Greek] καταπατέω (katapateō), [Latin] inculcare, [German] hineinpressen, [German] hineinstampfen: to despise, to reject, to treat contemptuously, to trample, to tread down, to disdain; Mt.5:13, Mt.7:6, Lk.8:5, Lk.12:1, Heb.10:29
In Ottawa protesters were literally being trampled upon. Many others’ rights were also being trampled upon.
Background information:
Greek Hellenism: This term means to trample underfoot, to trample down, and to trample to death. Homer’s Iliad 4.157 states “The Trojans have smitten thee, and trodden under the foot the oaths.” Demosthenes’ Against Phormio 34.37 states “They were being nearly trampled to death.” Herodotus’ The Histories 2.14 states “Then each man sows his field and sends swine into it to tread down the seed and waits for the harvest.”
Old Testament: This term, used extensively, means to tread, to trample, to thresh, to crush, to strike down, to press, to bruise, to spoil, and to plunder. Judgment is depicted under the image of the winepress. Crushing and treading down also indicate prophetic warnings. The righteous are often instruments of treading down of the ungodly. Trampling and deriding are terms for war.
You shall be cut in pieces and your house made into a refuse heap (Dan.2:5). An animal passed by and trampled the thistle underfoot (2Chr.25:18). But Moab will be trodden down as straw is trodden down in the mire (Isa.25:10). The wine press I have trodden alone and from the peoples not one was with me. I trod them in MY anger, and trampled them down in My wrath (Isa.63:3). All who attempt to lift it will injure themselves badly, though all the nations will gather against it (Zec.12:3).
New Testament: This term means to trample and to show contempt. Disciples (and Christians) are like the salt of the earth. Like salt losing its flavor, disicples can become ineffective and useless. Swine trample pearls underfoot. Some seed (the Word of God) fall on the path and become trampled upon. This seed does not last. Many crowded together and trampled one another to listen the leaven of the Pharisees. For those who show contempt for the Son of God will experience punishment worse than in the Mosaic law. This involves turning one’s back on Christ, despising His sacrifice, and disregarding the Holy Spirit’s gifts.
Scripture:
“You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” Mt. 5:13
Like salt, the follower of Christ can also lose his effectiveness and usefulness.
“A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path was trampled, and the birds of the sky at it up.: Lk.8:5
The seed is the word of God. This seed does not take root and does not grow.
Etymology: The Latin verb inculcare means to force upon, to insist on, and to impress upon
Conclusion:
Inculcate, press, impress, stamp, compress
This term also can be very applicable in any time period in history.
In the Old Testament, the winepress is used as a metaphor for the execution of God’s judgment. The trodden grapes of wrath become the fruit (end product) of God’s actions.
In our current culture, there are many of us Christians who have lost their flavor (effectiveness and usefulness) because of ignorance, indifference, laziness, peer pressure, and fearfulness.
Then there are those many Christians (through no fault of their own) who are being trampled down because of persecution.
We all must offer our thoughts and prayers to the families of those victims who died and were injured in the Astroworld tragedy in Houston, Tx.
In Ottawa, protesters were being literally trampled down by police mounted on horses.
I also wanted to impress upon you that we all must be effective and useful in offering our thoughts and prayers to all Ukrainians who are currently being trampled upon (attacked and killed) by the Russian armed forces. (Ukraine is now experiencing its own form of grapes of wrath from Russia’s actions!)