From kata ('down') and hemai ('to sit'). Kathemai means to be seated β both literally (sitting down) and in the royal/judicial sense of being enthroned.
The enthroned Christ is the culminating image of the New Testament. Hebrews 10:12 declares that Christ, 'after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down (ekatisen) on the right hand of God.' His sitting β in contrast to the standing Levitical priests who never sat because their work was never done β signals the completion of atonement. The seated Christ is the victorious, reigning Christ. Revelation 4β5 centers on the One who sits (kathemai) on the throne. To 'sit' in Scripture is to exercise authority. By extension, believers are described as seated with Christ in heavenly places (Eph. 2:6).