Brief Overview of ἀπέχω (G568)

Meaning and Usage:

• General Definition: The Greek verb ἀπέχω (apékhō) comes from the prefix ἀπό (apó, “from”) and the root ἔχω (échō, “to have”). It generally means “to be distant” or “to be distant from,” but it also carries the nuance of “to receive” or “to be in possession of.”
• Contextual Usage: In biblical texts, ἀπέχω is used to indicate being at a distance or to describe the concept of receiving or obtaining something, often in a figurative or metaphorical sense.

Detailed Overview with Additional Concordances

Etymology and Lexicon References:

1. Strong’s Concordance (G568): Strong’s defines ἀπέχω as “to be distant” or “to be at a distance.” It is used to describe physical or metaphorical distance or separation. It can also mean “to receive” in certain contexts.
2. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon: Thayer’s provides a definition of ἀπέχω as “to hold off” or “to be distant.” It explains that the term can denote a state of being separated from something or someone, and in some contexts, it can mean “to receive” or “to get.”
3. BDAG (Bauer-Danker-Arndt-Gingrich): BDAG defines ἀπέχω as “to be distant from” or “to be separated from.” It also notes that in certain contexts, it can be used to mean “to receive” or “to obtain.” BDAG provides examples from both classical Greek and biblical literature to illustrate these meanings.
4. LSJ (Liddell-Scott-Jones): The LSJ Greek-English Lexicon includes definitions of ἀπέχω as “to be distant” or “to be separated from.” It also mentions the usage of the term in a sense of “receiving” or “obtaining,” showing its range of meanings in various contexts.

Biblical Context:

• Usage in Scripture: In the New Testament, ἀπέχω appears in passages such as 1 Corinthians 5:10, where it is used in the sense of being “distant” or “separated from” certain types of people, and in Luke 18:11, where it is used to describe a sense of distance or separation in a figurative way. The term can also imply receiving something, as seen in other contexts.

In summary, ἀπέχω (G568) primarily means “to be distant from” or “to be separated from,” with additional meanings related to “receiving” or “obtaining” something. Greek lexicons and biblical texts highlight its usage in both physical and metaphorical contexts, providing a broad understanding of its application.