In the King James Version (KJV), in the New Testament, there are two words translated foundation: θεμέλιος (themelios) and καταβολή (katabolē). Are they synonyms? We must look at the usage of these words and their root meaning in biblical usage. Towards the end of this article, we consider how our translation of καταβολή (katabolē) fits in with the rest of scripture.
Let us first look at θεμέλιος (themelios) in the New Testament. This is the ordinary word for the foundation of a building. The word is adjectival, but used substantively as a masculine and a neuter noun. We also include the verb θεμελιόω (themelioō), to found. It will be seen that the KJV and FarAboveAll (FAA) translations use the words foundation and to found in all cases.
| Verse | Greek | FAA | AV |
| Matt 7:25 | καὶ κατέβη ἡ βροχὴ καὶ ἦλθον οἱ ποταμοὶ καὶ ἔπνευσαν οἱ ἄνεμοι, καὶ προσέπεσον τῇ οἰκίᾳ ἐκείνῃ, καὶ οὐκ ἔπεσεν· τεθεμελίωτο γὰρ ἐπὶ τὴν πέτραν. | and the rain came down and the torrents arrived, and the winds blew and beat against that house, but it did not fall, for it had been founded on rock. | And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. |
| Luke 6:48 | ὅμοιός ἐστιν ἀνθρώπῳ οἰκοδομοῦντι οἰκίαν, ὃς ἔσκαψεν καὶ ἐβάθυνεν, καὶ ἔθηκεν θεμέλιον ἐπὶ τὴν πέτραν· πλημμύρας δὲ γενομένης, προσέρρηξεν ὁ ποταμὸς τῇ οἰκίᾳ ἐκείνῃ, καὶ οὐκ ἴσχυσεν σαλεῦσαι αὐτήν· τεθεμελίωτο γὰρ ἐπὶ τὴν πέτραν. | He is like a man who built a house, who dug and went deep and laid a foundation on rock. Then when a flood came, the river beat against that house, but it was not strong enough to shake it, for it had been founded on rock. | He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock:and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. |
| Luke 6:49 | Ὁ δὲ ἀκούσας καὶ μὴ ποιήσας ὅμοιός ἐστιν ἀνθρώπῳ οἰκοδομήσαντι οἰκίαν ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν χωρὶς θεμελίου· ᾗ προσέρρηξεν ὁ ποταμός, καὶ εὐθέως ἔπεσεν, καὶ ἐγένετο τὸ ῥῆγμα τῆς οἰκίας ἐκείνης μέγα | But he who hears but does not do accordingly is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation, against which the river beat, so that it immediately collapsed, and the devastation of that house was severe. | But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great. |
| Luke 14:29 | Ἵνα μήποτε, θέντος αὐτοῦ θεμέλιον καὶ μὴ ἰσχύοντος ἐκτελέσαι, πάντες οἱ θεωροῦντες ἄρξωνται ἐμπαίζειν αὐτῷ, | in case after he has laid the foundation, he does not have the means to complete it, and everyone who sees it starts mocking him, | Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, |
| Acts 16:26 | ἄφνω δὲ σεισμὸς ἐγένετο μέγας, ὥστε σαλευθῆναι τὰ θεμέλια τοῦ δεσμωτηρίου· ἀνεῴχθησάν τε παραχρῆμα αἱ θύραι πᾶσαι, καὶ πάντων τὰ δεσμὰ ἀνέθη. | when suddenly a heavy earthquake took place, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's shackles became detached. | And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. |
| Rom 15:20 | οὕτως δὲ φιλοτιμούμενον εὐαγγελίζεσθαι, οὐχ ὅπου ὠνομάσθη χριστός, ἵνα μὴ ἐπ' ἀλλότριον θεμέλιον οἰκοδομῶ· | in this way being particular not to preach the gospel where Christ has been named, so that I do not build on another's foundation, | Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation: |
| 1 Cor 3:10 | Κατὰ τὴν χάριν τοῦ θεοῦ τὴν δοθεῖσάν μοι, ὡς σοφὸς ἀρχιτέκτων θεμέλιον τέθεικα, ἄλλος δὲ ἐποικοδομεῖ. Ἕκαστος δὲ βλεπέτω πῶς ἐποικοδομεῖ. | I have laid a foundation as a wise master-builder, according to the grace of God given to me, and another is building on it. But let each one watch how he builds on it. | According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. |
