Quick Definition
I destroycorrupt
Strong's Definition
to spoil entirely, i.e. (literally) to destroy; or (figuratively) to deprave;
Derivation: from G2596 (κατά) and G5351 (φθείρω);
KJV Usage: --corrupt, utterly perish
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
καταφθείρω: perfect passive participle κατεφθαρμενος; 2 future passive καταφθαρήσομαι; (see κατά, III. 4);
1. to corrupt, deprave; κατεφθαρμένοι τόν νοῦν, corrupted in mind, 2Ti_3:8.
2. to destroy; passive to be destroyed, to perish: followed by ἐν with the dative indicating the state, 2Pe_2:12 R G. (From Aeschylus down.)
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
καταφθείρω kataphtheirō 1x
to destroy, corrupt, deprave, 2Ti_3:8
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
κατα -φθείρω ,
[in LXX chiefly for H7843 hi ., Gen_6:12 , al. ;]
1 to destroy entirely.
2. In moral sense (as LXX ), to deprave, corrupt: pass . pf . ptcp ., seq . τ . νο ν , 2Ti_3:8 .†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
καταφθείρω [page 334]
καταφθείρω occurs in connexion with an accident to a corn-ship, where Steps are taken ὅπως ἂν μὴ καταφθείρηται τὰ πλοῖα ἐπὶ τῶν τόπων (P Magd 11 .9 B.C. 221). For injury to persons, see P Petr II. 12(2) .13 (B.C. 241) where a petitioner demands investigation into certain charges against her adversary ἵνα μὴ τὸν πλείω χρόνον καταφθείρωμα [ι : cf. ib. 19 (1 b ) .2 , a petition from a prisoner, συμ ]βῆι μοι καταφθαρῆναι ἐν [τῆι φυλακῆ ]ι , and PSI IV. 377 .11 (B.C. 250 49) ἵνα μὴ ἐνταῦθα καταφθείρωμαι . From the inscrr. we may cite Syll 790 .74 (i/ B.C.) ἐπεὶ τὰ ὑπάρχοντα [δ ]ένδρα . . . εἰσὶν κατεφθαρμένα , ὑπολαμβάνομεν δὲ ἀναγκαῖ [ον ] εἶναι κτλ . For the subst. see P Par 63 .126 (B.C. 164) (= P Petr III. p. 28) τοὺς ἀνθρώπους ἐκ τηλι̣κ̣α̣ύτης καταφθ (ο )ρᾶ [ς ] ἀ̣ρ̣τ [ί ]ως ἀνακτωμένους , the population just recovering from so great a distress (Mahaffy), P Tor I. 1 iii. 8 (B.C. 117) διὸ ἀξιῶ ἐμβλέψαντα εἰς τὴν γεγενημένην μοι καταφθορὰν ὑπὸ ἀσεβῶν ἀνθρώπων . . συντάξαι κτλ ., OGIS 339 .5 ( c. B.C. 120) τὴν ἀπαντωμένμν καταφθορὰν τῶν ἰδίων τοῖς ὑπὲρ τῆς πόλεως πρεσβεύουσιν ὑπολογιζόμενος .
Liddell-Scott — Intermediate Greek Lexicon
καταφθείρω fut. -φθερῶ "to destroy or spoil utterly, bring to naught", Aesch. , Soph. , etc.
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
κατα-φθείρω
[in LXX chiefly for שָׁחַת hi., Gen.6:12, al. ;]
__1 1 to destroy entirely.
__2. In moral sense (as LXX), to deprave, corrupt: pass. pf. ptcp., before τ. νο ν, 2Ti.3:8.†
(AS)
📖 In-Depth Word Study
Depraved (2704) kataphtheiro
Depraved (2704) (kataphtheiro from katá = intensifies the meaning + phtheiro = corrupt, destroy) means to corrupt, to destroy (passive - to be destroyed, to perish - used in Greek Textus Receptus of 2Pe 2:12). Here kataphtheiro is used figuratively to describe a human mind that has become corrupted, decadent, entirely spoiled and in a sense "lain waste." There is an especially picturesque use of kataphtheiro in the Lxx of Lev 26:39
So those of you who may be left will rot away (kataphtheiro) because of their iniquity in the lands of your enemies; and also because of the iniquities of their forefathers they will rot away with them.
The perfect tense pictures the unalterable, permanently corrupted condition of their minds which in turn explains their utter moral depravity (as described in 2T 3:2, 3, 4, 5). They are like those Paul warns about in (1Ti 4:2) who are "seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron" and whom Jude described as "worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit" (Jude 1;19).
The only other NT use is in 2Peter 2:12 but that is found only in the Greek Textus Receptus version and not in the Nestle-Aland (used for the NAS translation).
Kataphtheiro - 27v in the Lxx - Gen 6:12, 13, 17; 9:11; Ex 18:18; Lev 26:39; Jdg 6:4; 2 Chr 12:7; 24:23; 25:16; 26:16; 27:2; 35:21; Isa 10:27; 13:5; 24:1; 32:7; Da 4:14, 27
It is interesting that the first 4 uses of this vivid verb are in the context of God's judgment of mankind by a worldwide flood...
(Gen 6:12) God looked on the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth.
(Gen 6:13) Then God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence because of them; and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth.
(Gen 6:17) “Behold, I, even I am bringing the flood of water upon the earth, to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life, from under heaven; everything that is on the earth shall perish.
(Gen 9:11) “I establish My covenant with you; and all flesh shall never again be cut off by the water of the flood, neither shall there again be a flood to destroy the earth.”