Introduction

In Biblical studies, understanding Greek words is crucial for interpreting the nuances of the original text and comprehending the cultural and theological implications of Scripture. The Greek word κατακλύζω (kataklýzō) is particularly significant because it refers to the act of flooding or inundating. This word appears in contexts that describe overwhelming events, such as the Great Flood in Noah’s time. By exploring κατακλύζω, we gain insight into how ancient Greek and Biblical literature depict natural disasters as expressions of divine power, judgment, or even renewal.

Key Information

• The Greek Word: κατακλύζω (kataklýzō) [ka-ta-KLEE-zo]
• Etymology Root Words and Their Meanings: Derived from κατά (kata, meaning “down” or “against”) and κλύζω (klýzō, meaning “to wash over” or “to surge”).
• Part of Speech: Verb; typically found in the aorist and present indicative forms.
• The F.O.G Word Choice: Coming Soon.

Primary Meanings

• To flood or inundate.
• To overwhelm or wash over completely.
• To cause a deluge or overflow.

Similar Words: πλημμυράω (plēmmyráō) [ple-mmy-RA-o] also means “to flood” or “to overflow,” but κατακλύζω emphasizes a stronger and more overwhelming action of flooding, often used to describe catastrophic or divine actions that result in complete inundation.

Further Insights: The verb κατακλύζω is composed of the prefix κατά (kata), meaning “down” or “against,” and κλύζω (klýzō), meaning “to surge” or “to overflow.” This combination implies a powerful and overwhelming action of flooding or surging over. Below is a table showing the present indicative active form of κατακλύζω:

Click here for a beginners guide to reading Greek.

Lexicon Insights

• BDAG: Defines κατακλύζω as “to overwhelm with water” or “to flood,” especially in contexts referring to natural disasters or divine judgment. It highlights its use in describing the great deluge or flood narratives.
• Thayer’s Lexicon: Describes κατακλύζω as “to flood” or “to inundate,” with particular emphasis on its usage in New Testament contexts where the term is used to depict divine retribution or natural calamities.
• Vine’s Expository Dictionary: Focuses on the verb’s meaning of “to flood” or “to overflow,” often used in dramatic contexts that symbolize overwhelming force or divine intervention.
• LSJ (Liddell-Scott-Jones): Notes that κατακλύζω was used in classical Greek to describe the act of inundating or overwhelming with water, frequently in the context of natural or mythological events.
• Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: Simply defines κατακλύζω as “to inundate” or “to flood,” emphasizing its application in both literal and metaphorical senses of overwhelming or washing over.

Related Scripture References

• 2 Peter 3:6 – “Through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded [κατεκλύσθη] with water.”
  Here, κατακλύζω is used to describe the destruction of the ancient world by the flood during Noah’s time, highlighting both the literal inundation and its symbolic meaning of divine judgment.

Classical Usage

Summary of κατακλύζω (G2626: kataklýzō)

The Greek verb κατακλύζω, meaning “to flood” or “to inundate,” is crucial for understanding themes of overwhelming force, divine judgment, and natural disasters in both Biblical and classical contexts. It is often used in the New Testament and Septuagint to describe the act of flooding, such as in the narrative of the Great Flood during Noah’s time, symbolizing God’s judgment and the purging of sin from the earth. In classical Greek literature, κατακλύζω conveys similar themes of overwhelming water and destruction, often associated with divine wrath or natural forces. Studying κατακλύζω enriches our understanding of how ancient texts use imagery of water and flooding to communicate powerful spiritual and cultural messages.

Did You Know?

• Fact 1: The Greek word κατακλύζω is the root of the English word “cataclysm,” which refers to a large-scale, violent event in the natural world.
• Fact 2: In Greek mythology and literature, floods were often seen as acts of the gods, either as punishment or as part of a natural cycle of destruction and renewal.
• Fact 3: The concept of a worldwide flood is a common theme across many ancient cultures, not just in the Bible, indicating a shared understanding of water as a force of both destruction and rebirth.

Understanding κατακλύζω provides valuable insights into Biblical texts and ancient Greek literature, highlighting how language conveys themes of divine judgment, natural power, and the overwhelming nature of floods.