Greek word · G2684
κατασκοπέω
kataskopeō
to spy
To look over carefully, inspect. Above all, to spy out or reconnoitre with hostile intent, as a scout does before an attack.
Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·
What it means
κατα-σκοπέω, -ῶ
[in LXX: 4Ki.10:3, 1 Chronicles 19:3 (רָגַל pi.), 1Ma.5:38 (A)* ;]
to view closely, inspect, spy out: with accusative, Galatians 2:4.†
(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 Galatians 2:4
- Range of meaning
To look over carefully, inspect. Above all, to spy out or reconnoitre with hostile intent, as a scout does before an attack.
- Against the English
'Spy out' (KJV, ESV, WEB, NASB) keeps the military picture. BSB and NIV 'spy on' slightly suggest surveillance or snooping, where the Greek suggests reconnaissance before taking ground. NLT 'spy on us' moves the object from 'freedom' to the people.
- Used elsewhere in the period
In the LXX it describes David's envoys, whom the Ammonites suspect of coming 'to spy out the city' (2 Sam 10:3; 1 Chr 19:3). Its close relative kataskopeuō and the noun kataskopos are used of the spies sent into Canaan (Gen 42:9 in Joseph's charge 'you are spies'; Josh 2:1–3, 6:22–25). In the NT this exact verb occurs only here. Hebrews 11:31 uses kataskopos of the spies Rahab hid.
Similar words
Where it appears
Galatians · 1
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Galatians 2:4 κατασκοπῆσαι to spy out
This issue arose because some false brothers had come in under false pretenses to spy on our freedom in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us.
Here: An infinitive of purpose: 'in order to spy out'. It is hostile reconnaissance, the language of scouts sent into enemy territory before an attack. It appears only here in the NT.
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.