Original Word: καταγωνίζομαι
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: katagónizomai
Pronunciation: kat-ag-ON-id-zom-ahee
Phonetic Spelling: (kat-ag-o-nid'-zom-ahee)
KJV: subdue
NASB: conquered
Word Origin: [from G2596 (κατά - according) and G75 (ἀγωνίζομαι - strive)]

1. to struggle against
2. (by implication) to overcome

to conquer, defeat, overcome

From kata and agonizomai; to struggle against, i.e. (by implication) to overcome -- subdue.

see GREEK kata

see GREEK agonizomai

Word Origin
from kata and agónizomai
Definition
to struggle against
NASB Translation
conquered (1).

STRONGS NT 2610: καταγωνίζομαι

καταγωνίζομαι: deponent middle; 1 aorist κατηγωνισαμην;

1. to struggle against (Polybius 2, 42, 3, etc.).

2. to overcome (cf. German niederkämpfen): Hebrews 11:33. (Polybius, Josephus, Lucian, Plutarch, Aelian)

Overview

Strong’s Greek 2610 paints a vivid picture of hard-won victory. It describes the decisive subduing of an opposing force—whether a literal army, a hostile circumstance, or a spiritual foe—by means of intense struggle. The word occurs only once in the New Testament, yet its single appearance encapsulates the entire thrust of Hebrews 11: persevering faith that does more than survive; it triumphs.

Old Testament Background

When Hebrews 11:33 says that the heroes of faith “conquered kingdoms,” the writer is deliberately recalling scenes familiar to every Jewish reader:

• Joshua leading Israel across the Jordan and toppling Jericho (Joshua 6).
• Gideon routing Midian with three hundred men (Judges 7).
• David defeating Goliath and later consolidating Israel’s kingdom (1 Samuel 17; 2 Samuel 8).

Each victory was won by men and women who trusted God rather than military might. Their faith transformed moments of apparent weakness into demonstrations of divine power. The term highlighted in Hebrews gathers all those historical memories and applies them to the life of every believer.

New Testament Usage in Hebrews 11:33

“Who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and obtained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions.” (Hebrews 11:33)

Placed between administering justice and heroic self-sacrifice, the act of “conquering” functions as the pivot of the verse. The author is not celebrating raw aggression; he is commending faith that enables righteous governance, covenant fidelity, and courageous endurance. The plural “kingdoms” widens the scope beyond Israel, suggesting that God’s people have always been instruments of His rule in a world of competing powers.

Theological Significance

1. Victory is by faith, not flesh. The term underscores that even in the realm of tangible conflict the decisive factor is trust in God (Psalm 20:7).
2. Triumph serves righteousness. The clause that follows—“administered justice”—shows that conquering is never an end in itself; it establishes space for godly order.
3. The pattern foreshadows Christ. Jesus is the ultimate conqueror, disarming rulers and authorities on the cross (Colossians 2:15). The lone use of Strong’s 2610 harmonizes with the broader New Testament message that believers share in His victory, not by their own merit but through union with Him.

Application to Christian Ministry and Discipleship

• Spiritual warfare: Pastors and missionaries confront ideological “strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:4). The word encourages perseverance until those citadels are brought under Christ’s lordship.
• Personal holiness: Sin can masquerade as an unconquerable kingdom within. Hebrews 11:33 assures believers that habitual sins, once surrendered to Christ, can be subdued.
• Corporate mission: Churches facing hostile cultures can expect opposition yet remain confident that “the weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world” (2 Corinthians 10:4). Faithful proclamation will ultimately prevail.

Related Themes and Scriptures

John 16:33 – “Take courage! I have overcome the world.”

Romans 8:37 – “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”

1 John 5:4 – “Everyone born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith.”

Revelation 12:11 – “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.”

Though these passages use different Greek verbs, they echo the same reality: faith unites the believer to Christ’s conquering power.

Historical Interpretation

Early church fathers such as Chrysostom read Hebrews 11:33 as a summons to martyrdom, seeing in the term a call to conquer fear itself. Reformers applied it to the triumph of gospel truth over ecclesiastical corruption. Modern missionaries have cited it when facing political resistance, confident that the kingdom of God will outlast every human regime.

Practical Encouragement for the Church Today

• Remember the witnesses. The cloud that surrounds us (Hebrews 12:1) testifies that impossible obstacles are surmountable.
• Aim for righteousness, not domination. Victory without justice contradicts the very purpose of conquering by faith.
• Depend on divine strength. Strategies and resources matter, but Hebrews 11 places the accent on trust.

Summary

Strong’s Greek 2610 rings out like a trumpet blast in Hebrews 11:33, reminding believers that faith is not passive. It is the dynamic reliance upon God that topples entrenched opposition, establishes justice, and secures God’s promises. The same power that enabled Joshua, David, and Daniel now energizes the church, assuring her that every fortress raised against the knowledge of God will ultimately fall before the conquering Christ.

καταδείξας καταδέσμους καταδεχόμενος κατεδέετο κατεδεήθης κατέδειξε κατέδειξεν κατηγωνισαντο κατηγωνίσαντο kategonisanto kategonísanto katēgōnisanto katēgōnísantoInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts