Brief Overview of ἄραφος (G729: araphos)

1. Brief Overview:

Transliteration: araphos

Root Words:

• ἄραφος (araphos): Derived from the Greek word ἀράπτω (arapto), meaning “to sew” or “to stitch.”

Primary Meanings:

• Unsewn: The term ἄραφος refers to something that is not sewn or unstitched. It describes an object, typically a piece of cloth or a garment, that has not been sewn together.
• Unfinished/Raw: In a broader sense, it can describe something that is in an unfinished or raw state.

2. Detailed Description:

BDAG: BDAG defines ἄραφος as “not sewn” or “unstitched,” emphasizing its use to describe something that has not been assembled or finished through stitching. This term is used metaphorically to indicate something that is incomplete or unprepared.

Thayer’s: Thayer’s Greek Lexicon describes ἄραφος as “unsewn” or “unfinished,” focusing on its literal meaning as applied to textiles or garments that have not yet been sewn.

Vines: Vines’ Expository Dictionary notes that ἄραφος is used to signify “unsewn” or “unstitched,” particularly in contexts involving clothing or fabric.

LSJ: The LSJ Lexicon defines ἄραφος as “unsewn” or “in a state of not having been stitched,” consistent with its use to describe something incomplete or raw.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: Strong’s defines ἄραφος as “unsewn,” reflecting its meaning as something that is not yet stitched or finished.

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Bible Verses:

• Revelation 6:14 (KJV): “And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.”
• While the term ἄραφος itself is not used in this verse, the imagery of a scroll being rolled or unrolled relates to the concept of something being unstitched or not yet complete.

3. Usage in Classic Greek Literature:

In classic Greek literature, ἄραφος appears in various contexts:

• Plato’s Works (circa 4th century BC): References to textiles and garments include terms like ἄραφος to describe pieces of fabric or garments that are unstitched or incomplete.
• Aristotle’s Rhetoric (circa 4th century BC): Uses the term metaphorically to discuss ideas or arguments that are unformed or unfinished.
• Sophocles’ Plays (circa 5th century BC): Employs the term to describe clothing or textiles in their raw or unstitched state, reflecting its literal meaning.

4. Summary:

ἄραφος (G729: araphos) means “unsewn” or “unfinished,” derived from the Greek root ἀράπτω (arapto). It refers to something that is not yet stitched or completed, and can describe objects in a raw or incomplete state. BDAG and other lexicons agree on its meaning related to textiles and garments, and it is used metaphorically to denote incompleteness or rawness. In classic Greek literature, ἄραφος appears in both literal and metaphorical contexts, illustrating its use to describe unfinished or incomplete items.