| 1 Cor 3:11 | Θεμέλιον γὰρ ἄλλον οὐδεὶς δύναται θεῖναι παρὰ τὸν κείμενον, ὅς ἐστιν Ἰησοῦς χριστός. | For no-one can lay any other foundation than the one which has been laid, which is Jesus Christ. | For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. |
| 1 Cor 3:12 | Εἰ δέ τις ἐποικοδομεῖ ἐπὶ τὸν θεμέλιον τοῦτον χρυσόν, ἄργυρον, λίθους τιμίους, ξύλα, χόρτον, καλάμην, | But if anyone builds gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw on this foundation, | Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; |
| Eph 2:20 | ἐποικοδομηθέντες ἐπὶ τῷ θεμελίῳ τῶν ἀποστόλων καὶ προφητῶν, ὄντος ἀκρογωνιαίου αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦ χριστοῦ, | built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the keystone, | And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; |
| 1 Tim 6:19 | ἀποθησαυρίζοντας ἑαυτοῖς θεμέλιον καλὸν εἰς τὸ μέλλον, ἵνα ἐπιλάβωνται τῆς αἰωνίου ζωῆς. | treasuring up for themselves a good foundation for the future, in order that they might take hold of age-abiding life. | Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. |
| 2 Tim 2:19 | Ὁ μέντοι στερεὸς θεμέλιος τοῦ θεοῦ ἕστηκεν, ἔχων τὴν σφραγῖδα ταύτην, Ἔγνω κύριος τοὺς ὄντας αὐτοῦ, καί, Ἀποστήτω ἀπὸ ἀδικίας πᾶς ὁ ὀνομάζων τὸ ὄνομα κυρίου. | However, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal: the Lord knows those who are his. And let everyone who names the name of the Lord avoid iniquity. | Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. |
| Heb 6:1 | Διό, ἀφέντες τὸν τῆς ἀρχῆς τοῦ χριστοῦ λόγον, ἐπὶ τὴν τελειότητα φερώμεθα, μὴ πάλιν θεμέλιον καταβαλλόμενοι μετανοίας ἀπὸ νεκρῶν ἔργων, καὶ πίστεως ἐπὶ θεόν, | That is why, leaving the instruction on the starting point of Christ, let us be brought along to perfection, not again laying a foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith towards God, | Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, |
| Heb 11:10 | ἐξεδέχετο γὰρ τὴν τοὺς θεμελίους ἔχουσαν πόλιν, ἧς τεχνίτης καὶ δημιουργὸς ὁ θεός. | For he was waiting for the city which has foundations, whose architect and craftsman is God. | For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. |
| Rev 21:14 | Καὶ τὸ τεῖχος τῆς πόλεως ἔχον θεμελίους δώδεκα, καὶ ἐπ' αὐτῶν δώδεκα ὀνόματα τῶν δώδεκα ἀποστόλων τοῦ ἀρνίου. | with the wall of the city having twelve foundations, and on them are the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the lamb. | And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. |
| Rev 21:19 | Οἱ θεμέλιοι τοῦ τείχους τῆς πόλεως παντὶ λίθῳ τιμίῳ κεκοσμημένοι. Ὁ θεμέλιος ὁ πρῶτος, ἴασπις· ὁ δεύτερος, σάπφειρος· ὁ τρίτος, χαλκηδών· ὁ τέταρτος, σμάραγδος· | The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every precious gemstone. The first foundation was jasper; the second was sapphire; the third was chalcedony; the fourth was emerald; | And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; |
In most cases the word θεμέλιος (themelios) is connected with physical building. In Rom 15:20, 1 Cor 3:10 and Eph 2:20, where the word is used metaphorically for believers as God's building, the metaphor is explicitly using building. In 1 Tim 6:19, 2 Tim 2:19 and Heb 6:1 there is implicitly a context of building security and a basis for progress. In Heb 11:10, Rev 21:14 and Rev 21:19, the reference is again to physical building.
