Greek word · G2530

καθότι

kathoti

as/just as

Kathoti = 'according as, to the extent that'. The particle an with a past-tense verb in this kind of clause makes the action repeated and open-ended: 'whenever / to whatever extent anyone had need' (Blass-Debrunner-Funk §367; compare Mark 6:56). Chreia = need, lack of necessities.

Appears 6 times in 6 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

καθότι

(= καθ᾽ ὅ τι),

adv., [in LXX: Exodus 1:12, 17 (אֲשֶׁר), Tobit 1:12, Judith 2:13, al. ;]

1. in dl., according as, just as (Ex, l.with): Acts 2:45 4:35.

2. In late Gk. = διότι (Tob, l.with), because: Luke 1:7 19:9, Acts 2:24 17:31.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Acts 2:45

Range of meaning

Kathoti = 'according as, to the extent that'. The particle an with a past-tense verb in this kind of clause makes the action repeated and open-ended: 'whenever / to whatever extent anyone had need' (Blass-Debrunner-Funk §367; compare Mark 6:56). Chreia = need, lack of necessities.

Against the English

KJV 'as every man had need' can sound as if everyone was in need. The Greek says 'as anyone' (tis): whoever, in a given case, needed something. The measure was need, not an equal share.

Used elsewhere in the period

The identical phrase appears in Acts 4:35, which shows it is Luke's set formula for this practice. Compare Deuteronomy 15:8 LXX, which tells Israel to lend the poor brother 'as much as he needs' (hikanon … kath' hoson endeeitai).

From the study of Luke 19:9

Range of meaning

Because, inasmuch as, since. Less commonly, 'according as' or 'to the degree that'.

Against the English

'Because' (BSB, NIV, NASB, WEB), 'since' (ESV), 'forsomuch as' (KJV) and 'inasmuch as' (YLT) all mark a reason. They differ slightly in how strongly they sound like a cause.

Used elsewhere in the period

A polished word found in the Septuagint and in Hellenistic prose. In the New Testament only Luke uses it (Luke 1:7; 19:9; Acts 2:24, 45; 4:35; 17:31).

From the study of Luke 1:7

Range of meaning

'According as, to the degree that', and more often 'because, inasmuch as' (BDAG). A slightly elevated, literary conjunction.

Against the English

All the major versions say 'because'. KJV/YLT 'because that' keeps something of the formal tone.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the New Testament only in Luke–Acts: Luke 1:7; 19:9; Acts 2:24, 45; 4:35; 17:31. Frequent in the LXX (e.g. Tobit, 1 Esdras). It is a mark of Luke's polished Greek, which he deliberately blends with a Septuagint style in chapters 1–2.

Where it appears

Luke · 2

  1. Luke 1:7 καθότι inasmuch as

    But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years.

    Here: A slightly formal word for 'because'. In the New Testament only Luke uses it (in Luke and Acts). It gives the reason for the childlessness in the terms people of the day would have used.

  2. Luke 19:9 καθότι because

    Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham.

    Here: Gives the reason or basis for the statement. This is a formal word that Luke favours (Luke 1:7; Acts 2:24, 45; 17:31). It ties salvation's arrival to Zacchaeus being Abraham's son.

Acts · 4

  1. Acts 2:24 καθότι inasmuch as

    But God raised Him from the dead, releasing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep Him in its grip.

    Here: A slightly formal 'because' that Luke likes. It gives the reason God loosed death's grip, and the next verse explains that reason from Scripture ('For David says…').

  2. Acts 2:45 καθότι as

    Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need.

    Here: Sets how much each person received: in proportion to need.

  3. Acts 4:35 καθότι just as

    and lay them at the apostles’ feet for distribution to anyone as he had need.

  4. Acts 17:31 καθότι just as

    For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”

    Here: This is the word that gives the reason. Verse 30 says God now commands everyone everywhere to repent, and this verse says why: there is a fixed day of judgment. The supplied gloss 'just as' is too weak. In Luke-Acts the word always means 'because' (Luke 1:7; Acts 2:24).

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.