Brief Overview of ἀποθνῄσκω (G599)

Meaning and Usage:

• General Definition: The Greek verb ἀποθνῄσκω (apothnēskō) means “to die.” It is used to denote the end of physical life or death in a literal sense. The term can also be employed metaphorically to describe the cessation of something non-physical, such as spiritual or emotional death.
• Contextual Usage: In the New Testament, ἀποθνῄσκω is commonly used to describe the physical death of individuals, including Jesus’ own death and the deaths of other figures. It can also have metaphorical connotations, referring to the concept of dying to one’s old self or to sin.

Detailed Overview with Additional Concordances

Etymology and Lexicon References:

1. Strong’s Concordance (G599): Strong’s defines ἀποθνῄσκω as “to die,” specifically referring to the end of physical life. It highlights its use in both literal and figurative contexts within biblical texts.
2. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon: Thayer’s describes ἀποθνῄσκω as “to die,” noting its application to the physical death of individuals. It also refers to the metaphorical use of the term, such as dying to sin or the old self.
3. BDAG (Bauer-Danker-Arndt-Gingrich): BDAG defines ἀποθνῄσκω as “to die,” with an emphasis on its use in describing physical death. It also acknowledges its metaphorical use, particularly in the context of spiritual or moral death.
4. LSJ (Liddell-Scott-Jones): LSJ describes ἀποθνῄσκω as “to die,” focusing on its literal sense of ending physical life. It also notes its figurative applications in various contexts.

Biblical Context:

• Usage in Scripture: In the New Testament, ἀποθνῄσκω appears frequently to describe the death of Jesus (e.g., Matthew 27:50, John 19:30), as well as the deaths of other individuals (e.g., Luke 7:12, John 11:14). It is used metaphorically to discuss dying to sin or the old self in passages such as Romans 6:2-11 and Colossians 3:3, where it signifies a spiritual or moral transformation.

In summary, ἀποθνῄσκω (G599) translates to “to die,” primarily referring to the end of physical life. It is used both literally and metaphorically in the New Testament, with various lexicons emphasizing its application to physical death as well as spiritual or moral transformation.