καταλιθάζω

I stone down, stone to death

Definition

Katalithazō is a verb meaning 'to stone down' or 'to stone to death,' specifically describing the act of overwhelming someone with stones, typically as a form of execution. It carries the sense of a violent, collective assault intended to kill. In its sole New Testament occurrence in Luke 20:6, it is used in a hypothetical threat by the religious leaders against Jesus, illustrating their hostility and the real danger of mob violence. The word's intensive prefix (kata-) emphasizes the downward or overwhelming force of the stoning.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Luke 20:6. It appears in the context of the religious leaders' plot against Jesus, where they fear the people because 'all the people will stone us' (using katalithazō). The usage is hypothetical but reveals the tense political and religious atmosphere, where stoning was a recognized form of capital punishment for blasphemy or prophetic challenge to authority.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition κατά (kata), meaning 'down' or 'against,' combined with the verb λιθάζω (lithazō), meaning 'to stone.' The compound form intensifies the action to mean 'to stone down' or 'to overwhelm with stones.' It is related to λίθος (lithos, 'stone'), and its formation highlights a violent, directed assault.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it underscores the violent opposition Jesus faced from the religious establishment. The threat of stoning connects to Old Testament penalties for blasphemy (Leviticus 24:16) and prophet-killing (e.g., 2 Chronicles 24:21), framing Jesus as a prophet rejected by the leaders. Understanding this term enriches the reading of Luke 20 by highlighting the grave danger Jesus navigated and the leaders' fear of the populace, who viewed Jesus favorably.

In first-century Jewish culture, stoning was a communal form of execution prescribed for certain offenses under Mosaic Law, such as blasphemy or idolatry. It was a public, violent act meant to purge evil from the community. The use of katalithazō in Luke 20:6 reflects this cultural-legal reality, where the leaders' fear of being stoned by the crowd shows the people's potential to enact justice or mob violence outside formal trials, a dynamic different from modern judicial systems.

λιθάζω (lithazō, G3034) — the simpler verb meaning 'to stone,' without the intensive 'downward' force; κατακρημνίζω (katakrēmnizō, G2630) — meaning 'to throw down a precipice,' another form of violent execution threat.

Word Details

Scripture References