Brief Overview of ἀφίημι (G863: aphiēmi)

1. Brief Overview:

Transliteration: aphiēmi

Root Words: Derived from apo (from, away from) and hiēmi (to send), conveying a sense of sending away or releasing.

Primary Meanings:

• To forgive: Often used in a judicial or moral context to indicate the pardon or cancellation of debts, offenses, or sins.
• To let go: Implies releasing or letting something or someone depart.
• To leave: In some contexts, it means physically leaving a location or situation.

2. Detailed Description:

BDAG: Emphasizes aphiēmi as a term crucial in New Testament theology, particularly in the context of forgiveness of sins. It is extensively analyzed with reference to Jesus’ teachings on forgiveness.

Thayer’s: Thayer’s provides a comprehensive breakdown of the term in legal, moral, and everyday contexts, including the concept of divorce and abandonment.

Vines: Focuses on the theological implications of forgiveness as it relates to salvation and reconciliation with God.

LSJ: Highlights secular uses of the term in classical Greek, such as the legal act of releasing someone from obligations or debts.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: Details its usage across the New Testament, showing its prevalence in narratives and teachings concerning forgiveness and release.

Bible Verses:

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• Matthew 6:12 (KJV): “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”
• Mark 11:26 (KJV): “But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

3. Classic Greek Literature:

Usage in Classic Greek Literature:

• Homer’s Iliad: Describes warriors releasing their opponents, either in mercy or to ransom.
• Aristophanes’ Plays: Often uses aphiēmi in comedic contexts to indicate characters escaping or being dismissed from tricky situations.
• Philosophical Texts: Philosophers like Plato use it in discussions about releasing oneself from worldly desires or distractions.

4. Summary:

ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) encapsulates various nuances of releasing or letting go, with profound implications in both secular and religious contexts. Its theological significance is especially notable in Christianity, where it forms the core of the doctrine of forgiveness of sins—a central pillar in the relationship between God and man, and among individuals. Lexicons like BDAG and Thayers elaborate on its varied uses, while classical literature provides a backdrop that enriches its understanding, showing its versatility in describing physical, legal, and metaphysical forms of release. This concept remains relevant in discussions of freedom, responsibility, and interpersonal relationships, bridging ancient texts and contemporary life.