UBS Greek Dictionary Article

Notes: It is difficult to determine the extent to which καταλαμβάνω[e] should be classified as a figurative extension of meaning. The average Greek speaker would probably be no more aware of this figurative significance of καταλαμβάνω than an English speaker would be aware of the figurative background in the term understand.

Form 1

Part of speech: verb

Inflections: καταλαμβάνω; aor.; κατέλαβον; καταλαμβάνω; pf.; κατείληφα; καταλαμβάνω; pf.pass.; κατείλημμαι; καταλαμβάνω; aor.pass.; κατελήμφθην

Related lemmas: λαμβάνω

Sense 1: to acquire, to attain, to obtain, to take

Semantic entry: 57.56

Semantic domains: Possess, Transfer, Exchange

Subdomains: Take, Obtain, Gain, Lose

Definition: to acquire, with the implication of significant effort

ROM 9:30: RV ROM 9:30 · LV ROM 9:30 · Read together ROM 9:30

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OET-RV ROM 9:30

30 So then, what should we say? That non-Jews who weren’t godly reached out by faith to achieve righteousness,

OET-LV ROM 9:30

30 Therefore what we _will _be _saying?
That the_pagans which not pursuing righteousness, grasped righteousness, and righteousness which by faith,

CO1 9:24: RV CO1 9:24 · LV CO1 9:24 · Read together CO1 9:24

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OET-RV CO1 9:24

24 Surely you all know that all the participants in a race run, but only one of them gets the prize? Run in such a way that you get the prize.

OET-LV CO1 9:24

24 Not you _all _have _known that the ones in a_stadium running, all on _one _hand are _running, on _the _other _hand one is _receiving the prize?
Thus be _running, in _order _that you _all _may _grasp it.

All 4 recorded passages for this sense

ROM: RV ROM 9:30 · LV ROM 9:30 · Read together ROM 9:30

CO1: RV CO1 9:24 · LV CO1 9:24 · Read together CO1 9:24

PHP: RV PHP 3:12–13 · LV PHP 3:12–13 · Read together PHP 3:12–13

Sense 2: to attack, to overpower

Semantic entry: 39.48

Semantic domains: Hostility, Strife

Subdomains: Attack

Definition: to attack, with the implication of gaining control over

Notes: The attack upon a person by a demon is often expressed idiomatically, for example, ‘to ride a person,’ ‘to seize a person’s mind,’ or ‘to grab a person’s inner life.’

MRK 9:18: RV MRK 9:18 · LV MRK 9:18 · Read together MRK 9:18

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OET-RV MRK 9:18

18 Whenever it takes hold of him, it attacks him and he starts foaming at the mouth and grating his teeth and his joints lock up. I tried to get your followers to command it to leave but they couldn’t.”

OET-LV MRK 9:18

18 And wherever it _may _grasp if him, it _is _attacking him, and he _is _foaming and is _grating his teeth and is _being _paralysed.
And I _told to _the apprentices/followers of _you that they _may _throw_ it _out, and they_ not _prevailed.

TH1 5:4: RV TH1 5:4 · LV TH1 5:4 · Read together TH1 5:4

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OET-RV TH1 5:4

4 but you, brothers and sisters, aren’t in darkness and likely to get surprised by a thief in the night

OET-LV TH1 5:4

4 But you _all, brothers, not are in darkness, in _order _that the day you _all like thieves may _grasp.

Sense 3: to catch, to seize, to arrest

Semantic entry: 37.108

Semantic domains: Control, Rule

Subdomains: Seize, Take into Custody

Definition: to seize and take control of

Notes: In a number of languages it may be inappropriate to translate καταλαμβάνω in RV JHN 8:3 · LV JHN 8:3 · Read together JHN 8:3 as ‘to catch,’ since this would imply that the woman was running. A much more satisfactory rendering may be simply ‘to arrest’ or ‘to place under arrest.’

