who heard the message, signifying a spiritual outpouring and presence.

The use of κατέρχομαι in the New Testament underscores the movement from the divine to the earthly, illustrating both the physical journeys of early Christians and the spiritual realities of God's interaction with humanity.

Word Origin
from kata and erchomai
Definition
to come down
NASB Translation
came down (6), comes down (1), down (1), landed (3), went down (4).

STRONGS NT 2718: κατέρχομαι

κατέρχομαι; 2 aorist κατῆλθον, 1 person plural κατηλθαμεν (Acts 27:5 T Tr WH; on which form see ἀπέρχομαι, at the beginning); (from Homer down); to come down, go down; properly, of one who goes from a higher to a lower locality: followed by εἰς with the accusative of place, Luke 4:31; Acts 8:5; Acts 13:4; ( T Tr marginal reading); and L T Tr WH in ; followed by ἀπό with the genitive of place, Luke 9:37; Acts 15:1; Acts 18:5; Acts 21:10; followed by ἀπό and εἰς, Acts 11:27; Acts 12:19; of those who come to a place by ship (Eustathius (ad Homer) 1408, 29 (Odyssey 1, 183) κατελθεῖν, οὐ μόνον τό ἁπλῶς κάτω ποῦ ἐλθεῖν, ἀλλά καί τό ἐς λιμένα ἐλθεῖν, ὥσπερ καί καταβῆναι καί καταπλευσαι καί καταχθῆναι καί κατάραι, τό ἐλλιμενισαι λέγεται; also 1956, 35 (Odyssey 24, 115) κατῆλθον ἤ ἀντί τοῦ ἐνελιμενίσθην, ὡς πολλαχοῦ ἐρρέθη, ἤ ἀντί τοῦ ἁπλῶς ἦλθον; cf. Ebeling, Lex. Homer, under the word): followed by εἰς, Acts 18:22; Acts 21:3 L T Tr WH; ; πρός τινα, Acts 9:32. Metaphorically, of things sent down from heaven by God: James 3:15.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

come down, descend, go down

From kata and erchomai (including its alternate); to come (or go) down (literally or figuratively) -- come (down), depart, descend, go down, land.

see GREEK kata

see GREEK erchomai

Forms and Transliterations

κατελθειν κατελθείν κατελθεῖν ΚΑΤΕΛΘΟΝΤΕΣ κατελθόντες κατελθοντων κατελθόντων κατελθων κατελθών κατελθὼν κατερχομενη κατερχομένη κατήλθέ κατηλθεν κατήλθεν κατῆλθεν κατῆλθέν κατηλθομεν κατήλθομεν κατηλθον κατήλθον κατῆλθον katelthein kateltheîn katelthen katêlthen katêlthén katēlthen katē̂lthen katē̂lthén katelthomen katēlthomen katḗlthomen katelthon katelthōn katelthṑn katêlthon katēlthon katē̂lthon KATELTHONTES katelthonton katelthontōn katelthónton katelthóntōn katerchomene katerchomenē katerchoméne katerchoménē

Links

Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts