Greek word · G2670

καταποντίζω

katapontizō

to sink

Built from kata (“down”) and pontos (“the open sea, the deep”). It means to throw into the sea, to drown, to sink under the water. Used figuratively it means to be overwhelmed or swallowed up by disaster (BDAG: “throw into the sea, drown”; passive “be sunk, be drowned”).

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated October 24, 2026

What it means

κατα-πονίζω

[in LXX for טָבַע pu., Exodus 15:4 A, בָּלַע pi., שָׁטַף, Psalms 55:9 69:2, al. ;]

to throw into the sea, sink or drown therein: Matthew 14:30; pass., Matthew 18:6.†

(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 Matthew 14:30

Range of meaning: Built from kata (“down”) and pontos (“the open sea, the deep”). It means to throw into the sea, to drown, to sink under the water. Used figuratively it means to be overwhelmed or swallowed up by disaster (BDAG: “throw into the sea, drown”; passive “be sunk, be drowned”).
Against the English: “Sink” is accurate, but in English it can sound mild, as if he stepped into a puddle. The Greek word belongs with drowning and shipwreck. YLT’s “having begun to sink” keeps the gradual start, and the word itself names where that sinking ends.
Used elsewhere in the period: Its only other New Testament use is Matthew 18:6, where it is better for someone to be “drowned in the depth of the sea” with a millstone around the neck. In the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint) it describes Pharaoh’s chosen officers being “sunk” in the Red Sea (Exod 15:4). It also appears in the psalmists’ drowning prayers: “Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my life… let not the storm of water drown me” (Ps 69:1, 15; LXX 68:2, 16), and “the water would have swallowed us” (Ps 124:4; LXX 123:4). Classical writers use it for drowning people and sinking ships.

From the study of Matthew 18:6

Range of meaning: To throw into the sea, to sink or drown (from πόντος, 'sea').
Against the English: 'Drowned' (KJV, BSB, ESV, NIV) is accurate. 'Sunk' (WEB, YLT) keeps the downward motion.
Used elsewhere in the period: Exod 15:4 in the Greek Old Testament: Pharaoh's officers 'were sunk (κατεποντίσθησαν) in the Red Sea'. Matt 14:30: Peter 'beginning to sink'. Drowning with weights was a known punishment: Suetonius (Augustus 67) tells of men thrown into a river with heavy weights on their necks, and Josephus (Antiquities 14.450) of Galileans drowning Herod's supporters in the lake.

Similar words

καταπονέω kataponeō · to oppress

Where it appears

Matthew · 2

Matthew 14:30 καταποντίζεσθαι to sink

But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Here: Literally “to be put down into the sea” (pontos, “open sea”). This is a word for drowning, not for getting your feet wet. The Greek Old Testament uses it for Pharaoh’s army going under and in the psalmists’ cries of “do not let the waters swallow me.”
Matthew 18:6 καταποντισθῇ he may be sunk

But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

Here: 'Be plunged down into the sea', sent to the bottom. It is the word used for Pharaoh's officers sunk in the Red Sea (Exod 15:4 Greek) and for Peter beginning to sink (Matt 14:30).

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