Liddell and Scott's Intermediate Greek English Lexicon gives these meanings for καταβολή:
καταβολή: I. a throwing or laying down. New Testament. II. metaph. a foundation, beginning, Pindar, New Testament. 2. a paying down, by instalments, Demosthenes. III. a periodical attack of illness, a fit, access, Plato.
Let us also look at the verb from which the noun comes: καταβάλλω (kataballō). Liddell and Scott's Intermediate Greek English Lexicon gives these meanings:
καταβάλλω: I. to throw down, overthrow. 2. to strike down. 3. to throw into a certain state. 4. to cast down or away, cast off, reject. II. In milder sense, to let fall drop down, Homer; to lower sails; to knit the brow. 2. to lay down, set down. 3. to carry down especially to the sea-coast. 4. to pay down, yield, or bring in; to pay down, pay. Middle voice, to cause to be deposited. 5. to put in, render a testimony. 6. to throw down seed, sow. 7. to lay down as a foundation, mostly in middle voice. Perfect participle passive, laid down, ordinary.
| Verse | Greek | FAA | AV |
| Matt 13:35 | ὅπως πληρωθῇ τὸ ῥηθὲν διὰ τοῦ προφήτου, λέγοντος, Ἀνοίξω ἐν παραβολαῖς τὸ στόμα μου, ἐρεύξομαι κεκρυμμένα ἀπὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου. | in order that that which was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled, when he said, “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden since the overthrow of the world.” | That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world. |
| Matt 25:34 | Τότε ἐρεῖ ὁ βασιλεὺς τοῖς ἐκ δεξιῶν αὐτοῦ, Δεῦτε, οἱ εὐλογημένοι τοῦ πατρός μου, κληρονομήσατε τὴν ἡτοιμασμένην ὑμῖν βασιλείαν ἀπὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου. | Then the king will say to those on his right hand side, ‘Come, my father's blessed ones, inherit the kingdom prepared for you after the overthrow of the world. | Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: |
| Luke 11:50 | ἵνα ἐκζητηθῇ τὸ αἷμα πάντων τῶν προφητῶν τὸ ἐκχυνόμενον ἀπὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου ἀπὸ τῆς γενεᾶς ταύτης, | so that an account is required from this generation of the blood of all the prophets which has been shed since the overthrow of the world, | That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; |
| John 17:24 | Πάτερ, οὓς δέδωκάς μοι, θέλω ἵνα ὅπου εἰμὶ ἐγώ, κἀκεῖνοι ὦσιν μετ' ἐμοῦ· ἵνα θεωρῶσιν τὴν δόξαν τὴν ἐμήν, ἣν ἔδωκάς μοι, ὅτι ἠγάπησάς με πρὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου. | Father, I want those whom you have given me also to be with me where I am,so that they may see my glory which you gave me, because you loved me before the overthrow of the world. | Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. |
| Eph 1:4 | καθὼς ἐξελέξατο ἡμᾶς ἐν αὐτῷ πρὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου, εἶναι ἡμᾶς ἁγίους καὶ ἀμώμους κατενώπιον αὐτοῦ ἐν ἀγάπῃ, | according to how he chose us in him before the overthrow of the world, for us to be holy and without blemish in his presence in love, | According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: |
| Heb 4:3 | Εἰσερχόμεθα γὰρ εἰς τὴν κατάπαυσιν οἱ πιστεύσαντες, καθὼς εἴρηκεν, Ὡς ὤμοσα ἐν τῇ ὀργῇ μου, Εἰ εἰσελεύσονται εἰς τὴν κατάπαυσίν μου· καίτοι τῶν ἔργων ἀπὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου γενηθέντων. | For we who have believed are entering into the rest, as he has said, “As I have sworn in my anger, ‘they shall certainly not enter into my rest’”, and yet the works were completed after the overthrow of the world. | For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. |
