κατατομή
a mutilation, spoiling
Definition
The Greek word κατατομή (katatomē) literally means 'a cutting down' or 'a mutilation.' In its only New Testament occurrence, Philippians 3:2, it is used metaphorically by the Apostle Paul as a sharp pejorative. He warns believers to 'beware of the mutilation' (τὴν κατατομήν), contrasting it with the true spiritual 'circumcision' (περιτομή) of those who worship God in the Spirit. The term thus signifies a false, external, and spiritually worthless act of cutting, as opposed to the genuine, inward work of God.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Philippians 3:2. Paul employs it in a polemical context to denounce the teaching of Judaizers—those who insisted that Gentile Christians must be physically circumcised to be saved. By labeling their demand as 'mutilation,' Paul starkly rejects any notion that physical ritual can replace faith in Christ and the inward transformation of the heart.
Etymology
Derived from the preposition κατά (kata), meaning 'down' or 'against,' and the root τέμνω (temnō), meaning 'to cut.' It is a compound noun literally meaning 'a cutting down.' It stands in direct, intentional contrast to the word for circumcision, περιτομή (peritomē, G4061), which means 'a cutting around.'
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it highlights the central New Testament doctrine of grace versus works. Paul uses it to argue that salvation and true membership in God's people come through faith in Christ and the Spirit's work, not through adherence to the Mosaic law's physical ordinances. Understanding this contrast between κατατομή (mutilation) and περιτομή (circumcision) enriches the reading of Philippians 3 by clarifying Paul's vehement defense of justification by faith alone.
In the 1st-century Jewish and Greco-Roman world, circumcision was a foundational identity marker for Jewish males. Paul's shocking use of 'mutilation' would have been culturally jarring, equating the sacred covenant sign with the pagan, flesh-cutting practices (like those of the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18:28) that were explicitly forbidden in the Law (Leviticus 21:5; Deuteronomy 14:1). This redefines the people of God around Christ, not ethnicity or ritual.
περιτομή (peritomē, G4061) — The true, spiritual 'circumcision' of the heart, which Paul contrasts with mere physical 'mutilation.'
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
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