Quick Definition
καταβολή, ῆς, ἡ n.f. a foundation, depositing, sowing
Strong's Definition
from 2598; a deposition, i.e. founding; figuratively, conception
KJV Usage: conceive, foundation
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun, f. | -ῆς | βάλλω
42.37 · Perform, Do · Make, Create
creation creation, particularly of the world, with focus upon the beginning phase
MAT 13:35 · MAT 25:34 · LUK 11:50 · JHN 17:24 · EPH 1:4 · HEB 4:3 · HEB 9:26 · 1PE 1:20 · REV 13:8 · REV 17:8
23.49 · Physiological Processes and States · Birth, Procreation
Collocation: καταβολὴ σπέρματος
to conceive, to become pregnant an idiom, literally: sowing of seed In many languages the process of becoming pregnant is expressed in different ways: ‘to begin to become large,’ ‘to receive sperm,’ ‘to let a child enter,’ or ‘to stop bleeding’ (a reference to the cessation of menstrual periods).
There are a number of textual problems involved in this expression in HEB 11:11, and many scholars have concluded that the reference is not to Sarah’s conceiving but to Abraham’s being able to become a father (see Today’s English Version).
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
κατα-βολή, -ῆς, ἡ, (καταβάλλω, q. V-); ing or laying down: τοῦ σπέρματος (sc. εἰς τὴν μήτραν), the injection or depositing of the virile semen in the womb, Leian. amor. 19; Galen, aphorism. iv. § 1; of the seed of animals and plants, Philo de opif. mund. §§ 22, 45; σπέρματα τὰ εἰς γῆν ἢ μήτραν καταβαλλόμενα, Antonin. 4, 36; accordingly many interpret the words Σάρρα δύναμιν eis καταβολὴν σπέρματος ἔλαβε in Heb. xi. 11, she received power to conceive seed. But since it belongs to the male καταβάλλειν τὸ σπέρμα, not to the female, this interpretation cannot stand [ (ace. to the reading of WH mre. αὐτῇ Σάρρᾳ, Abr. remains the subj. of AaBev; but see 2 below)]; οἵ. Bleek [and, on the other side, Kurtz] ad loc. 2. a founding (laying down a foundation): eis καταβ. σπέρματος, to found a posterity, Heb. xi. 11 [but ef. above] (τυραννίδος, Polyb. 13, 6, 2; dua τῇ πρώτῃ καταβολῇ τῶν ἀνθρώπων, Plat. aquae et ignis comp. 6. 2). ἀπὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου, from the foundation of the world: Mt. xiii. 35 [L Ὁ Tr WH om. κόσμου]: xxv. 34; Lk. xi. 50; Heb. iv. 3; ix. 26; Rev. xiii. 8; xvii. 8; πρὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου, Jn. xvii. 24; Eph.i.4; 1 Pet. i. 20.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
καταβολή katabolē 11x
pr. a casting down; laying the foundation, foundation; beginning, commencement, Mt. 13:35; 25:34; conception in the womb, Heb. 11:11
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
** κατα-βολή, -ῆς, ἡ
(< καταβάλλω), [in LXX: II Mac 2:29*;]
a laying down: εἰς κ. σπέρματος, He 11:11 (EV, to conceive seed).
a foundation (of a house, II Mac 2:29): metaph., ἀπὸ κ. κόσμου, Mt 13:35(LXX) (om. κόσμου, WH, R, mg.), Mt 25:34, Lk 11:50, He 4:3 9:26, Re 13:8 17:8; πρὸ κ. κόσμου, Jo 17:24, Eph 1:4, I Pe 1:20.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
καταβολή. Like its verb (see s.v. καταβάλλω) this noun is frequently found in the sense of ‘‘ payment,”’ e.g. P Par 62¥- 18 (c. B.C. 170) τῶν St καταβολῶν σύμβολα λαμβανέτωσαν παρὰ τοῦ τραπεζίτου, BGU IV. 1135® (prob. B.c. 10) τῇ μην[ιαίᾳ κ]αταβολῇ, P Lond 1171 verso! (A.D. 42) (= III. p. 106) is καταβολὴν τῷ ἐγλήμπτορι τοῦ μέλιτος καὶ κηροῦ, P Strass I. 26! (iv/a.D.) ἡ γὰρ προθεσμία τῆς καταβολῆς συνέστηκεν. See also P Eleph 23'8 (B.C. 223--2) with reference to land ἔχειν pe ταύτης προσβολὴν καὶ κατ[α]βολήν, ἃ καὶ ἐπιδέδειχά σοι. With the noun in Heb 11" cf. καταβολαῖος used of a “‘ store-place,”” P Fay 110% % (A.D. 94).
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
καταβολή (katabolē) — beginning. καταβολ-ή, ἡ, throwing down: hence, sowing, [Refs]; especially of begetting, κ. σπέρματος, σπερμάτων, [NT+5th c.BC+]; ἡ Ῥωμύλου σπορὰ καὶ κ. [Refs 1st c.AD+] __b congenital defect, ἀπὸ ξυγγενικῆς αἰτίας καὶ κ. [Refs 1st c.AD+] __c Astrology texts, nativity, ἡ ἐξ ἀρχῆς κ. [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
2. paying down, especially by instalments, καταβάλλειν τὰς κ. [Refs 4th c.BC+]; τὸ ἀργύριον ἔφερε καταβολὴν τῇ πόλει paid money as a deposit (by way of caution),[Refs 2nd c.BC+], etc.; ἔχειν τῆς γῆς.. καταβολήν liability for rent, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: plural, instalments, [Refs 3rd c.AD+]
II. laying of a foundation: hence, building, structure, [LXX+3rd c.BC+]
II.1. foundation, beginning, ἱερῶν ἀγώνων [NT+5th c.BC+] in Alc.Praef.p.8C.; ἐκ καταβολῆς from the foundations: hence, anew, σκάφη ἐκ κ. ἐναυπηγοῦντο, of fresh construction, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; ἐκ κ. πλάττων, of pure invention, [Refs]: hence, of set purpose, deliberately, [Refs]
II.2. ={θυσία},{τελετή}, [Refs 5th c.AD+]
III. periodical attack of illness, fit, τῆς ἀσθενείας [Refs 5th c.BC+] trance, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; cf. Latin catabolicus.
IV. detraction, abuse, [Refs 1st c.BC+]
V. perhaps outer wrapper [Refs] of a bandage, [Refs 5th c.BC+]