| Heb 9:26 | ἐπεὶ ἔδει αὐτὸν πολλάκις παθεῖν ἀπὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου· νῦν δὲ ἅπαξ ἐπὶ συντελείᾳ τῶν αἰώνων εἰς ἀθέτησιν ἁμαρτίας διὰ τῆς θυσία | since then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the overthrow of the world. But now he has been manifested once for the consummation of the ages to annul sin by the sacrifice of himself. | For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. |
| Heb 11:11 | Πίστει καὶ αὐτὴ Σάρρα δύναμιν εἰς καταβολὴν σπέρματος ἔλαβεν, καὶ παρὰ καιρὸν ἡλικίας ἔτεκεν, ἐπεὶ πιστὸν ἡγήσατο τὸν ἐπαγγειλάμενον. | By faith Sarah herself also received power to conceive seed, and when past the prime of life she gave birth, because she considered him who made the promise faithful, | Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. |
| 1 Pet 1:20 | προεγνωσμένου μὲν πρὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου, φανερωθέντος δὲ ἐπ' ἐσχάτων τῶν χρόνων δι' ὑμᾶς, | who was appointed beforehand before the overthrow of the world, but in the latter times made manifest on your account, | Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, |
| Rev 13:8 | Καὶ προσκυνήσουσιν αὐτῷ πάντες οἱ κατοικοῦντες ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ὧν οὐ γέγραπται τὸ ὄνομα ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τῆς ζωῆς τοῦ ἀρνίου τοῦ ἐσφαγμένου ἀπὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου. | And all those who dwell on the earth will worship him, those whose name is not written in the book of life of the lamb slain since the overthrow of the world. | And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. |
| Rev 17:8 | Τὸ θηρίον, ὃ εἶδες, ἦν, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν, καὶ μέλλει ἀναβαίνειν ἐκ τῆς ἀβύσσου, καὶ εἰς ἀπώλειαν ὑπάγειν. Καὶ θαυμάσονται οἱ κατοικοῦντες ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ὧν οὐ γέγραπται τὰ ὀνόματα ἐπὶ τὸ βιβλίον τῆς ζωῆς ἀπὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου, βλεπόντων ὅτι ἦν τὸ θηρίον, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν, καὶ παρέσται. | The beast whom you saw was, but is not, but is about to ascend out of the abyss and go away to destruction. And those dwelling on the earth will marvel, those whose names have not been written in the book of life since the overthrow of the world, when they see that the beast was, and is not, but will be present. | The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. |
From the above alone, it would be wise to reserve judgment. However, we can state that none of the above references is clearly in a context of building. Let us proceed to the cognate verb.
| Verse | Greek | FAA | AV |
| 2 Cor 4:9 | διωκόμενοι, ἀλλ' οὐκ ἐγκαταλειπόμενοι· καταβαλλόμενοι, ἀλλ' οὐκ ἀπολλύμενοι· | persecuted, but not deserted, struck down, but not losing our lives, | Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; |
| Heb 6:1 | Διό, ἀφέντες τὸν τῆς ἀρχῆς τοῦ χριστοῦ λόγον, ἐπὶ τὴν τελειότητα φερώμεθα, μὴ πάλιν θεμέλιον καταβαλλόμενοι μετανοίας ἀπὸ νεκρῶν ἔργων, καὶ πίστεως ἐπὶ θεόν, | That is why, leaving the instruction on the starting point of Christ, let us be brought along to perfection, not again laying a foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, | Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, |
The first reference above is clearly in a very negative context. As for the second reference, it might be exclaimed that the meaning of καταβάλλω (kataballō) is to lay a foundation, but note that for this meaning we require the word θεμέλιος (themelios) - foundation. Καταβάλλω (kataballō) only conveys the meaning of laying/casting down.
Καταβολή does not occur.