JHN 8:3: RV JHN 8:3 · LV JHN 8:3 · Read together JHN 8:3

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OET-RV JHN 8:3

3 ◘

OET-LV JHN 8:3

JHN 8:4: RV JHN 8:4 · LV JHN 8:4 · Read together JHN 8:4

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OET-RV JHN 8:4

4 ◘

OET-LV JHN 8:4

All 3 recorded passages for this sense

JHN: RV JHN 8:3–4 · LV JHN 8:3–4 · Read together JHN 8:3–4

TH1: RV TH1 5:4 · LV TH1 5:4 · Read together TH1 5:4

Sense 4: to overcome, to gain control of

Semantic entry: 37.19

Semantic domains: Control, Rule

Subdomains: Control, Restrain

Definition: to gain control over

Notes: It is also possible to understand καταλαμβάνω in RV JHN 1:5 · LV JHN 1:5 · Read together JHN 1:5 as meaning ‘to understand’ (see 32.18: καταλαμβάνω).

JHN 1:5: RV JHN 1:5 · LV JHN 1:5 · Read together JHN 1:5

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OET-RV JHN 1:5

5 And that light is shining in the darkness, and darkness cannot overcome him.

OET-LV JHN 1:5

5 And the light is _shining in the darkness, and it not grasped the darkness.

JHN 12:35: RV JHN 12:35 · LV JHN 12:35 · Read together JHN 12:35

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OET-RV JHN 12:35

35 Yeshua answered them, “The light will be among you all for just a little bit longer, so get walking while you have the light so that you won’t have to deal with darkness. Anyone walking in the dark doesn’t know where they’re going.

OET-LV JHN 12:35

35 Therefore the Yaʸsous said to _them:
The light is with you _all still a_little time.
be _walking while you _all _are _having the light, in _order _that you _all may_ not _grasp darkness, and the one walking in the darkness, has_ not _known where he _is _going.

All 3 recorded passages for this sense

JHN: RV JHN 1:5 · RV JHN 12:35 · LV JHN 1:5 · LV JHN 12:35 · Read together JHN 1:5 · Read together JHN 12:35

TH1: RV TH1 5:4 · LV TH1 5:4 · Read together TH1 5:4

Sense 5: to understand, to realize, to grasp, to comprehend

Semantic entry: 32.18

Semantic domains: Understand

Subdomains: Come To Understand

Definition: (a figurative extension of meaning of καταλαμβάνω [source selector 000003][d] ‘to overcome,’ 37.19: καταλαμβάνω){N:001} to come to understand something which was not understood or perceived previously

Notes: It is also possible to understand καταλαμβάνω in RV JHN 1:5 · LV JHN 1:5 · Read together JHN 1:5 in the sense of ‘to overcome’ (see 37.19: καταλαμβάνω). In RV JHN 1:5 · LV JHN 1:5 · Read together JHN 1:5 a word play involving both meanings may be intended, something which is typical of Johannine style.

JHN 1:5: RV JHN 1:5 · LV JHN 1:5 · Read together JHN 1:5

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OET-RV JHN 1:5

5 And that light is shining in the darkness, and darkness cannot overcome him.

OET-LV JHN 1:5

5 And the light is _shining in the darkness, and it not grasped the darkness.

ACT 4:13: RV ACT 4:13 · LV ACT 4:13 · Read together ACT 4:13

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OET-RV ACT 4:13

13 The assembled leaders were amazed when they saw the boldness of Kefa and Yohan (John; Grk. Yoannes) who they knew to be illiterate, working-class men Then they recognised that they’d been with Yeshua,

OET-LV ACT 4:13

13 And observing the boldness of_ the _Petros and of _Yōannaʸs, and having _grasped that they _are illiterate and ordinary men, they _were _marvelling, and they _were _recognizing them that they _were with the Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa).

All 4 recorded passages for this sense

JHN: RV JHN 1:5 · LV JHN 1:5 · Read together JHN 1:5

ACT: RV ACT 4:13 · RV ACT 10:34 · LV ACT 4:13 · LV ACT 10:34 · Read together ACT 4:13 · Read together ACT 10:34

EPH: RV EPH 3:18 · LV EPH 3:18 · Read together EPH 3:18

Sense 6: to learn about, to find, to find out about, to discover

Semantic entry: 27.10

Semantic domains: Learn

Subdomains: Learn

Definition: to acquire definite information, with the possible implication of effort

Forms: καταλαμβάνομαι[a]

ACT 25:25: RV ACT 25:25 · LV ACT 25:25 · Read together ACT 25:25

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OET-RV ACT 25:25

25 But I haven’t discovered anything that he’s done that’s worthy of a death sentence, and since he himself appealed to the emperor, I judged that that’s where he should be sent.

OET-LV ACT 25:25