Greek word · G2609

κατάγω

katagō

to bring down

To lead or bring down. It is used for coming down from a height, coming ashore from a ship, or bringing a person down to a lower place.

Appears 9 times in 9 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated October 24, 2026

What it means

κατ-άγω

[in LXX chiefly for יָרַד hi. ;]

to bring down: with accusative of person(s), Acts 22:30, Romans 10:6; id. before εἰς, Acts 9:30 23:15, 20 23:28; as nautical term, to bring to land: τ. πλοῖον ἐπὶ τ. γῆν, Luke 5:11; pass., before εἰς, Acts 27:3 2:12.†

(AS)

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

Range of meaning: To lead or bring down. It is used for coming down from a height, coming ashore from a ship, or bringing a person down to a lower place.
Against the English: 'Brought down' is accurate. Readers just need to know the layout: the Antonia fortress overlooked the temple courts from the north.
Used elsewhere in the period: Acts 21:32, 35, 40 describe the soldiers running down and the steps (ἀναβαθμοί) between the fortress and the temple court. The same verb is used in 23:15, 20, 28, where the plotters ask for Paul to be 'brought down' to the council again.

Range of meaning: Literally 'lead/bring down.' In seafaring Greek it was a technical term for bringing a ship into port or to shore, paired with anagō, 'lead up', meaning to put out to sea. Greek sailors thought of the open sea as 'up' and the coast as 'down.' It could also mean bringing someone down from a height (Acts 9:30; 22:30; 23:15, 20, 28; Rom 10:6).
Against the English: BSB 'brought their boats ashore', KJV/WEB 'to land' and NIV 'pulled their boats up on shore' all catch the sense. YLT's 'having brought the boats upon the land' is the most literal. None of them shows that this is a sailor's term, but nothing important is lost.
Used elsewhere in the period: Luke uses it for putting into harbor in Acts 27:3 ('we put in at Sidon') and 28:12 ('putting in at Syracuse'), always next to anagō for setting sail. The same pairing is common in Greek writing about sea travel and in papyri.

Luke · 1

Luke 5:11 καταγαγόντες having brought

And when they had brought their boats ashore, they left everything and followed Him.

Here: A sailor's word: to bring a vessel in from open water to the shore (the opposite is anagō, 'put out to sea'). The participle comes first: the boats, nearly sinking with the catch (5:7), are brought in before anything else happens.

Acts · 7

Acts 9:30 κατήγαγον brought down

When the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
Acts 22:30 καταγαγὼν having brought down

The next day the commander, wanting to learn the real reason Paul was accused by the Jews, released him and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to assemble. Then he brought Paul down and had him stand before them.

Here: Brought down from the Antonia fortress, which stood high on the northwest corner of the temple mount, to the lower place where the council met.
Acts 23:15 καταγάγῃ he may bring down

Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him down to you on the pretext of examining his case more carefully. We are ready to kill him on the way.”
Acts 23:20 καταγάγῃς you may bring down

He answered, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul to the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of acquiring more information about him.
Acts 23:28 κατήγαγον I brought down

and since I wanted to understand their charges against him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin.
Acts 27:3 κατήχθημεν we landed

The next day we landed at Sidon, and Julius treated Paul with consideration, allowing him to visit his friends and receive their care.
Acts 28:12 καταχθέντες having put in

Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there three days.

Romans · 1

Romans 10:6 καταγαγεῖν· to bring down;

But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down)

Here: Aorist infinitive: 'to bring Christ down'. It names what the impossible climb would be for. It pairs with 'to bring up' (anagagein) from the dead in verse 7: no one has to fetch the Messiah from heaven, because God has already sent him.

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