To ensure no translational bias of the Greek by the present author, the Greek translation presented below is that of Sir Lancelot F.R. Brenton (see the References Consulted). We denote it by LXX-L where the numbering differs from other editions, such as that of the Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft Stuttgart (LXX-D). We restrict ourselves to the key part of the verse in the references.
| Verse (AV numbering) | Hebrew | Translation of Hebrew | Septuagint Greek | Translation of Greek | Hebrew root |
| 2 Sam 20:15 | מַשְׁחִיתִ֖ם לְהַפִּ֥יל הַחוֹמָֽה | (they were) demolishing to bring down the wall. | ἐνοοῦσαν καταβαλεῖν τὸ τεῖχος | they proposed to demolish the wall | נפל (hiphil) |
| 2 Ki 3:19 | וְכָל־עֵ֥ץ טוֹב֙ תַּפִּ֔ילוּ | and you will fell every good tree | καὶ πᾶν ξύλον ἀγαθὸν καταβαλεῖτε | and you will cut down [Footnote throw down] every good tree | נפל (hiphil) |
| 2 Ki 3:25 | וְכָל־עֵֽץ־ט֣וֹב יַפִּ֔ילוּ | and they felled every good tree | καὶ πᾶν ξύλον ἀγαθὸν κατέβαλον | and [they] cut down [Footnote threw down] every good tree | נפל (hiphil) |
| 2 Ki 6:5 | וַיְהִ֤י הָֽאֶחָד֙ מַפִּ֣יל הַקּוֹרָ֔ה | And it came to pass, when one was felling a tree [Margin: beam] | καὶ ἰδοὺ ὁ εἷς καταβάλλων τὴν δοκόν | And behold, one was cutting down a beam | נפל (hiphil) |
| 2 Ki 19:7 | וְהִפַּלְתִּ֥יו בַּחֶ֖רֶב | and I will bring him down by the sword | καὶ καταβαλῶ αὐτὸν ἐν ρομφαίᾳ | and I will overthrow him with the sword | נפל (hiphil) |
| 2 Chr 32:21 | הִפִּילֻ֥הוּ בֶחָֽרֶב | struck him down ... by the sword | καὶ ... κατέβαλον αὐτὸν ἐν ρομφαίᾳ | and [they] ... slew him with the sword | נפל (hiphil) |
| Job 12:14 | הֵ֣ן יַ֭הֲרוֹס וְלֹ֣א יִבָּנֶ֑ה | Behold, he demolishes a building so that it cannot be built up. | ἐὰν καταβάλῃ, τίς οἰκοδομήσει; | If he should cast down, who will build up? | הרס |
| Job 16:10LXX (16:9AV) |
אַפּ֤וֹ טָרַ֨ף | In his wrath he tears me to pieces | ὀργῇ χρησάμενος κατέβαλέ με, | In his anger he has cast me down; | טרף |
| Job 16:15LXX (16:14AV) |
יִפְרְצֵ֣נִי פֶ֭רֶץ עַל־פְּנֵי־פָ֑רֶץ | He breaks me with rupture upon rupture | κατέβαλόν με πτῶμα ἐπὶ πτώματι, | They overthrow me with fall upon fall | פרץ |
| Ps 36:14LXX (37:14AV) |
לְ֭הַפִּיל עָנִ֣י וְאֶבְי֑וֹן | in order to fell the poor and the needy, | τοῦ καταβαλεῖν πτωχὸν καὶ πένητα | to cast down the poor and needy one | נפל (hiphil) |
| Ps 72:18LXX (73:18AV) |
הִ֝פַּלְתָּ֗ם לְמַשּׁוּאֽוֹת | You will make them fall into ruin. | κατέβαλες αὐτοὺς ἐν τῷ ἐπαρθῆναι. | thou hast cast them down when they were lifted up | נפל (hiphil) |
| Ps 105:26LXX (106:26AV) |
לְהַפִּ֥יל א֝וֹתָ֗ם בַּמִּדְבָּֽר | To strike them down in the desert | καὶ τοῦ καταβαλεῖν τὸ σπέρμα αὐτῶν | to cast them down in the wilderness; | נפל (hiphil) |
| Ps 105:27LXX (106:27AV) |
וּלְהַפִּ֣יל זַ֭רְעָם בַּגּוֹיִ֑ם | And to strike their seed down among the Gentiles | καὶ τοῦ καταβαλεῖν τὸ σπέρμα αὐτῶν ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσι | And to cast down their seed among the nations, | נפל (hiphil) |
