Brief Overview of ἀποψύχω (G674: Apopsūchō)

1. Brief Overview:

Transliteration: Apopsūchō

Root Words: The word ἀποψύχω combines the prefix ἀπό (apó), meaning “away from,” and the verb ψύχω (psūchō), meaning “to blow” or “to breathe.” Thus, the term implies the act of blowing away or expiring.

Primary Meanings:

• To blow away.
• To breathe out or exhale.
• To expire or release one’s breath.

2. Detailed Description:

BDAG (Bauer-Danker-Arndt-Gingrich): BDAG defines ἀποψύχω as “to blow out” or “to expire,” focusing on the physical act of releasing breath or exhaling. The term is used metaphorically to indicate the cessation of life.

Thayer’s: Thayer’s Greek Lexicon describes ἀποψύχω as “to blow away” or “to exhale,” emphasizing its use in contexts related to breathing out or expiring.

Vines: Vines’ Expository Dictionary notes that ἀποψύχω means “to breathe out” or “to expire,” highlighting its application in contexts of blowing out or releasing one’s breath.

LSJ (Liddell-Scott-Jones): LSJ defines ἀποψύχω as “to blow out” or “to expire,” with a focus on the physical act of exhaling or the metaphorical sense of ceasing to live.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: Strong’s describes ἀποψύχω as “to blow away” or “to exhale,” indicating its use in contexts of releasing breath or expiring.

Bible Verses:

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• John 19:30 (NIV): “When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (In this context, the term relates to Jesus releasing his breath or expiring.)

3. Usage in Classic Greek Literature:

Homer (The Iliad, 8th century BCE): Homer uses concepts similar to ἀποψύχω to describe the act of exhaling or breathing out, particularly in the context of dying or giving up life.

Hesiod (Theogony, 8th century BCE): Hesiod employs similar terminology in describing the natural processes of life and death, including the act of breathing out.

Aristotle (De Anima, 4th century BCE): Aristotle discusses similar terms related to breathing and the process of expiration, reflecting on the physical and metaphysical aspects of life and death.

4. Summary:

ἀποψύχω (Apopsūchō) primarily means “to blow away” or “to exhale,” referring to the physical act of releasing breath or expiring. It can denote the cessation of life, emphasizing the metaphorical sense of expiring or giving up one’s spirit. In classical Greek literature, the term is used to describe various aspects of breathing out and the processes related to life and death, illustrating its application in both physical and metaphorical contexts.