Brief Overview of ἀσφαλής (G804: Asphalēs)

1. Brief Overview:

Transliteration: Asphalēs

Root Words: The term ἀσφαλής comes from the verb ἀσφαλέω (asphaleō), meaning “to make safe” or “to secure.” It is related to the noun ἀσφάλεια (asphaleia), which means “security” or “safety.”

Primary Meanings:

• Secure: The primary meaning of ἀσφαλής is “secure” or “safe,” indicating a state of being protected from danger or harm.
• Certain: It also implies “certain” or “reliable,” suggesting something that is stable and dependable.
• Firm: Another meaning is “firm” or “unshakable,” referring to a condition of stability and assurance.

2. Detailed Description:

BDAG: BDAG defines ἀσφαλής as “secure” or “safe,” focusing on its use to describe a condition of being protected from risk or harm. It also covers the notion of certainty and reliability.

Thayer’s: Thayer’s Greek Lexicon describes ἀσφαλής as “secure” or “safe,” emphasizing its application to contexts of protection and stability, and also highlights its meaning of certainty.

Vines: Vines’ Expository Dictionary notes that ἀσφαλής refers to “secure” or “safe,” and it is used to convey a sense of firmness and reliability.

LSJ: The LSJ Lexicon defines ἀσφαλής as “secure” or “safe,” reflecting its use to denote stability and assurance.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: Strong’s describes ἀσφαλής as “secure” or “safe,” focusing on its meaning of being protected from danger or risk.

Bible Verses:

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• 2 Peter 1:10 (KJV): “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.”
• Here, ἀσφαλής is used to describe the security and certainty of a believer’s calling and election.

3. Classic Greek Literature:

Usage in Classic Greek Literature:

• Homer: In Homer’s epics, such as The Iliad and The Odyssey, the concept of security or safety is often portrayed, though the exact term ἀσφαλής may not always be used. The idea of being secure or firm in one’s position is central to the heroic ethos.
• Sophocles: In plays like Oedipus Rex, Sophocles explores themes of certainty and stability, where the notion of being secure or certain is relevant to the characters’ fates.
• Aristotle: Aristotle, in works like Nicomachean Ethics, might discuss concepts of stability and security in the context of moral and philosophical principles.

4. Summary:

ἀσφαλής (Asphalēs) primarily means “secure” or “safe,” referring to a state of being protected from danger or harm. It also conveys a sense of certainty and firmness, indicating stability and reliability. In classic Greek literature, the term and its related concepts reflect themes of security and stability, underscoring the importance of being protected and dependable.