| Ps 139:10LXX-L Ps 139:11LXX-D (140:10AV) |
בָּאֵ֥שׁ יַפִּלֵ֑ם | May he cause them to fall into the fire; | ἐν πυρὶ καταβαλεῖς αὐτούς | and thou shalt cast them down in afflictions | נפל (hiphil) |
| Prov 7:26 | כִּֽי־רַבִּ֣ים חֲלָלִ֣ים הִפִּ֑ילָה | For she has caused many to fall as casualties, | πολλοὺς γὰρ τρώσασα καταβέβληκε, | for she has wounded and cast down many | נפל (hiphil) |
| Prov 18:8 | The Hebrew does not match the Greek. | n/a | ὀκνηροὺς καταβάλλει φόβος | Fear casts down the slothful | n/a |
| Prov 25:28 | עִ֣יר פְּ֭רוּצָה אֵ֣ין חוֹמָ֑ה | like a breached city which has no wall. | ὥσπερ πόλις τὰ τείχει καταβεβλημένη καὶ ἀτείχιστος | as a city whose walls are broken down | פרץ |
| Isa 16:9 | The Hebrew does not match the Greek. | n/a | τὰ δένδρα σου κατέβαλεν | [they] have cast down thy trees | n/a |
| Isa 26:5 | קִרְיָ֖ה נִשְׂגָּבָ֑ה יַשְׁפִּילֶ֤נָּה | In a town at high elevation. He will raze it | πόλεις ὀχυρὰς καταβαλεῖς | thou shalt cast down strong cities | נפל (hiphil) |
| Jer 19:7 | וְהִפַּלְתִּ֤ים בַּחֶ֙רֶב֙ לִפְנֵ֣י אֹֽיְבֵיהֶ֔ם | and I will cause them to fall by the sword before their enemies, | καὶ καταβαλῶ αὐτοὺς ἐν μαχαίρᾳ ἐναντίον τῶν ἐχθρῶν αὐτῶν | and I will cast them down with the swod before their enemies | נפל (hiphil) |
| Ezek 6:4 | וְהִפַּלְתִּי֙ חַלְלֵיכֶ֔ם לִפְנֵ֖י גִּלּוּלֵיכֶֽם | and I will cause your casualties to fall in the presence of your idols. | καὶ καταβαλῶ τραυματίας ὑμῶν ἐνώπιον τῶν εἰδώλων ὑμῶν | and I will cast down your slain men before your idols | נפל (hiphil) |
| Ezek 23:25 | וְאַחֲרִיתֵ֖ךְ בַּחֶ֣רֶב תִּפּ֑וֹל | And your posterity will fall by the sword. | καὶ τοὺς καταλοίπους σου ἐν ρομφαίᾳ καταβαλοῦσιν. | and [they] shall cast down thy remnant with the sword | נפל (qal) LXX reads as hiphil |
| Ezek 26:4 | וְשִׁחֲת֞וּ חֹמ֣וֹת צֹ֗ר | and they will pull down the walls of Tyre | καὶ καταβαλοῦσι τὰ τείχη Σὸρ | And they shall cast down the walls of Sor | שׁחת (piel) |
| Ezek 26:9 | וּמְחִ֣י קָֽבָלּ֔וֹ יִתֵּ֖ן בְּחֹֽמוֹתָ֑יִךְ וּמִ֨גְדְּלֹתַ֔יִךְ יִתֹּ֖ץ בְּחַרְבוֹתָֽיו | And he will use battering rams on your walls, and he will demolish your towers with his axes. | καὶ τοὺς πύργους σου καταβαλεῖ ἐν ταῖς μαχαίραις αὐτοῦ | he shall cast down with his swords thy walls and thy towers | נתץ |
| Ezek 26:12 | וְהָֽרְסוּ֙ חוֹמוֹתַ֔יִךְ | and they will demolish your walls | καὶ καταβαλεῖ τὰ τείχη σου | and shall cast down thy walls | הרס |
| Ezek 29:5 | וּנְטַשְׁתִּ֣יךָ הַמִּדְבָּ֗רָה | And I will leave you in the desert | καὶ καταβαλῶ σε ἐν τάχει | and I will quickly cast down thee (and ...) | MTנטשׁ LXXנתשׁ |
| Ezek 30:22 | וְהִפַּלְתִּ֥י אֶת־הַחֶ֖רֶב מִיָּדֽוֹ | and I will cause the sword to fall from his hand. | καὶ καταβαλῶ τὴν μάχαιραν αὐτοῦ ἐκ τῆς χειρὸς αὐτοῦ | and [I] will smite down his sword out of his hand | נפל (hiphil) |
