κοπή
slaughter
Definition
κοπή (kopē) primarily means 'slaughter' or 'cutting down,' specifically referring to violent death in battle. In its single New Testament occurrence in Hebrews 7:1, it describes the 'slaughter of the kings' by Abraham, a decisive military defeat. While the core sense is physical killing, the word's root implies a decisive, forceful action of cutting or striking. It does not carry the sacrificial connotations of some other Greek words for killing.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Hebrews 7:1, where it recounts the story from Genesis 14. The context is Abraham's victorious return from battle, where he defeated a coalition of kings and rescued his nephew Lot. The author uses κοπή to succinctly summarize this military victory, setting the stage for discussing Melchizedek's blessing of Abraham.
Etymology
κοπή is a noun derived from the verb κόπτω (koptō, G2875), which means 'to strike,' 'to cut,' or 'to beat.' It is related to words like κόπος (kopos, G2873), meaning 'labor' or 'toil,' originally from the idea of beating or striking. The semantic development moved from the physical action of striking to the result of that action—a cutting down or slaughter.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, κοπή in Hebrews 7:1 is theologically significant as it introduces the narrative of Abraham's victory and his subsequent meeting with Melchizedek. This event is foundational for the author's argument about Christ's superior, eternal priesthood according to the order of Melchizedek, contrasting it with the Levitical priesthood. Understanding this military 'slaughter' sets the scene for a discussion of blessing, tithes, and priesthood, highlighting Christ's ultimate victory.
In the Greco-Roman world, κοπή was a standard term for military defeat and slaughter in battle, devoid of religious ritual. The audience of Hebrews, familiar with the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint), would recognize this term from historical narratives of warfare. Its use grounds the theological argument in a concrete, historical event of conquest and power.
σφαγή (sphagē, G4967) — often implies slaughter for sacrifice or ritual killing. θάνατος (thanatos, G2288) — the general term for death, not specifically violent slaughter. φόνος (phonos, G5408) — emphasizes murder or unlawful killing.
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.
Full methodology & sources →