| Ezek 31:12 | וַֽיִּטְּשֻׁ֑הוּ אֶל־הֶ֠הָרִים וּבְכָל־גֵּ֨אָי֜וֹת נָפְל֣וּ דָלִיּוֹתָ֗יו | and abandon him. His branches will fall off onto the mountains | καὶ κατέβαλον αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τῶν ὀρέων | and have cast him down upon the mountains | MTנטשׁ LXXנתשׁ |
| Ezek 32:12 | בְּחַרְב֤וֹת גִּבּוֹרִים֙ אַפִּ֣יל הֲמוֹנֶ֔ךָ | I will cause the fall of your horde by the swords of warriors | ἐν μαχαίραις γιγάντων, καὶ καταβαλῶ τὴν ἰσχύν σου | with the swords of mighty men; and I will cast down thy strength: | נפל (hiphil) |
| Ezek 39:3 | חִצֶּ֕יךָ מִיַּ֥ד יְמִינְךָ֖ אַפִּֽיל׃ 4עַל־הָרֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל תִּפּ֗וֹל | and I will knock your arrows out of your right hand. 4You will fall on the mountains of Israel | καὶ καταβαλῶ σε ἐπὶ τὰ ὄρη ᾿Ισραήλ, | and I will cast thee down on the mountains of Israel; | נפל (hiphil) |
| Dan 11:12 | וְהִפִּ֛יל רִבֹּא֖וֹת | and he will cut down tens of thousands, | καὶ καταβαλεῖ μυριάδας | and he shall cast down many thousands; | נפל (hiphil) |
Every single occurrence of καταβάλλω (kataballō) in the Septuagint has to do with destruction and affliction, as is seen from the context, from Brenton's translation, and from the Hebrew words, which we itemize with their principal meanings below, with page numbers from the Analytical Lexicon.
| נפל | p.556 | to fall. hiphil: to cause to fall; to cast down. |
| הרס | p.221 | to break, pull down, destroy. |
| טרף | p.286 | to tear in pieces, rend. |
| פרץ | p.634 | to break, tear down, demolish. |
| שׁחת | p.710 | piel: to destroy, ruin. |
| נתץ | p.570 | to tear, break down, destroy. |
| LXXנתשׁ | p.570 | to tear, pluck up; to tear down. |
In the last reference, the Septuagint clearly read נתשׁ, not נטשׁ (abandon).
The obvious question is, “Has the world been overthrown?” Well, in the distant past, Satan fell. He was in the garden of Eden before the fall of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3:1, and we read of his fall in Ezekiel 28. Would Satan's fall not cause some sort of catastrophe in the physical creation? We think it not unreasonable. And certainly since man's fall, the earth has been cursed (Gen 3:17), pending a new earth (Isaiah 65:17, 2 Peter 3:13). We also understand from Isaiah 48:15 that God did not create the earth desolate (tohu - תֹהו) - this is a state into which the earth came by an intrusion (Gen 1:2):
For this is what the Lord says, the creator of the heavens, who is God, the fashioner of the earth and the maker of it, who prepared it - he did not create it desolate (tohu - תֹהו); he formed it to be inhabited – : “I am the Lord, and there is no other ...” (Isa 45:18).
But the earth became (in a non-consecutive, interruptative, verbal form) desolate (tohu - תֹהו) and deserted (Gen 1:2a).
Certainly natural observation corroborates an imperfect world, a mixture of wonders and horrors. We live in an overthrown world. Yet we read in Ephesians 1:4-7 of being chosen before the overthrow of the world ... for adoption through Jesus Christ ... (etc.).